Bass Fishing When Its COLD! Key Baits And Locations To Catch Fish!
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- Come along for a very cold day on the water! Matt uses a combination of power and finesse techniques to catch bass all day long! He hits the water with a plan, puts key baits to work, and catches a pile of really nice bass. Listen as he talks through fish location, bait selection, and how he adapts to changing conditions throughout the day.
Matt starts the day speed cranking for bass that have moved up to feed, then immediately switches to a football jig and a strolling bait for midday fish. He targets likely locations by studying mapping, and uses the best bait for each location, based on depth. This method of fishing is very simple, and extremely effective!
Below you'll find links to the exact baits Matt used through the day. He's included his baits, trailers, colors, etc. He's also included all of the high end combos he used to help detect subtle bites in the cold. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.
THE CRANKBAIT...
•River2Sea Tactical DD 75: bit.ly/37dclbX
Color: Green Pumpkin Craw
THE JIGS...
•Dirty Jigs Finesse Football Jig (5/8 oz): bit.ly/2d2apsm
Color: Alabama Craw
•Yamamoto 5" Double Tail Grub: bit.ly/2db9w1p
Color: Green Pumpkin Black Flake
•Beast Coast Fishing OW Football (1/2 oz): bit.ly/4gFj0yq
Color: MB Pumpkin
•Reins 3" Double Tail Grub: bit.ly/3ZWP3o6
Color: Green Pumpkin Black Flake
•Yamamoto 2.5" Hula Grub: bit.ly/497jz1m
Color: Green Pumpkin Purple Copper Flake
•Great Lakes Finesse Stealth Football: bit.ly/4eQjXTb
Size: 3/8 oz, 2/0 Hook
THE MINNOW...
•Rapala Crush City Mooch Minnow: bit.ly/3Yn4NR6
Color: Electric Shad
•VMC Redline Tungsten Ball Head: bit.ly/3ZIjeyd
Size: 1/4 oz
CRANKBAIT COMBO...
Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 906 CBR: bit.ly/2og0BmK
Reel- Shimano Curado 150 MGL (XG): bit.ly/2TQHwrP
Line- Sunline Crank FC (12 lb): bit.ly/3fohguC
HEAVY FINESSE FOOTBALL COMBO...
Rod- G Loomis NRX+ 844C MBR: bit.ly/2SuZG15
Model: 7' Heavy
Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B (HG): bit.ly/2ezIBfB
Line- Sufix 131 Braid (40 lb): bit.ly/314VoyF
Leader- Seaguar Gold Label (15 lb): bit.ly/3UqrUbi
HULA GRUB COMBO...
Rod- Shimano Poison Ultima 6'10" Medium Fast: bit.ly/3OfNBGe
Reel- Shimano Aldebaran MGL 50 (HG): bit.ly/2fdX1Uy
Line- Seaguar PEX8 Braid (24 lb): bit.ly/3UEhhl2
Leader- Seaguar Gold Label (10 lb): bit.ly/3UqrUbi
MICRO JIG COMBO...
Rod- Megabass P5 Destroyer "X Bites": bit.ly/2wVOSbY
Model: 7'2" Heavy Extra Fast
Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL (HG): bit.ly/2ezIBfB
Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro (40 lb): bit.ly/2clBRiQ
Leader- Sunline Super FC (12 lb): bit.ly/2p7fxju
STROLLING COMBO...
Rod- Shimano Poison Adrena 6'10" Med+ Extra Fast: bit.ly/4c0fQmq
Reel- Shimano Stella FJ 2500: bit.ly/2U8Pkzg
Line- Sunline Almight Braid (16 lb): bit.ly/4flJrsg
Leader- Seaguar Gold Label (8 lb): bit.ly/3UqrUbi
TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)
We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to apparel and merch! See it here…
•TacticalBassin Apparel and Merch: bit.ly/3ZxEI0z
•TacticalBassin Lure Designs: bit.ly/38YpPIz
_________________________________________________________________
*MAJOR EQUIPMENT WE USE DAILY...
