Local Lakes & Forecasts Lipless Crankbaits for Winter Time Bass Action
Lake Allatoona striper/hybrid
Contributed By: Jay Striker www.jaystriker.com Many anglers start to put away their fishing gear in the winter and head for the woods for some hunting. Not me, I head to the lake and commence to catch fish on lipless crankbaits. I have found that when the temperature of the water is in the mid-30s to low 40s, throwing a lipless crankbait can be a gold mine. However, there are certain things you want to know and do if you want to be successful. First, be sure you know the difference between cover and structure, as it will help you eliminate water quickly. Second, have the right equipment and set up, such as the right reel, line and rod set-up. Third, understand the right presentation that will help you catch fish. Difference between Cover and Structure: Cover is anything that will provide bass something to get under or behind to ambush prey, such as lily pads, floating docks, piers, vegetation, etc. Structure is things such as drop offs, ledges, changes in contours, points and flats. There is a reason for understanding this and that is because bass in the winter will relate to structure rather than cover and suspend over the structure if there is an advantage point to a food source nearby. In the winter I spend a lot of time focusing on structure rather that cover and that helps eliminate water quickly when throwing lipless crankbaits. Equipment and Set-up: Many anglers when throwing lipless crankbaits tend to throw them on high speed gear reels like a 7.1:1 or 6.3:1. When the water temperature is in the low 30s and 40s, understand that the fish are not likely to chase baits a long way, especially if it is moving very fast. So I use a slower gear speed reel like a 5.3:1, as it slows that bait down even though I’m still cranking at a normal speed. Other considerations are the rod and line used for lipless cranking in the winter. I use a medium heavy 7 foot Denali Cranking Rod spooled with 14-17 pound Sufix Tritanium line or a fluorocarbon line. You 10 ATLANTA
january 2017
Forecast by Shawn “Shadman” McNew Striper Soup Bait & Tackle Acworth GA/ 770-528-9601
don’t want to have a very stiff rod because you will tend to pull the bait out of the fish’s mouth when you get bit. Presentation: Once you have found some structure and have the right tackle setup, it’s time to put in work finding fish. One of my favorite lipless crankbaits in the winter is a 3/8 - 1/2 ounce Rapala Rippin Rap type bait. I like it to have some rattles and make some noise, especially if I have a little wind on the water. During really calm winter days I’ll sometime use a rattleless bait or one that has less rattles in it to match the conditions. One of the keys to catching fish on the lipless cranks is to start at the bottom of the water column and work your way up. Allow the bait to hit the bottom and retrieve it back at a consistent cadence, because this time of year fish are in tight schools and relating to the bottom a lot. Keep watching your line because bass will just inhale it, and you may not know it, so stay ready. This winter when you are thinking about heading out to the lake, consider taking the lipless crankbait box with you. Be armed with a clear understanding between cover and structure, and know how to set up the right equipment and have the right presentations. You just might make your favorite summer pastime your favorite pastime in the winter. Good Luck Striker Nation; I’ll see you on the water.
Lake Allatoona will be down 17 feet and holding in January. Despite the water being at its lowest level, the striper and hybrid still like to feed this time of year. With Allatoona about 2/3 it’s normal size, both bait and gamefish will be concentrated into a smaller, easier to fish version of the lake. Both the condition of the water and the patterns of the fish are very dynamic this time of year and are greatly influenced by temperature and precipitation. Prolonged cold spells will drive bait and fish down below 30 feet. Heavy rains will cause the entire Etowah side of the lake to muddy up. Effective techniques and locations will vary based on these influences. This is a great time of year to be on Allatoona, catch some fish, and enjoy a reprieve from the water-plows and jet skis that plague the lake during the warmer months. There are copious amounts of baitfish in the lake this year, so finding bait shouldn’t be a problem with good electronics. The new MEGA imaging units by Humminbird are some of the most detailed and easy to dial in fishfinders on the market. You should be able to scan vast stretches of water to eliminate dead zones, while finding out where the striped fish are feeding. Downlines will be the prominent technique from now until March. The depth to fish, however, can change on a
Acworth, GA
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daily basis by changes in weather. The baitfish could be in the top 15 feet of water for a few days and then move below 30 feet overnight. Being able to adjust to these variations will be paramount for a successful outing. If the water remains in the 50 degree range, threadfin will be your best baits, but if it dips a few degrees below 50, gizzards, shiners and small trout will be the ticket. Target points, humps, channel bends, and in some cases suspended fish over water as deep as 100 feet. The seagulls will be your best friend in January-February. Schooling fish, both on the surface and in the murky depths, will also be susceptible to the artificial bite. Vertical jigging can be superb on Allatoona. If you find a good concentration of threadfin, chances are they will be starting their winter die-off. Some will be picked off by gulls, but many will flutter down into the mouths of spots, whites, hybrid and striper under the school. Use a .6 ounce Flex-it, Capt Mack, or similar jigging spoon on a sensitive rod and lower it onto their heads. Dragging U-rigs will produce plenty of fish and can pay off big time even when the live bait bite is off. Keep a keen eye out for surface feeding and have a casting spoon, Rooster Tail, small bucktail jig or popping cork and fly/Foley spoon setup ready to go. Hint: Don’t fall in, seriously! Shad Man will keep us stocked up with fresh bait all winter.
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