Largemouth Bass

EARLY FALL BASS FISHING : ADAPT TO SHALLOW WATER

Cool nighttime temperatures can drop water temps fast. A lot of bass seek out shallower areas to feed, following schools of minnows and pods of young-of-the-year baitfish. The key to success lies in adapting your presentation to trigger reaction bites from these shallow-water dwellers.

Understanding Shallow Water Bites

Shallow water bass in early fall can be more aggressive at times, and less cautious than their deeper-dwelling pounds. They are often looking for a quick meal and are more likely to strike at baits that provoke a reaction. A good program to employ means ditching the slow, methodical retrieves and opting for more aggressive presentations. Another key to this productive pattern involves covering a lot of real estate, which puts your bait in front of more fish while keeping the scenery interesting. 

The Importance of Crankbaits

Crankbaits are an essential tool for targeting shallow water bass particularly in the transition periods. Their tight, erratic action is perfect for triggering strikes from aggressive fish. However, it's important to choose the right crankbait based on the depth of the water you're fishing. I consider 1-10 feet of water the shallow water zone. 

Crankbait Tips

• Whenever possible, try to crash your bait into structure such as rock or wood. 
• Keep your bait moving! Burn cranks back to the boat to fool bass into chasing a fleeting meal.
• Rip a crankbait through the tops of submerged weedbeds – this can draw the most savage strikes reaction!

Baits to Cover the Range



Shallow Diving Crankbaits
These are ideal for targeting bass in very shallow areas - typically under 5 feet deep. Popular choices include the 3DB 1.5 Squarebill, 3DR-X Series Flat Crank, and the 3DR-X Crank SR (shallow- runner). Yo-Zuri's patented 'Wave Motion Technology' sends out some serious vibration through the water. Great buoyancy and a tight wobble gets the job done!

Mid Depth Diving Crankbaits
As the water depth increases, you'll need to use medium diving crankbaits. These baits are designed to reach fish mid-depth structure. The Yo-Zuri 3DB Deep Crank and the 3DR-X Crank MR (mid-runner) are deadly choices to crank the 5-6 foot depths efficiently. Like the other Yo -Zuri crankbaits, they are made of super durable ABS resin material with a nearly indestructible detailed finish. 

Deeper Diving Crankbaits
Finally, when fishing down to the deepest of the shallow water areas my go to choice for a deeper diving crankbait is the 3DB Deep Crank and the 3DR-X DD (deep diver). The wobbling-rolling action and large eyes creates a natural predatorial strike response, especially along the weed edges.

FISHING DEEP DIVING JERKBAITS

Deeper diving jerkbaits can also be effective for targeting shallow water bass. These baits are designed to create a more erratic action than crankbaits, which can be especially effective for triggering strikes from aggressive fish . When fishing jerkbaits impart action to the bait using a series of short jerks followed by brief pauses. This will cause the bait to dart and twitch erratically . As the water gets colder, extending the pause is a great move to get bit. A suspending jerkbait is enough to drive even the most tenuous followers to commit. 
My go-to bait is the 3DB Jerkbait 110 Deep. The 110 Deep is a high-quality jerkbait designed to mimic the movement of a wounded baitfish. These three treble hook baits are super durable with a 3D Prism Finish. One of my most favorite features of this bait is the Weight Transfer System which allows me to bomb that bait on a long cast, even into the wind, effortlessly.

Additional Early Fall Fishing Tips

• Pay attention to the weather: Cloudy days and wind can make shallow water bass more active,
• Watch for changes in wind direction – this can really fire up fish activity,
• Experiment with different colors and sizes but start with a bait that best mimics the predominant bait fish in your water body.

As the temperatures start to drop, try these shallow water presentation options. Some of the biggest fish of the year are strapping on the feedbag right now for the coming winter season!

Will Nalley
 

​          Less sunlight daily, leaves are changing colors, and water temperatures progressively dropping…that means fall is upon us! Fall is the time of year when many fish species are feeding heavily on minnows, so using a minnow-imitating hardbait like the new Yo-Zuri 3DR-X Flat Heavy Minnow series can be highly effective when pursuing everything from panfish to predators.

