It is no secret that a small-profile, tight wobbling crankbait is one of the best choices for consistently catching fish in the winter. Everyone here in middle Tennessee throws a Rapala Shad Rap, but I am a bigger fan of the Rapala DT4, DT6 and Strike King Series 3 in cold water (45-55 degrees).
One of the biggest keys is the type of banks to target. I look for deep, sloping banks that run down to the water at a 45-degree angle and are full of chunk rocks. These banks can either be on the main lake or the first third of pockets. The upcoming 2015 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina may end up being a good example of this fishing situation. That will all depend on the water temperature.
Fish love a smaller profile bait in the cold weather, the 4 and 6 are silent baits, wooden. The series 3 has a rattle, so sometimes you have to figure out which one they prefer, which can change daily.
Let’s talk more about the baits. The biggest advantage of the DT4/6 and Series 3 is their castability. I can throw them nearly twice as far as I can the Shad Rap. I like to throw these small crankbaits around any cover available, and the DT4 and DT6 are also better for coming through the cover. They have a rounded lip, almost like a square bill, and that helps when fishing around branches and logs. As for color selection, I go with a crawfish color first—red craw and brown craw for the DTs. A shad color with the Series 3 can also be the ticket.
Making parallel casts to the bank will help you keep your bait in the strike zone. If the water is dingy, they’ll be right up on the bank. A lot of guys fish with a partner in the boat so here’s a tip on that. Parallel the bank with your boat, and have the shallower angler throw the DT4 and the other throw the DT6 a little farther out. It may take some switching up between the silent baits (the DTs) and the Series 3, which has a rattle, but this is a winning pattern. Throw these baits all day and you’ll be hard to beat!
One way you could get beat is by losing fish. I catch more by using a spinning rod, monofilament line, and fresh hooks. A spinning rod with 8-pound Vicious monofilament (easier to manage in cold weather) will let you cast the bait farther and play the fish out when you hook them. Mustad #6 round bend hooks hold up the best against the rocks, but don’t get skimp on changing them out frequently. They’re a great insurance policy for putting big fish in the boat, and their price is always right. My spinning rod is an MHX DS 822 that I built with supplies from Mud Hole Custom Tackle (www.MudHole.com)
Cold days will eliminate the fair-weather fishermen, so call up your buddy who is serious about his fishing. Tie on a couple of these baits and hit the banks. After a fighting a healthy bass or two, you’ll be warm the rest of day.