There's one indisputable fishing fact: You'll never have a problem distinguishing between the wooses and the brave hearts when it comes to cold-weather bassin'. One group simply stays home where it's nice and warm, while the other group...call them die-hards, hard chargers or whatever...layer up and head for a boat ramp in any kind of weather.
Never mind that these latter guys and gals ultimately will suffer from numb fingers, running noses, and a whole host of other unpleasantries in the pursuit of their favorite sport. They simply are willing to play through all of that on the chance they just might catch a new personal best and/or earn themselves some newfound bragging rights.
While the vast majority of die-hard anglers choose crankbaits and their tantalizing shimmy to fool cold-water bass, even when they aren't actively feeding, many make avoidable mistakes with their lure choice. Heading this list are dull treble hooks. You can get away with being a little lackadaisical with hook sharpness in warmer months, but cold weather demands close inspection of each and every hook point, especially to land big fish.
Another mistake made is playing the fish too long. No one encourages you to ski a hooked fish across the water's surface, but you also don't want to give them any extra chances to shake their head and/or throw the crankbait.
Mistake No. 3 is ignoring warming trends. If you're suffering from a serious case of cabin fever, you may be tempted to hit the water the first nice day you get after an extended period of poor weather. The smart angler, however, checks the extended forecast and likely will do better if he/she opts for the third day of a warming trend. And if some wind is in the forecast, so much the better. As one pro angler noted, "I've caught 'em in 20-degree weather in two feet of water, with waves crashing against the bank."
Yet another mistake these die-hards often make is overthinking lure colors. Every angler in the world is guilty of overthinking things at some point. In regards to cold-water cranking, though, it's especially easy to get spun out. You're not always going to get a bunch of bites doing this, so those hour-plus lulls in the action can make you start doubting yourself. Whatever you do, don't start losing your mind about your crankbait's color, say the pros. "Keep things super simple," they add. Some, for instance, simply use a red color within a few days of a full moon and when targeting rock or clay banks, chartreuse in muddy water, and natural shad in cleaner water.
The final mistake many make is not paying attention to the kind of line you're using. While avid power fishermen love to tie on some big line and target heavy cover, cold weather and and tougher conditions demand a different strategy. The recommended general standard is 10- to 12-pound fluorocarbon, which allows you to work your crankbaits deeper and stay in better contact with the bait.
Pros note that "bait awareness is everything in cold water. You need to be able to feel every single thing your bait is doing. If it misses a single shimmy or wobble, you need to be able to feel it because that oftentimes is the signal for a bite."
The next time you get an opportunity, tie on a crankbait, grab a thermos full of steaming hot coffee, and grind out a few hours on the lake or river. It won't be pleasant, and you'll likely want a hot shower afterward, but that's a small price to pay for the chance of catching a giant bass on your favorite crankbait.
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