​          The new 3DR-X Flat Heavy Minnow comes in three sizes (1 5/8”/40 mm, 2 3/8”/60 mm, and 3 1/8”/80 mm) and eight colors including naturalistic trout, smelt, and metallic patterns. The Flat Heavy Minnow is a suspending hardbait that comes in Yo-Zuri’s patented scale prism pattern and built-in rattle system which draw fish in from a distance. A unique feature that sets the Flat Heavy Minnow apart from other hardbaits is that it does not just sink, but it notably flutters as it falls through the water column. This fluttering movement mimics a dying or injured baitfish that often entices fish to strike before retrieving the lure even begins. When the characteristics are added all together, the 3DR-X Flat Heavy Minnow series makes for a dynamite hardbait that fish cannot resist throughout the transition from summer to fall, peak fall, and late fall periods.

Early Fall
​          As summer transitions to fall, predators like walleyes, northern pike, and bass move in and out of weedlines in search of prey. Making long casts more than forty feet with the 3 1/8” Flat Heavy Minnow tied to 20 lb test Yo-Zuri SuperBraid parallel to the weeds is a solid way to draw attention from predatory species. Focusing on depths of ten to twelve foot of water and retrieving the Flat Heavy Minnow halfway down the water column works very well as fish will oftentimes feed up as they lie in ambush in and near the weedlines. A pull and pause retrieve maximizes the flutter on the fall in this scenario, which increases the number of fish that will bite.

Peak Fall
​          As emergent vegetation dies and surface temperatures progressively drop, large schools of large slab crappies suspend as they prowl over some of the deepest water in a given system chasing schools of minnows. This might mean that they are five feet down over fifteen feet of water or it could mean they are suspended fifteen feet down over thirty feet of water depending on the lake. In this scenario, pairing the 1 5/8” 3DR-X Flat Heavy Minnow with Yo-Zuri 4 lb or 6 lb Hybrid line can be highly effective as it can be cast far from your fishing vessel to decrease spooking fish while getting down to the fish before they move. Casting beyond the school of fish and going with a lift-pause-fall-repeat cadence one to two feet above them can be a great way to chase suspended slabs. The key during the cast and retrieve is to keep the line taut as big crappies will regularly uphit the Flat Heavy Minnow, oftentimes swallowing and/or T-boning the lures.

Late Fall
          Late fall is the time when water temperatures have plummeted, turnover has come and gone, and a great deal of vegetation has been diminished. This is an excellent time of year to use the 2 3/8” 3DR-X Flat Heavy Minnow for trout as they thrive in cold water. Trout can sometimes be a bit more challenging to catch as they can be found at any stage of the water column from the bottom to the surface as they feed on insects and minnows before the upcoming freeze. Any of the available trout-based patterns can be strong choices this time of year when tied to Yo-Zuri 6 lb T-7 Fluorocarbon. The key to retrieving and/or trolling the Flat Heavy Minnow is to move quickly (1.5 miles per hour or more) through the water column as the goal is to get reaction strikes. If the lure is moving too slowly, trout may be less inclined to strike. Because trout can be located anywhere in the water column, I usually start speed fishing in grids in the middle of the lake and work my way outward toward remaining weeds near the shorelines. Taking this approach allows for fish to be found and fish behavior to be patterned more quickly so that more time can be spent in the more productive zones of the lake.

​          Fall offers a bonanza of great fishing for a variety of species. Stock your gear boxes with the new 3DR-X Flat Heavy Minnow series and get ready for some great northern pike, bass, walleye, crappie, and trout fishing throughout the phases of fall.

Tight lines and safe travels!