Boat- Skeeter FXR 21: bit.ly/43GvGQh
Motor- Yamaha VMAX SHO 250 HP: bit.ly/3xolFv0
Trolling Motor- Minn Kota Ultrex Quest: bit.ly/41RErpY
Electronics- Humminbird Apex 13: bit.ly/3pdaK1q
Batteries- Dakota Lithium 135 AH: bit.ly/4b9HooR
Anchors- Minn Kota Raptors: bit.ly/3iMUrEJ
Camera- GoPro Hero 12: bit.ly/3MwQToy
*FAVORITE TOOLS AND GEAR…
Favorite sunglasses: bit.ly/3cLH0kl
Favorite Pliers: bit.ly/3xJFwTu
Favorite Rod Cover: bit.ly/3UewJEx
Favorite life jacket: bit.ly/2odXXIP
Favorite Scale: bit.ly/2f7QgQ9
Favorite Lure Retriever: bit.ly/2TLTJc6
Favorite Braid Cutters: bit.ly/35KSp3O
Favorite Split Ring Pliers: bit.ly/2fT4Qw0
Favorite Hard Storage Box: bit.ly/2t3uHMR
Favorite Soft Tackle Storage: bit.ly/3TnKHl7
Favorite Net: bit.ly/3kdZ3kA
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If you plan to do any shopping, using our links before doing your shopping at Tackle Warehouse is the single greatest way to support us! You won't be able to even see a difference but they'll know you're one of us!
#Winterfishing #fishing #bassfishing
You KNOW it is COLD when Matt doesn’t have on the flip-flops! 😂
I just saw your comment after I posted mine lol!
I see he changed up to slippers lol
😂 It was COLD!!
Noticed that lol
Nothing better than a mixed bag.Thank you brother
Excellent video, as usual. I really think you brought it this time and I learned some new things from this video. I don't fish highland lakes, but your analysis is spot on. It will help me in my endeavors in North Alabama river fishing. Winter is always tough, but I love your commentary on structures to look for. Thank you again for another very informative video.
Excellent presentation and confidence builder for me.
I look forward reaction and jog fishing on my Sunday outing.
Thank you Tactical Bassin.
Jog fishing sounds exhausting! Haha
Really enjoyed that Matt! Your helpong me build confidence in techniques to locate and catch fish in winter frigid temps! How about that lure retriever? And also a breakdown of your apparel for such a morning? You mentioned in another comment that you and Tim are going out today…anxiously waiting on info from that too! Thanks guys for going out on days like this and showing us how to improve our game in winter!
Here's the lure retriever: bit.ly/3A8370q
We covered layering a few videos back, and will definitely do it again in the next few. Its critical for Winter fishing!
Living with the harhness of nature throughout the seasons, is one of the best ways to toughen the body, mind, and soul and connect to our beautiful planet...just always be sure to prepare properly.
Most definitely. It's never any bad weather, just bad gear.
@Yakkinoutdoors
Agreed, aside natural disasters, lol.
I miss open water 💧 fishing 🎣 we were jigging up big lake trout on lake Michigan last week now it's freezing up nice bass 🐟👍
Looks like maybe Dale ..or farther south. I just left Cumberland had ball on the smallmouth !! Couldn’t get to commit on speed crankin. The toothy lure retriever is so legit ! Saved
My A rig and a crank this weekend myself !
Good stuff, Matt! Always appreciate your knowledge and experience. You guys rock.
Thank you Alex!
Hi lads, greetings from the uk. I love the channel, im not sure how pertaining some of the information is to fishing for perch in the uk, but I love listening to your insights into fishing for predators. I recently tried to get some peoples perspectives on speed cranking in the uk, people tried to belittle and make me feel stupid (thats the know it all perspective of self-proclaimed experts here). I look forward to trying speed cranking for european perch here once I get a mild day, keep up the good work, Im pretty sure these crazy techniques will work. We have so much to learn from you guys(and the japanese) we are still stuck in the dark ages when it comes to lure fishing. Have you done any musky/pike fishing this year? Ps loved the video in south america proper cool stuff that.
You go ahead Matt. Too damn cold for me. However, I am going try some speed cranking when it gets above 40 again.
Lmaooo
Its cold, but its not THAT cold 😜
Hahaha true but if you wear the right stuff you’ll be warm regardless of temp, I went at sunrise it was 21 degrees and I just wear two pajamas under my pants and like 4 jackets lol
Interesting experiment time to take effective baits and add different scents to baits and maybe see a change in bite aggression
@@Greenliightif you’re catching fish, not cold. No bites, FREEZING
Gotta love that jig bite for sure! Another great teaching vid Matt, thanks again!
Thank you!
Matt, Great video..Thanks for letting us know why you pulled up to a spot,and fished it.Telling us what it looks like under the water in front of you,,It really helps....Stay blessed
Thank you Jeff! You as well!!
I learn soooo much from your videos! Thank you for explaining your winter tactics, I'm definitely going to put them to use this winter in Colorado. I have a question for Matt and Tim, Would using a big hair jig on these breaks on the points be worth doing or is a hair jig not suitable for winter fishing? Or would you always drag a football jig?
