Fishing Reports
55 Fishing Reports
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Football Jigs
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
69°
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Baitfish
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
45°
On this cold day, my main goal was to finish out 2023 strong. This time of year I love a jerkbait and a damiki/hover rig. The jerkbait especially is my moneymaker being the Rapala Shadow rap. For me it has gotten me more bites through the years than any other. Majority of bass were chasing shad balls or out roaming around. Caught a few over 5 and a bunch of crappie mixed in. Take your time during the winter and experiment with different cadences to your jerkbait. You’ll be surprised how aggressive these bass get during the winter.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Grass Jigs
Structure
Laydowns
Forage
Bluegill
Water Temperature
60°
On this day I fished a winter kayak tournament on Bald Knob lake. There wasn’t very much depth but a very abundant amount of shoreline vegetation and some laydowns. Starting out, I was throwing a spinnerbait down the bank until I found some thicker clumps of grass in the back of a pocket. I was able to catch my first 3 keepers in a matter of minutes. As the spinnerbait bite was dwindling, I picked up a Picasso dock rocket jig and started pitching it around the grass and around laydowns to cull up. My two biggest bass came off wood fishing the jig as aggressive as I could. Using 20lb test on both setups was a big part of getting those fish in the boat. Hopefully this helps you on your next trip either here or on your body of water.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Blade Baits
Structure
Standing Timber
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
55°
Large amount of shad in front pocket by ramp. Water is low and bites hard to get. Fished with a 6th Sense Gyro tail spinner as well, isn't listed as an item to use as a bait. Was sunny 62 with very light winds.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Standing Timber
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
55°
Clear water, calm wind, bluebird sky. Was 60 degrees outside water temp 55. Caught fish up shallow with jerkbait and lipless. All caught around standing timber in water and pockets on points on underspin.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Texas Rigs (Worming)
Structure
Brush Piles
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
61°
Mid-depth near wood of any kind.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Umbrella Rigs
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
60°
Water cooling off fast, large population of shad rising to the surface migrating to the backs of pockets and creeks. Umbrella rig around bait balls and chatterbait on grass edges, finding areas with current like pinch points was key to our success.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Crankbaits 0-6'
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
51°
All bass were right on the bank. Key was to get the squarebill to deflect off the rocks causing a reaction bite. Sunny banks produced more bites.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Buzzbaits
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
54°
Mouths of pockets with moving water flowing in. Bait is moving into back of pockets.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Bladed Jigs
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
56°
We caught them doing a lil bit of everything the other day. We found some under bait and caught them on a drop shot and damiki rig. We also went shallow on the windy points and caught several on a chatterbait and one good one on a glide. They are scattered out right now but if you can find the bait you can catch some fish and they seem willing to cooperate. Get out and enjoy what I think is the best time to be on The Rock. Will start booking a few trips for December if I can fit them in between tournaments and the holidays. SoMo Fish Co 417-838-3122
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Crankbaits 0-6'
Structure
Baitfish
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
57°
The fish were cruising bank lines eating shad. Any piece of cover along the banks would produce bites.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Docks
Forage
Blueback Herring
Didn't have much luck up shallow on the docks but working the deep drops produced ok. The vision was great earlier then had to switch due to conditions.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Finesse Jigs
Structure
Ledges
Water Temperature
51°
Flip steeper chunk rock banks with a jig. Cast right at shore, then pop off and let it sink 5'-10'. The bite was subtile but 20+ fish a day.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Umbrella Rigs
Structure
Brush Piles
Water Temperature
48°
Brush piles in 20 - 30' deep. Slow roll the A-rig close to the bottom up and over brush (If you have live-scope), crank-it, and drop the jig headed worm in and wait for the thump!
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Umbrella Rigs
Structure
Flooded Brush
Water Temperature
51°
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Wacky Rigs
Structure
Standing Timber
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
52°
1st day of prefishing on Lake Conway. Flipping the fluke or senko right next to the trees caught several smaller bass. Hitting the tree, and letting the plastic slowly fall down the trunk is what would trigger the bite. Water was muddy, cold, and shallow. Temp was around 52 in main lake.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Crankbaits 0-6'
Structure
Stumps
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
51°
We have a tourney coming up on Lake Conway in April, so I decided to pre-fish a creek I've never been in. Water was roughly 2' low, the color of chocolate milk, and still cool up in the creek. On main lake, I caught on the RkCrawler MD, and then up in the creek, I caught on jigs, and bladed jigs. The fish were small, and the quantity was limited, but I did catch!
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Football Jigs
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
51°
Bluff banks along creek channels. 1/2 ounce brown Bass Union Finesse Football Jig with small matching Zoom chunk. (Fish #1, 1.25 pound Spot), Roboworm Fat on Shaky Head (Fish #2, 1.75 pound Spot). That was it for the day. Water was muddy in the creeks and clearer in the main lake.