- Mark Maule




 

Even though you can’t always feel a major change, the summer to fall transition is coming.  The nights and mornings are getting cooler, and the middle of the day is not quite as hot.  This transition starts the migration of shad from the middle of the lake to the banks.  As the shad begin to move, all of the gamefish become more active, and our fishing gets better and better.  The fall on Lake Okeechobee is when the bass begin to school.  This is when you let the birds clue you into where the fish are.  Seagulls, Turns, and Herons can all give you a sign that shad are present, which means bass are present.  I love throwing topwaters and rattling baits during this fall transition.  There is nothing better than a giant bass or a school of bass, busting my topwater.  My favorite topwater for this is the 5” and 4” YoZuri Pencil.  I use a fast “walk the dog” action on my Pencil and very rarely will I slow it down.  I like this bait because I can work it fast and cover water.  During this transition, bass are very active so a fast retrieve seems to trigger very aggressive strikes.



If the wind has too much chop on the water for a topwater, I go to the YoZuri Rattlin Vibe.  This is the best rattling bait I have ever used.  It can be worked in a lot of different ways, but a “stop and go” retrieve will really trigger bites in the fall.  The depth of water you are fishing will determine the length of your stop in retrieve.  Usually in 4 feet of water or less, this pause will be only a second.  The deeper the water the longer the pause.  The Rattlin Vibe will start to glide and fall during this slight pause.  That is when you get 90% of your strikes.  This may only be a tick or thump, and your line will go slack.  This is why I use the YoZuri T7 Flourocarbon line when throwing the Rattling Vibe.  My favorite is 15-20 pound test, depending on how I want the bait to glide and fall.  The heavier the line, the slower the fall.  The T7 flourocarbon is very low in stretch, so when you set the hook, even on slack line, the hooks drive into the fish.



So even though you may not be able to feel the fall transition, the fish and wildlife can.  So, get your Pencils and Rattlin Vibes and get on the water!  This transition brings some of the biggest bass of the year, but also some of the biggest numbers of fish caught.  Tight lines and have fun!


by Mike Surman
 

Many fish species can be found throughout the water column during the late summer period. Panfish and predator species alike can be caught at or near the surface of the water column, hunkered down in thick vegetation or cruising weedlines adjacent to steep drops, or suspended over deep basins during this time of year. Having a variety of hardbaits that cover each level of the water column during late summer can improve the odds of catching several fish species in one fishing trip.


Surface
With so much bug life and baitfish congregating at or near the surface of the water column, late summer can be a great time of year to chase largemouth and smallmouth bass and northern pike using poppers. The Yo-Zuri 3DR-X Popper is a smaller profile lure at 2 5/8” and 1/4 oz. that works well during lowlight periods of the day, when the wind is under 5 miles per hour, and when fish are extremely finicky. The Bone or Ghost Prism Frog are solid patterns when fished within open pockets formed by lily pads and when chasing fish hunkered down in weeds during the heat of the day. Yo-Zuri 20 lb test SuperBraid is a top line choice when using the 3DR-X Poppers in and around weeds as it is strong enough to hold large bass or pike when they dive for thick cover as is often the case after a strike.


Mid-Depth
While many walleyes will shift their focus to deep humps, rock piles, and deep flats during late summer, there are inevitably going to be fish that frequent structure in less than 12’ of water as well. Larger walleyes will hunt in and around large cabbage patches where small perch, bluegills, and other minnows seek cover. At 4 3/8” and 1/2 oz., the 3DB Jerkbait 110 Deep is a hardbait that stands out among smaller forage that gets the attention of large walleyes waiting for an easy meal to pass in front of them. The Bold Table Rock Shad is arguably one of the most versatile patterns when fishing for walleyes in weeds as it can be effectively fished in clear or tannic-stained water. Changing up the cadence used from fast twitches to simply pulling the Jerkbait forward a few inches at a time allows the Yo-Zuri “Wave Motion Technology” to maximize vibrations that walleyes cannot resist.


Deepwater
Although bluegills and crappies can be found in weeds and wood in late summer, this can also be a great time of year to pursue large schools of fish that suspend over deep water chasing smaller minnows and invertebrates. It is common to find marauding packs of panfish suspended 15-20’ down in 35’+ of water during this time of year. The Rattl’N Vibe, at 2 1/8” and 3/8 oz., is a large enough profile lure that sinks to suspended panfish quickly to maximize water covered effectively, but it is still small enough that big panfish will regularly eat it. Tying Yo-Zuri 6 lb test Hybrid line to the Vibe and then jigging, drifting, and trolling are all great options when pursuing suspended panfish. The Luminescent is a glow-based pattern that works regardless of water clarity and is an excellent choice early and late in the day when light is diminished.



