As we enter the winter months, coming to grips with the cold and loss of daylight has never been an easy step for this angler. With days dwindling to less than eight hours of sunlight, it can be a huge adjustment. Let’s be honest, some of us are simply not built for the indoors.
One of the winter bright spots over the last several decades has been targeting smallmouth bass through the winter, or at least as long as the ice held off. Chasing bass from December to February sure beat hanging my gear up for the season. The challenges of cracking this cold-water code have resulted in extending open water fishing longer than I would have ever thought possible. More fishing, I mean, catching opportunities during this long, cold season has been the best cure for cabin fever.
Bass actively feed year-round. Being cold-blooded, their activity slows down, but not nearly as much as we imagine. Anglers are generally surprised at just how active bass are during the winter months. Even as water temperatures fall below the 38-degree mark, bass can move into current seams and are not just confined to the calm eddy areas. While winter pools and eddies are indeed target areas, do not shy away from fishing soft current. While the target area may be the softest part of a given pool, allow the bait to be pulled into the edge of the current seem. The most actively feeding bass will be on that current edge.
One of the keys to success has been downsizing my lure selection and slowing down the overall presentation from a hop to a drag. Snack-sized soft plastic baits, those under three inches, seem to work best. The Chillee Willee from FITT Premium Lures was designed specifically for cold water. A little-known tidbit is that the prototype was called the CW Delight (CW=Cold Water). However, the Chillee Willee play on the CW initials stuck and the rest is as they say, history. No matter what the name is, this soft plastic lure has been a winner all along. The size of this little gem at just over 2.5” and can be rigged on a number of jig configurations.
Ned/Midwest Jig
The Ned Rig has been a staple for finesse fishing, so why not in the instance of the Chillee Willee? The Ned/Midwest Jig shown is called the Tri Keeper from Zee Baits and Fitt Lures. I had some assistance in designing this keeper. We wanted a keeper that did not rip or tear though smaller plastisol lures, and here is the answer. This style keeper works well on ElazTech baits but was designed for use with baits made from plastisol.
One of the benefits of a Ned/Midwest Jig with the wire keeper is the ability to hold and not tear the top of the lure. After catching several bass, I have cut a ¼ inch off the lure and reset the jig to catch a few more.
Standup Football Jig
The Standup Football Jig was designed by Al Winco. Al pioneered the company that is now Fitt Premium Lures. The jig looks like a football jig with a flat area on the bottom that allows lures to sit more upright than a standard football jig. The Tri Keeper was added to this jig a few years back for the reasons mentioned in the above section.
This jig works great in cobble bottoms and allows the Chillee Willee (and other small finesse lures) to come through and ‘tip-up” once the angler stops it. A subtle lift and stop from the angler allow the bait to tip, making it appear like it is digging or escaping into the cobble or soft bottom associated with wintering areas. This drag, stop and tip motion is deadly for both bass and walleye.
If anglers are fishing more snaggy areas, the Standup Football jig is sold with the option of a wire guard.
Brush Guard Jigs
For anglers fishing wooded or exceedingly rocky areas, one final option are jigs with a brush guard. When it comes to the finesse world, the issue is that most of these types of jigs are 2/0 and larger forged hooks in weights that are far from finesse sized. If you look hard enough you can find them in weights down to 3/16 ounce. However, one company, Hayabusa, makes a light wire – light weight jig with a brush guard. The Hayabusa Brush Jig comes in finesse sizes down to 1/16th ounce.
Each of the rigs shown will allow the Chillee Willee to crawl through a variety of river bottoms. The operative word is crawl.
When it comes to color choices, there are a few go to colors. I am generally a fan of the laminates. Bumblebee, with the dark top and yellow bottom is by far my favorite color in cold water. I cannot explain what it resembles, only that it works. If it seems too bright, consider the black & tan option. The lighter underbelly of these baits closely resembles the forage they dine on. If these seem too bright, Susquehanna craw, green pumpkin and purple smoke make solid choices for cold water fishing.
In closing, realize that open-water fishing during the winter is not for everyone. Dress in layers accordingly and never fish alone. Having a partner or two is not only wise, it can also be a necessity. If possible, select days during a warming trend and low winds. It is amazingly more comfortable fishing in the sun than on a gloomy windy day.
