BEATING THE WINTER BASS BLUES

NO WINTER BASS BLUES HERE

HOW TO ENJOY SOCAL LARGEMOUTH ACTION IN THE COLDEST MONTHS

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

It seems whenever I get the bug to go winter largemouth fishing, all of my friends suddenly have other things to do. I don’t know if it’s the cold of the morning or they just like football that much. However, you can still catch largemouth in the winter months and you can always pick a warmer week to fish. I’m telling you, if you put in the time, winter bass fishing will grow on you. Plus it will make you a better angler.

WEATHER DICTATES FISHING

Some winters are warmer than others in Southern California and the spawn actually will begin, only to pause when the cold rains finally do come. If they do, then you will feel like the season is starting over.

But a lot of the time the Southland will have very little rain – and we’ve been in a drought – and winter days that are warmer than usual. You will be one of only a few boats out there enjoying a great day of fishing.

Everyone has different opinions on fishing in the winter. Some use large baits, some smaller ones, and some fish fast and some fish slow. I want you to catch more fish year-round and I’m here to share how you can do it. Some of the techniques of the pros should get you excited, especially if you have never tried them before. So before you put your tackle away this winter, go out and try some of these tricks.

Author Bill Schafer doesn’t mind a little inclement or even chilly winter weather if he can still enjoy largemouth action like this in SoCal lakes. (BILL SCHAEFER)

Randall Doyle shows that even a hail storm won’t stop the bite at times. Many winter bass will be caught from midmorning through midafternoon. (BILL SCHAEFER)

TIPS FROM A BASSIN’ MENTOR

One person who has taught me more than anyone about fishing for largemouth bass is Larry Botroff, retired fisheries biologist and one of the foremost experts on the species. He has been a fixture at Southern California lakes – especially San Diego’s – for a long time and knows the life cycle of largemouth better than anyone I know. I have interviewed him numerous times and one question I asked him was, where do the bass go in winter and what they do? Botroff told me that the old adage that bass go deep in the winter is true to an extent, but don’t be surprised to find them feeding summer-style in some lakes where the water level is the highest it’s been in years. High water holds the entire food chain shallower and the bass hang with the food that’s easiest to catch or most plentiful. Remember, they are lazy and don’t want to exert more energy than necessary to eat.

Botroff also talked about fishermen coming into the dock in the winter and saying they caught their bass in 80 to 100 feet of water. He went on to say that bass in Southern California – or anywhere for the most part – rarely go deeper than about 50 to 70 feet deep.

HOW DO WINTER BASS BEHAVE?

I asked Botroff about the bass themselves: What happens to them in the winter? He told me that their metabolism slows down and it is hard for them to maintain their regular body weight. He reminded me that when they slow down, they want easy prey and they stay close to the baitfish. They’ll follow schools everywhere.

Did you know that as soon as a female bass lays its eggs or absorbs them, within a few weeks the new ones start to form again? This may be one thing that confuses some bass anglers into thinking that a spawn is happening early when other factors should determine it, not the fact that the fish has eggs in it. All through summer and fall eggs are growing and bass are feeding, trying to bulk up for winter and the next year’s spawn.

EARLY ISN’T BETTER

What time should I go winter bass fishing? No need to be at the lake at the crack of dawn unless you enjoy not being able to feel your fingers. I feel the best time to fish on cold winter days is midmorning to midafternoon, focusing on when the sun is highest in the sky. Start on rocky banks with big boulders. They hold the heat the fish want. There is plenty of cover for bass down there – such as different vegetation – to keep them happy. Shorelines that get the sun the

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The author shows off a nice largemouth that fell for a swimbait slow rolled on the bottom. You can catch winter bass with lures that are usually spring tackle box staples. (BILL SCHAEFER)

longest will do well.

For lures, many pros love the jig this time of year, as well as larger worms. Slowing down your presentation can be key at times. Cast out; let it sit; and then let it sit that much longer. Move it an inch or two, or shake it in place, and then let it sit again. A lot of the time the bass will attack it just because it’s barely quivering on the bottom. Remember to fish jigs that match the colors of the lake’s crawdads, which can come in hues of blue, red, green or a combination thereof. If you see a ranger or biologist working at the lake, ask them what color the crawdads are. There can be exceptions to the above rules of thumb, of course. If the winter rains raise the water level at your local lake, then the baitfish will move to the shallows, the crawdads become more active and the bass follow. It could mean some reaction bite scenarios with crankbaits or spinnerbaits. I have had some great spinnerbait bites in January after winter rains.

THINK SPRING BAITS

No matter the scenario, if bass are active, you may be able to go with more normal springtime lures. Drop-shot or split-shot rigs, Carolina rigs with creature baits or craws are all effective. That weight ahead of the bait can stir up the bottom and the lure gliding by will attract the bite. These setups have always looked more natural to the bass.

Over the years, many Southern California lake managers planted trout in their impoundments. Budgets came and went and you have to check with your local lake to see if they still stock or not. Of course, this program traditionally led to the throwing of large trout-imitating swimbaits for bass.

Whether your lake still plants or not, it seems the larger bass are still in tune to the trout feeding fest they once had. Just don’t forget that there are a lot of other fish the larger bass feed on, including their own kind. Smaller bass swimbaits will also attract the bites, as well as bluegill- or sunfish-patterned ones. Finally, shad swimbaits can be great year-round. All of these represent large and easy prey for largemouth that don’t want to exert too much energy this time of year.

TACKLE TALK

If you’re not a regular swimbait chucker, then you may have to look for a new rod. These baits are heavy and you must have the right tackle to throw them. Consider something like a 7- to 8-foot heavy-action rod like the Daiwa DXSB Swimbait or the Kage Swimbait rods, which are specially designed for these baits. Thirty- to 50-pound Maxima braid or mono will do the trick for line.

We all know it really doesn’t rain much in the southern half of the state, but of course it can open up without notice. You need to be prepared for winter fishing because it won’t take much time in the cold weather for hypothermia to set in. It may not seem that cold, but it can creep up on you quickly and then it’s too late. I’ve been there and it’s no fun. Always bring towels and an extra set of dry clothing and jackets when fishing in rainy or cold weather. CS

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