The late summer period can be a great time to chase multiple species of fish in the same trip. Coupling Yo-Zuri lines with the 3DR-X Popper, 3DB Jerkbait 110 Deep, and Rattl’N Vibe can give you the opportunity to maximize results during your next multi-species trip on the water. 
Tight lines and be safe!


- Mark Maule

Crank Your Way To Suspended Late Summer Slabs
Mark Maule


Bobbers, worms, tiny jigs and hooks, and flies are oftentimes associated with chasing
large panfish. However, summer is the time when big panfish, especially nomadic suspended
slab crappies, become hungry predators. The late summer period can be an especially effective
time to capitalize on their voracious appetites by using small crankbaits for fish suspending just
below the surface down to the thermocline.

3DR-X Shad

When big crappies are suspended within the first 5’ of the water column, the 3DR-X
Shad is a must. The 3DR-X Shad is a new 2 3/8”, 1/4 oz. suspending crankbait that can be
worked just under the surface of the water down to about 5’. It is an exceptionally versatile
small crankbait with an internal scale finish that perfectly mimics the minnows that crappies
feed on near the surface. It can be casted, trolled, or drifted effectively for shallow suspended
fish. Casting when conditions are calm, especially at dawn or dusk, can be a dynamite way to
fish the 3DR-X Shad when a more finesse-based approach is needed. When windier conditions
exist, trolling and drifting the 3DR-X Shad can be great ways to cover as much water as possible
to chase bigger crappies feeding near the surface.

3DB Shad

Depending on the conditions and where the forage is located, crappies will sometimes
be found a bit deeper as summer progresses. In these instances, it may be necessary to dig
down a little further in the water column to catch them when they are suspended. The 3DB
Shad is a 2 3/4” and 3/8 oz. lure that works well when chasing crappies that suspend 8-12’

down in the water column. This lure will dive to around 6’, which works great for mid-range
crappies as these fish are notorious for uphitting a lure. Fish over 12” will readily come up 4-6’
in the water column to chase down a larger meal during the late summer period. Trolling is
arguably one of the most effective ways to fish the 3DB Shad for big crappies in late summer. It
is a search bait that allows for covering a lot of water, and it elicits strikes from the most
aggressive bigger fish in a school when trolled quickly above them.

2 1/8” Rattl’N Vibe

The 2 1/8” Rattl’N Vibe is a 3/8 oz. lipless crank that works great for situations where
crappies are suspended from 12’ down to the thermocline. This lure is large enough to sink to
the depths where the fish are located, yet, it is small enough so that larger crappies will still
readily feed on it without hesitation. Experimenting with the movement of the 2 1/8” Rattl’N
Vibe is key feature when fish are stationed more than 12’ down as it is possible to catch big
crappies by casting, trolling, drifting, and jigging. The key is to make sure that the lure is
constantly moving to resemble a struggling baitfish so fish instinctively attack it.
As the heat of summer progresses, choosing crankbaits that cover all areas of the water
column where fish are located can put some solid crappies in your livewell. Gear up with the
3DR-X Shad, 3DB Shad, or 2 1/8” Rattl’N Vibe, and get ready for some late summer slab action!
Stay safe and tight lines!


Watch as Mark Maule shows the guys from Midwest Outdoors how he uses the Rattlin' Vibe Mini on his Kayak for crappie and panfish:

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With August rapidly approaching, many larger northern pike have retreated to deep water weeds, deeper rock piles, or roam the basin in some cases chasing schools of baitfish. During this time, many anglers put away their northern pike gear because it can be more challenging to catch bigger fish than it is during the spring and fall seasons. However, if you can find the fish, they can be caught. One of my favorite lures to fish large northern pike during late July and throughout August is the Yo-Zuri 3DB Knuckle Bait.

