![]() If you’re fishing for bass corralling schools of shad, this is one of the best winter bass lures. Consider adding split rings or loops of braided line to attach the hooks and provide better landing percentages. One drawback is that the hooks grab onto cover, but can be leveraged by bass to get away. Many of the bites will come on the fall, and you’ll set the hook when it just “gets heavy.” While they’re best in deeper water, anglers on many tidal rivers use them around dock pilings and marinas, often in less than 2 feet of water. They get to the bottom quickly, stay in position, and respond well to both subtle and abrupt manipulations. The tadpole shape of the Silver Buddy has the ability to resemble just about any forage fish, and while they look primitive, they’re precisely balanced to act realistic when pulled upward or allowed to fall. Cast a mile, and can be felt even with cold hands.Metallic patterns resemble universal baitfish.Three line tie positions for different actions.Best for Imitating Dying Shad: Silver Buddy Blade Bait The only drawback beyond that is that it catches everything that swims, so if you’re specifically targeting bass, you may occasionally be interrupted by other species. You can cast the larger sizes on baitcasting gear, but particularly in the wind, the smaller ones demand spinning tackle, and the Shad Rap is highly affected by changes in line size. The balsa body is hyper-responsive and remarkably tough for such a seemingly delicate bait, and every year it produces giants. It’s fine to burn it in the fall and early spring, but in the coldest months, you’ll want to c-r-a-w-l it across gravel banks and over likely flats. Read Next: Best Fishing Rain Gear Best Winter Bass Lures: Reviews and Recommendations Best Crankbait for Winter Bass: Rapala Shad Rapīuilding on the company’s Finnish precision heritage, Rapala introduced the Shad Rap 40 years ago, and while many other manufacturers have tried to imitate it, none have surpassed its wintertime fish-catching ability. Mostly I’ve learned that the need to slow down is near-universal, but there are key ways to trigger strikes, whether the water is 33 degrees or 73 degrees when the days are at their shortest. I spend a lot of time on a local power plant lake, as well as on tidal and free-flowing rivers, and on the never-frozen bass fisheries of Mexico, Texas, and Florida. Over the years, I’ve developed a repertoire of clothing that keeps me warm and agile, so I don’t have to take any days off but the worst of the bunch. I don’t really hunt, and don’t care much for hockey or basketball, so I have a lot of free time in the winter that I spend chasing bass. How I Chose the Best Winter Bass Lures The author fishes each winter in the frigid northeast and warm lakes in Mexico, Texas, and Florida. Best for Bass Schooled Up on Structure: Rapala Jigging Rap Ice Jig.Best for Rocky Terrain: Yamamoto Double Tail Hula Grub.Best for Giant Fish: Keitech Tungsten Football Jig.Best for Imitating Dying Shad: Silver Buddy Blade Bait.Best Crankbait for Winter Bass: Rapala Shad Rap.Here are six of my favorite winter bass baits for times when most people would rather be at home. ![]() That’s easier said than done, but focus on high percentage areas, and it’s possible to have the day of a lifetime in between sips from your thermos. In addition to choosing the right lures, you’ll need to fine tune your gear and clothing to ensure that when you get a bite, you’re in a position to capitalize. Not just no other anglers, but no jet skiers or wakeboarders, either. Most importantly, I like this time of year because I often have the water to myself. It doesn’t hurt that they’re usually at their heaviest weight. That’s partially because bass tend to gang up in predictable places when the water is at its coldest, and while they’ll eat less often, they still need to pack on the calories. But in some respects, that’s a feature, not a bug, because once you find them, they can be easy pickings. Just as you slow down in the coldest months, so too does your quarry. The best winter bass lures all provide an easy meal for bass that aren’t inclined to chase them very far. ![]()
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