You never seis to amaze me Matt!
Thank you!
Nice catches bud. It is cold out I went yesterday BUT so much fun. No jet boats flying by lol.
Great video 👍
My feet would be frozen in those sandals..lol
Awesome video Matt got to get me one of those chains and nice catches 👍🏻
Thanks Gary! This is the one... bit.ly/3A8370q
Love it always sending out the best content
Thanks Danny!
Beautiful conditions? Brother, it looks cold as a Mf on that water 😂mad respect your videos are the only reason I can confidently break apart any body of water I’m on and having a better understanding of why your catching or not catching greatly improves my moral and confidence when fishing .
Thanks Matt, great fishing. My favorite style is dragging ajig,can't wait to get the 2.5 hula!
It's so good! You're going to love it!!
Awesome video Matt!
Thanks!
Hey Matt, love the winter info videos, I’m from Washington and the majority of OUR midsize lakes do not have much bottom structure, creek arms, drop offs, etc. very bowl shaped, would you have any recommendations on locating bass without the use of sidescan/FFS technology or much major structure points to build on?
Great video!
Best time to fish. Had 3 bridges and all pylons to myself yesterday in Western NC. Laid the hammer with a micro A rig
Nice!! That sounds so fun!!
Love the winter time fishing videos! Would you guys recommend that a shore based fisherman retire the rod and reel for the winter and pick it back up in the spring, or is there still a chance to get them from the bank? Thanks for sharing some more knowledge, it's always appreciated.
I catch from shore but I’m on a small dammed up creek that you cast shore to shore in most areas. It’s hard work in winter but if you find a good area they will use it a lot.
You can absolutely catch them from shore! You need to do some map study and focus on those steeper main lake points and/or pinch points on your lake. We haven't always had boats, and I've produced bass to 12 lbs from shore in the Winter 👍
Insanely cold here in the northeast 😅. Enjoy the videos, can you do another mapping video but in real time while fishing?
Thanx Matt. Thats is one of the prettiest smallmouth I ever seen. Please tell me that picture wasn't altered. Great smallie!
That lure retriever could pull up a submarine! I use 65lb braid on a old baitcaster and rod.
Thank you! It was a really pretty fish! And yes, the lure retriever is overkill... but I've had a couple cut off by nasty snags through the years so now I make sure that I win 😎
Great video as always. We're not froze over yet in WV but it's high 20's and low teens Brrrrrr.
East Lynn had skim ice in the marina cove sunday. Lake body right at 40.
Good news is that we have a prolonged cold front.. which will inevitably lead to a good short term warn up.... 😁
It's very similar down here... highs in the 20s and 30s the next couple weeks. It'll be Spring before we know it 😎
Does this lake have two repeating letters at the end? Loved your South America video by the way! Great stuff!
I dont recall hearing it in the video, curious as to what the water temps were. As a comparison to the winter temps were i live.
Those points are pretty barren out there but there are some of those big stumps out there like the one on the tip of that first point. That’s a killer community hole on that lake.
It’s time’s like this that I wish my channel was Mr Fishing “any southern state” 😂
Hey Matt
Would you have done the same thing if was nighttime fishing right now?
Thank you for the channel
Yes, generally in Winter we focus our night efforts on jigs, swim jigs, and swimbaits.
Thank you Matt
Will be getting that lure retriever
And try your winter night tactics too
Nice job appreciate ur insight
Thank you!
Any tips for bass fishing in Jacksonville this time of year?
I always have a chuckle when you guys talk about winter. I guess this is the closest you’re ever gonna come do it. You’re not even wearing gloves. It’s not windy even. I live in one of the warmer parts of Canada on the West Coast , but I still gotta wear gloves in the winter time.
We aren't as cold as you, but it was 14 when we left for the lake this morning... its not exactly cozy out there. The key to fishing without gloves is to stuff your pockets with hand warmers. When we put those hands away they're in a little furnace 👍🏼
Do you ever recommend a punch rig this time of year? Maybe a punch rig that could punch through 2 feet of ice? 😂
Hey Matt, do those lure retrievers ever fray your line up? I’ve always been curious of that.
On the water videos 👍
Edit: so glad I ordered stuff before this video 😂
Ha!
Great job Matt! no flip flops?