At 1/4, 1/2, and 5/8 oz. the Yo-Zuri 3DB Knuckle Bait can effectively be fished throughout the water column. The 1/4 oz. Knuckle is a perfect choice when fishing in water up to about 10’ above downed wood, right at the edge of weeds that drop into deeper water, or off of long points. The 1/2 oz. and 5/8 oz. Knuckle Baits are a great choice when fishing in water from 10-20’ deep while working the edge of weedlines and sharp drops or humps. The 5/8 oz. Knuckle Bait can also be a great option when pursuing large fish in the 15-25’ range over basins when they are chasing schools of baitfish.

Two of my favorite colors regardless of how deep I am fishing are the Golden Shiner and Tennessee Shad. The Golden Shiner 3DB Knuckle Bait is perfect for tannic or dirty water and the Tennessee Shad is an excellent choice for clear water conditions where the sun is high in the sky. With each pattern, it is recommended to use some kind of trailer. Normally, I go with a 4” or 5” plastic grub that emulates baitfish that are in the system. So, for example, when fishing the Golden Shiner Knuckle Bait, I might choose a grub that has some chartreuse and orange flecks in it because it mimics a bluegill that northern pike will be feeding on in weeds. When using the Tennessee Shad Knuckle Bait, I might go with a pearl or white grub to try for basin fish because these colors look like tullibees that northern pike might be chasing.

Fishing for large northern pike during summer can be daunting at times, but they can still be caught with relative frequency. Throwing the Knuckle as a change-up to patterns used in spring and fall can be a terrific way to keep you on the numbers and good-sized fish.

Fishing as a professional bass fisherman comes with a lot at stake. It can be financially trying, emotionally exhausting, physically demanding, but can all pay off when the plan comes together. Every angler out there has one goal in mind; to WIN! But what if you are in front of your hometown crowd? The people that saw you grow-up, the friends you’ve known your whole life, your wife, your parents and grandparents, all your family, what if you were the angler everyone had their eye on through-out the week? Does the stakes of winning get higher? Is there more added stress? Do you expect more from yourself? Well that was exactly the cards dealt to Yo-Zuri Prostaff angler Brandon Cobb last week on Lake Hartwell for the Bassmaster Elites Series event in South Carolina.
How did Brandon do? He never even flinched and got the job done; winning his first Bassmaster Elite Series event in his career and taking home a $100,000 payday.

Brandon grew up in South Carolina and has fished Lake Hartwell his whole life, so knowing the lake was no problem. Making sure he didn’t let history interfere with his ability to fish clean and strong to capture the win; that was the difficult task. The Yo-Zuri pro knew he needed to stick to one area of the lake that was notorious for big bedding fish. He stuck to his plan and stayed calm.

Brandon is a well-known angler that prefers to burn the bank and cover as much water as he could throwing moving baits. But, when the springtime hits and water is clear; the best way to catch them is with a spinning rod. Brandon threw a wacky worm throughout the tournament but still managed to cover as much fishable water as he could, even at times revisiting areas through-out the tournament days as fish continued to move up in his primary areas.


Brandon’s arsenal of attack was a 6’10 medium action spinning rod, 2500 size spinning reel, Yo-Zuri 10lb SuperBraid with a 10lb Yo-Zuri Topknot Fluorocarbon leader. Brandon was using this set up to throw a wacky worm to make long casts and catch cruising largemouth in bedding areas. Occasionally he would slow down and throw a shaky head for fish that were locked onto a bed, but most of the fish he weighed in were cruising shallow.

The older I get in this sport the more a good finish means to me. With the changing technology, industry curves, and constant new talent making their way into the tour level; the harder it is for me compete against fellow anglers. However this past weekend in my current home state of Florida at Lake Toho, Mickey Mouse must have given me a little magic being so close to Disney World because everything came together.
The fishing in Florida has been really off so far this year. Between the low water in all the lakes, the Red Tide issues the entire state faced last year, and it still being early in the year the best fishing is still yet to come. This last week I was really able to pinpoint a good amount of fish that were pre-spawning and spawning. I used my local knowledge of the lake to lock into Lake Kissimmee and fish staging areas leading into spawning areas with good, healthy grass around it. With water temperatures in the mid-60s I knew as the week processed the fish would continue to move up.

