Cold Weather Bassing

[Leo]

You're not supposed to catch a lot of bass in November. Even down here in the south where a November day might only be as cold as 50F. The bass don't eat much when it's cooled down. They don't have too. They also aren't spread around the shoreline like in spring and fall. This is hit or miss fishing. You either find them while they are hungry and clean up or get the big skunk-ola.

My brother and I tried right before Thanksgiving and caught a couple right as bad weather moved in. The fish were tearing into the shad for about 15 minutes. The cloud cover moved in, the fish went down and that was the end of the action.

Especially on these 50 degree days if you don't have some sunlight on the water the bass don't drive the shad to the surface. The clouds moved in, we couldn't find them after they sounded deep and that was the end of the action.

I told my brother, if the weather stayed overcast and drizzly for about three days those fish are gonna be real hungry when the weather breaks. It didn't look like it was gonna break three days later but they was a small chance it just might get pushed a little north of the lake we fished. We took a chance and God smiled on us. We had that little break in cloud cover and rain. The fish went beserk!

We caught some up top smashing the shad. I tried a new lure I'd suggested our local hardware store start carrying. A DOA Baitbuster (Shallow Runner Model), this is primarily a saltwater lure but I figured the bass would tear it up if they were eating shad. I was right. This is my new favorite for pitching in bass eating shad. No doubt about it. Awesome lure. You can buzz it on top, reel it in slow and work it like a jerk bait or cast it into the fray and just let it sink. All three methods worked!

I have caught bigger bass but not on this lake. I just couldn't break the five pound mark there. This new DOA lure broke the bad luck streak. Gonna buy some more for sure.

We lost the sun and down the bass went again. This time we concentrated harder at finding where they were holding deep. My brother tied on a Tsunami Pro Jig and started plying the depths. After he got three hits in a row doing this, I said, "Give me one of those!" We got a few more hits casting and working these deep but when we started getting numerous hits close to the boat, I tried vertically jigging this lure in 12 foot of water. That was the magic secret! I caught six of my nine bass for the day vertical jigging. Including this very respectable largemouth.

My brother caught twelve. I caught nine. All except two were over two pounds. The average fish was close to three pounds. Our combined catch for the day was close to fifty pounds. That's an awesome days fishing anytime of the year but it in November it's absolutely stellar.

I watched a couple deer walk the banks of the lake. I didn't feel guilty about not hunting that day one bit!

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Good catch Leo. I've used some of the DOA products before and had good results. I'll have to give that little baitbuster swimbait a try and see what happens.

[Leo]

Good catch Leo. I've used some of the DOA products before and had good results. I'll have to give that little baitbuster swimbait a try and see what happens.

The DOA shrimp here in the salt marshes is an absolute staple for catching trout and redfish. I don't sweat not having live shrimp like I used to. The DOAs are great and more durable than live bait. You can fish the DOA shrimps under a rattle cork and "call" fish out of the grass. As much as I like them and believe in them I will say Berkley's Gulp shrimp sure seem to have the edge. Berkley claims their Gulp baits outfish live bait. Based on my experience with the Gulp shrimp on redfish and trout, I'll admit I'm a believer. These things are a MUST HAVE for redfish and trout. I won't hit the water without them. BTW, flounder like them too

I'm giving the DOA baitbuster a try tomorrow in the salt. I'll let you know how it does.

[Guest Cole_TX]

NICE!!!

[aksheephuntress]

Awesome, Leo!

...and you're right...-I recognise that red suit-

-great fish, and pictures!

[backwoods07]

Hmm, and I thought all fish went to sleep for the winter..or at least I convinced myself they do

[Leo]

Awesome, Leo!

...and you're right...-I recognise that red suit-

-great fish, and pictures!

I wore the red suit (did you make it lucky?) yesterday and we caught two redfish. Blackened Redfish with Potatoes AuGratin and Mozerella Garlic bread was dinner last night.

The fish were only hitting off the bottom so the Baitbuster wasn't the ticket. Luckily we discovered they did like Gulp shrimp on a jig.

Even though it's "winter" you still have to work the water column top to bottom. We felt like we earned those fish but know God made sure we didn't finish the day empty handed.