Not this time 🥶
I just bought my first bass boat this last summer, I’ve been in a 14 Jon boat up to that point so I’m really just learning my lake (Jordan Lake, NC). If you guys had to choose a technique or lure to just try and get bites this time of year to learn where the productive areas of the lake are, what would that be? I’ve been struggling so hard to just get a bite. I think I’ve gotten worse since I bought a real boat lol
Are you using all Humminbird electronics including live? Do you plan on upgrading to live 2?
We just made the upgrade 👍🏼
Matt, how well do you think you would be able to compete on a circut like the elite series? Obviously your incredibly smart and good at fishing but do you think professional anglers are on a whole diffrent level or with enough practice you could compete with a lot of them?
@evanp_fishing9933 We're friends with, and regularly fish with many elite-level pros. It's not a question of competing, it's a question of whether Tim and I could continue to speak the truth, laying it all out for free, while staying competitive. The answer is a definitive "NO". Tournament angling is about competitive edge and staying ahead, we would have to start being secretive to stay ahead. What we do at TacticalBassin is teach 100% truth all the time, as soon as we figure it out.
Competitive tournament angling and teaching relevant, current fishing information are at complete odds with one another. Many have tried, and still try, to blur those lines, but the competitive angler or the end consumer will have to lose, it can't be a win-win consistently.
We chose our path to teach and are very happy with the decision we've made. 👍🏼
@@tacticalbassin that makes a lot of sense, really an amazing answer. I have a lot of respect for you both and have loved watching you over the last few years, cant wait to watch whats next for you guys as time goes on!🤙🏼
Would be interesting to take effective baits and add different scent products to see any difference in bite aggression
I might be tripping, but wouldn’t the bait retriever be way less damaging to hooks if the chains were rubber or silicon like a net?, they would catch better on the hooks as well
Teamwork
Matt, was that the XL version of the Toothy lure retriever that you used?
Yes 👍
It’s 20 degrees and about frozen over up here. I’ll see ya in the spring when it warms back up above 40 haha
Hang in there!!
@ you guys just keep putting out videos and I’ll keep watching. I’m revisiting some of your older stuff to decide what new combo I want to buy for my birthday this year haha.
Is this dale hollow?
Hi , matt im a (bank) angler and lots of time i loose lots of money and lures😂😂. Please, that lure retriever, i need it ASAP, i see the 15FT, that you have diwn below, but not the one you used in the video😢😢 unless i overlooked it, could you post it soon. I really appreciate it and you guys do an excellent job, and thank you again.
Here you go... bit.ly/3A8370q
Sorry one more question were you using the bigger of the two lure retriever sizes ?
Thanks
Yes, I was using the XL... its this one: bit.ly/3A8370q
Good morning
Have y’all fished Watauga Lake yet?
What expride would you recommend for the football jig?
In all your vids yall talk about water clearity. Our fishing spots get full of algea turning the water green with 2-4ft before you cant see. Would this be treated the same as stained/tanic/murky or clear?
Clarity is always relative to the water body. In one lake where 40' of vis is the norm... 8' would be dirty. In a lake were 1' is the norm... 2' is crystal clear. I treat algae the exact same as anything else that makes the water murky... but be sure that the algae is mixed throughout and not just on the surface with clear water below.
@tacticalbassin yes its very much mixed in the water and happens every year. Not on top. Lots of farm runoff out here in the prairies so maybe thats it. thanks for the reply and all the info yall put out. no largemouth up in my part of canada but fish are fish.
Are you using braid to fluorocarbon on all the rods??
Edit: if so how long of a leader?
Not on all rods, but on most of them. 8-10 feet of leader in clear water, shorter in murky water.
@ which lures would you mainly run on braid to fluorocarbon vs lures with straight fluoro
So bluff walls are not your primary spots?
Bluffs can be very productive, but for whatever reason I don't normally catch the biggest fish on them.
I don’t get it. I have tried this same approach at least 10 times on a few different lakes. I spend dawn till dusk glued to my ffs and I can not find bass. I can find bait, I can find white bass, but in multiple years of attempting this “winter magic” I have found no bass. I’ve looked from 5’ to 45’ of water. I’ve hung out in the middle of the channel with the shad. ZERO bass. I must be the world’s worst winter bass fisherman. Great video Matt, would love to see more detail on what the described areas look like on the map and what you see on ffs to let us know what you are throwing at.
Hello tactial bassin family I bought myself a poison adrena for Christmas and my birthday and I got the 1611M+ plus model 611 medium + fast and I’m not sure what reel I’m want to get for I I was eyeing the chronarch mgl and the bantam I was curious as to see which reel yall think would be better to get for it? Have a great day!🎉
Hmmm... between those 2 I would go with the Chronarch... but you should really consider the Curado 70, or if it's in the budget, the Adlebaran MGL. I think you'll be happier with those smaller spool sizes on that rod.