In practice I was really able to capitalize on a morning pattern and then an afternoon pattern, a key to my success knowing I could stay calm throughout the day and capitalize on the different patterns when they were at their best. In the mornings I was catching fishing on a 1/4oz Black and Blue 3DB Knucklebait with a soft plastic swimbait trailer. I was able to catch a couple really good fish on this and thought it would be a key bait for me throughout the tournament. I was throwing the Knucklebait over submerged grass around staging areas. As the afternoon took place and the sun got high I was able to pitch to hydrilla mats and dollar pads with a soft plastic stickworm catching spawning fish.

In the tournament, the morning Knucklebait bite had died but I was still able to capitalize catching these same fish using a 3DB Pencil in Bone color. For this technique I was throwing 20lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid line, and I was making short casts with it. I think the bait has better action when making shorter casts and not having so much stretch in the line. In the afternoons I was able to again capitalize again on the plastic stickworm bite. I was fishing the worm on a little [1/16oz] weight and throwing it on 16lb Yo-Zuri TopKnot Mainline Fluorocarbon.
One of the last factors that helped me was covering water in an area. I was fishing a massive area of Lake Kissimmee and it seemed like covering water and then breaking down an area once I got a bite was the key to capitalizing on water holding fish.

It was by far 3 of the best winter days of fishing for me at Arizona’s Lake Havasu. My practice started out pretty rough. My first day was spent in the river around the I-40 Bridge looking for smallmouth bass in the current. After a full day of practice I had only 4 bites; 2 largemouth and 2 smallmouth throwing a HARDCORE Twitch’ N Glide to locate fish. The fish will follow the swimbait and I would mark a waypoint on my Lowrance HDS unit.

The second day of practice consisted of the Lower part of the river with zero bites and a school of 6 largemouth I found hanging around a letdown tree in 4 foot of water. The 3rd day of practice was spent in the main lake. I was targeting Rock, Grass and bait. But after a week of cold temps below freezing and dropping water temps of 47 degrees the bait was very difficult to locate. I managed 6 fish on a small Swimbait and a HARDCORE CRANK 4+ in Baby Bluegill pattern.

The air temps started to get warmer and day 4 the water temp was 50 degrees. I had a feeling that the bass would start moving shallower. So I started looking for Mud Hens (Black Birds with white beets). The birds feed on grass and if the cove had more than five bits in it I know there was bass and grass close by. I was using a HARDCORE VIBE 70S Baby Bluegill color, working it slowly ripping it through the sparse grass. At around noon on the final day of practice I decided to fish one of the popular Marinas on the main Lake. It too had Mud Hens there so I knew there was grass. Around the 5 casts in the marina on the VIBE I caught a 5 pounder that absolutely choked the VIBE. I had to cut the hooks from the inside of the gills to keep from severely injuring the fish. A couple cast later I caught a 2 pounder on the same bait. I immediately left the marina and continued my practice.

Moving further south down the lake I found a few fish on the 4+ Crank in the main lake on the edge of some grass in 10 foot of water. That day I had a total of 5 fish. The next day was somewhat of a day off. I was able to fish till noon but never got a bite or a follow from a bass.

I have over 30 years of fishing Lake Havasu and I knew it was going to be a tough 3 days of fishing. My best estimation was winning weight 46 pounds. Not much “dock talk” other than tough fishing. My roommate was averaging 2 bites a day.

The tournament was shared weight. The day before the first day I drew a guy from Arizona and he was eager to know what to tie on. I gave him a 1/2 ounce bladed jig. I elected to start day 1 in the marina. After about an hour I started catching fish. I was throwing the Vibe between the boat docks ripping the bait through the grass. I caught 4 fish from 2-4 lbs. My co-angler then caught a 7.75 Largemouth to boost our weight. A few cast later he caught a 5 pounder. We ended up catching 12 fish with the largest 5 weighing in at 23.70, leading the tournament by over 5 pounds.

