D'Ya Know What Bass Anglers and Real Estate Agents Have in Common?

They share the same key to success: Location is everything. The most successful bass anglers know and understand the migration patterns of largemouth bass. Generally speaking, they can pinpoint fish at any time of year. Their casting skills, equipment selection, and other factors are important, of course, but they mean nothing if you're not concentrating on areas that hold fish.

According to bass pro Jay Yelas, bridges are some of the best places to look for fish throughout the winter months. "Hard, rocky bottoms, adjacent deep water, and vertical habitat combine to offer cold-water bass everything they could possibly need," he said. He offers these four tips to increase your chances of success during all those chilly days on the water:

Avoid stereotypes. Most people think of bridges as giant causeways that span a large area of water. "While these types of bridges certainly offer excellent winter bass fishing," noted Yelas, "spend some time locating older, more overlooked bridges (e.g., such as wooden railroad bridges)."

He encourages anglers to dissect them. "Start by pitching a small, compact jig to the outside pilings, toward the very middle of the bridge," he suggested. "I want to start with what I believe are the deepest posts, because that's usually where the bass will be positioned."

Focus on pilings near large depth changes. "Vertical habitat is an enormous factor in wintertime bass fishing. Everything underwater is basically in slow motion. The baitfish are barely moving, and the bass rarely are eating...in miniscule feeding windows, usually only once every several days.

"Sharp vertical drops give bass the best of both worlds," continued Yelas. "They can suspend off these break lines when they're inactive, but they also have very quick and easy access to shallower water when the need to feed presents itself. In other words, they're able to feed efficiently without exerting too much energy."

In order to capitalize on this lethargic wintertime behavior, Yelas targets bridge pilings positioned on or near a dramatic depth change (like a piling situated in 20 feet of water, just a short distance from a 50-foot-deep river channel that cuts under the bridge).

"I spend a lot of time with my Humminbird Helix, looking for the river or creek channels underneath bridges," he said. "Not only do both the bass and bait use them as major migratory routes, but they're also prone to wash a lot of brush against nearby bridge pilings. Whether it's trees or logs, they'll act as small current breaks and ambush points for coldwater bass."

Timing can be huge. Yelas stresses that winter bass rarely bite all day, adding that "they'll often only bite for 10 or 15 minutes at a time, so you have to be ready to capitalize on it. To increase your chances, target these bridges when there's a fair amount of current. It tends to position the fish on the riprap corners, and you can drag a jig in 20 or 30 feet of water and catch a bunch of them.

"Because bridges often bottleneck bait and bass into a confined area, don't be afraid to fish the same bridge several times throughout any given day of fishing. There usually will be activity in the area, but as is the case with a lot scenarios in fishing, it's all about being at the right place at the right time. If you don't get it right on your first stop, try again in a few hours. It can make a world of difference."

Consider these lures. Yelas uses a select few lures throughout the winter, and they all have one thing in common: small and slow. One is a skirted jig. He sticks with a 1/2-ounce size, as it forces him to fish slowly in order to maintain contact with the bottom. His rule of thumb is simple: "If you can't count each individual rock, you're fishing too fast."

The jigging spoon is another choice. "When I'm fishing pilings near river or creek channels, I'll always have a 3/4-ounce jigging spoon rigged and ready to go," said Yelas. "This bite is at its absolute best when those schools of shad are positioned close to the bottom, within a few feet. That's when you can catch astronomical numbers of bass."

A final choice is the suspending jerkbait. "It can be difficult to beat in cold water," he said. "The long pauses and sudden erratic movements trigger a reactionary instinct that can make even the most stubborn winter bass attack. You'll catch some on the pilings, but it seems the corners are best-suited for the best action. Remember to fish it very slow--sometimes with 15-second pauses--and keep a small bow in your line throughout the pause. You won't always feel the bite, so when you see your line jump, it's time to set the hook."