@ thank you very much for your time and response have a great evening
Float-n-fly
Still getting them on 3/8 black and blue chatter bait
Awesome!
I went out today after work for a couple of hours. I couldn't get them to bite anything today.
The water is in the low 40s here right now.
Do you think the bait retriever could work from the bank
What was the water temp.?
I didn't even look... my guess is high 40s.
what is that lure retriever
Its this one... bit.ly/3A8370q
@ okay thank you
Tell me it's cold without telling me it's cold.... Matt's wearing shoes, not sandals. 😅
Am I hearing a braid to fluorocarbon knot, passing through your rod eye's?
Braid to Fluoro and braid to mono, depending on the rod.
Hey Matt, where are your flip flops?
In the back compartment, desperately hoping the temp goes up a couple more degrees! 😂
First things first. Have a boat
Not gonna lie I winterized my boat a long time ago😂 too damn cold
Don't worry... we'll keep it going until you come back and join us 😎
🤟🏻🎣👊🏻🎣🤟🏻🎣👊🏻🔥
Can't tell if you're on Cherokee, Douglas or Norris.
This has to be Dale.
We’ve got lows in the teens or lower at night around here in va. Gotta warm up lil bit before I go back. Snow again Saturday
Yeah, it's brutally cold down here as well. Currently 24 degrees on the Tennessee River and Tim and I are both headed out today.
@ 💪🏼
Man I’ve been catching them on beds since
#sslmn
Dude
U need to look at ur first guide from the reel on ur spinning it's bent way out of position
It's supposed to be 👍🏼 That helps control wind knots.
@tacticalbassin
Yahh I dint think so
Been fishing way longer that u hav been alive. And I stopped the video to zoom and look at it, plus I hav been in the hunting and fishing industry over 40 yrs
Those r guides so ur braid or mono don't loop around them. Tangle free guides
And that guide is bent back to the reel. I hav the top of the line st Croix and shitmano Loomis and not 1 of my spin rods r like that. And I toss more spinning than casting
I understand you've been in the industry for 40 years, but it's ever-changing. Do some research on the 2024 Poison Adrena with Shimano X-Guides for the answer to your inquiry.
I looked on two and their Pic shows that guide is tilted to the tip of the rod
But I haven't bought anything from shitmano in 15 years when they didn't want to stand behind their Loomis rods which was real g Loomis rods. Then I got a Stella reel and had major issues out of the box. Long story short, they sent me 5 new reels b4 they got 1 that worked but they wanted to charge me shipping for all 5 that was screwed up out of the box. And they new I worked at 1 of the major fishing stores
B4 that it was never a issue with shitmano. Never a question, never a charge nothing, so I hav never look at anything with the shitmano name on it. Plus when u open up their reels there is alot of plastic gears now, the price u pay for their stuff and they put plastic gears in, ahhh no thanks
I hav a shitmano camera spin 4 dropshot, I stopped using it cause if it breaks they won't stand behind the life time and that's the only shitmano I own anymore.
It must be cold…
You’re wearing moccasins…lol
Hahahah- Using high end? Adrena ?😂😂😂 craprod
You evidently are just stupid.
Would love some tips. Fish a 66 acre quarry for largies when I'm not small jaw fishing. Ranges from 25ft to 120. Very highly pressured. Any tips
What all types of fish are in there?
@ loaded with giant trout, channel cats and largies which is all I fish for. I catch a ton. I seen double digest now and then but have yet to catch one.
@@seanp618 is it planted for trout? If so, they're probably not stocking brood stock and the planters are 8-12 inches. If that were the case, an 8 inch glide or boot-tail swimbait in a trout pattern would be fun to throw there, especially right after a Spring or Fall plant. Are there Bluegill, Crappie, bait fish, anything like that?
Just a ton of bluegill and a ton of alewives. I hammer them on jigs, magdrafts, frogs under overhangs, magnum baits oversized senkos. They also just stocked fingerling perch. Used to catch 15 or 20!largies a trip in the 3 to 5 pound range on average. It recently became highly pressured and the quantity and quality had died down
@@seanp618 ah, I had some city ponds like that when I was a kid. In the spring I could bank on pulling up at least one 4 or 5 pounder every trip and a few in the 2-3 pound range. Then everybody started fishing there. I could kayak around and fish spots that no one could get to by bank and still do pretty good. Also started night fishing with black spinnerbaits and hammered them during the Summer.