Day 2 I decided to give the marina the day off hoping to manage my fish to make it 3 days. I fished the main lake and southern area with small swimbaits and crankbaits. I caught 2 fish early on the 5 inch Basstrix Swimbait in Hitch color on a 1/2 ounce Bladerunner Spintrix head. I later caught fish number 3 running south on a HARDCORE 4+ Baby Bluegill Crankbait. With a 4:15 weigh-in and only 3 fish with an hour left of fishing I was wondering if I had made the right decision to not fish the marina. At 3:15 I pulled into one of my favorite pre-spawn coves and began to throw my swimbait around some submerged habitat. My co-angler noticed a Grebe diving and coming up with a threadfin shad on the surface. I worked my way to the area where the grebe was feeding on shad and also had several coots in the area feeding on grass. I made a cast a caught a 4 pound+ largemouth. A few cast later I caught a 2 and 1/2 pounder to fill out limit for 17 pounds.

The third and final day was spent entirely on the above mentioned marina. I started the morning with a 4 pounder and never looked back from there. I caught a bass on every other row of docks. I caught 8 fish on the bladed jig and ended up with over 21 pounds. It was the second largest bag of day 3 and I won by over 5 pounds.

The key to my success was locating bait, grass and fishing the baits slowly ripping them through the grass. I was using 14 lb Yo-Zuri Top-Knot 100% Fluorocarbon. Saving those fish the second day was also a key to victory.

Thanksgiving Dinner around my house is always a very busy time of year. The food, the family, football, hunting season, decorating, and then there is the day-to-day chores to keep up with. This is also a great time of the year for me to start thinking about the upcoming fishing season and keeping my body and mind in tune to being a competitor and chasing my dreams. While most anglers are breaking in their new boat for the upcoming year or just trying to escape cabin fever, there is still a good chance to catch a nice bucket mouth.
During the winter I usually try to keep things simple throwing jigs, swimbaits, and of course hard baits. There are usually three baits I always keep tied on the deck of my boat and match the colors according to water color and visibility outside. In clear water and sunnier days outside I prefer more translucent colors. On darker days and dirtier water I like more solid colors and always follow a shad pattern. The exception is sometimes I prefer crawfish colors depending on the structure I am targeting.

The Hardcore Flat Minnow, Yo-Zuri 3DB Shad, and 3DS Mid-Crank are my most trusted arsenal this time of year. I always try to fish areas that have a rock bottom or have close relating rip-rap around them; throw in some brush to the mix and you have pot of gold sitting in front of you. Generally the water temperatures are anywhere between 48-53 degrees here in the state of Alabama. When temperatures are this cold largemouth are usually not very aggressive but they have to eat to stay warm. My favorite bait is the 3DS Mid-Crank in a shad or crawfish pattern, I’ll always have the fish tell me what they want. This is a great bait when targeting fish in 4-8 feet of water. I generally throw this bait on 10lb Yo-Zuri TopKnot mainline fluorocarbon and use just a slow steady retrieve to the boat. The key here it to have the bait bumping the bottom since the fish usually are not high in the water column. On slick sunny days I have caught some of my biggest winter time bags on the 3DB shad. I love throwing this little bait because I can use light spinning tackle and catch everything from 12 inchers all the way to 6 pounders. Make sure your using a long fast action spinning rod with a high quality spinning reel that has a good drag system. For this technique I will use a 15lb Yo-Zuri SuperBraid with a 8lb Yo-Zuri TopKnot Mainline Fluorocarbon leader. The Hardcore Flat minnow is just tried and true bait any time the water is cold. It always catches a few more fish for me throughout the day because it resembles a dying bait fish and will be an easier meal for the fish.
When trying to locate good areas of the lake to fish try to keep in mind where the warmest water will be. Generally the areas with darker water color or middle sections of the lake with the deepest water are a safe bet. You will almost always find my boat up a river where the water is dirtier and warmer or fishing down the bank of rip rap in the middle sections of the lake where there is deep water relating.

Always trust in Yo-Zuri and happy fishing!!!