6-keys: sports/wired2fish//// It’s been sunny every time I’ve caught shallow fish lately. If you fish the right lake, at the right time, you can have the best bass fishing of your life, and good enough to count for someone else's life too. Along with water temperature, spring largemouth location is driven by spawning behavior, so fishin… With very little exertion, they’re able to have everything they need to survive in a single, compact area.3. After some experimentation, I found a pretty productive technique.“When the clouds come in, a lot of the bass will instantly slide back into deeper water—no questions asked,” Batts said. They all work well along the bottom and continue to have good action at slower speeds. After Batts and I got out there a few times together, I finally figured it out. They are often found on the deeper ends of flats in the evenings and early mornings. Gear. “When you’re dealing with these big, shallow bass, feeding times tend to get thrown out the window. You'll catch 'em. The days are only a few minutes shorter and a lot of the bass still want to feed before true winter sets in. When the winter months arrive and engulf your favorite fishery with frigid air, don’t overlook the effectiveness of shallow bass fishing. “That fish may not be looking for a meal, but if you make it mad enough, it’ll eventually get tired of the monkey business and crush your bait.”Repeated casts are also important because shallow wintertime bass, especially here in the south, tend to get tucked very far into cover to absorb the heat it conducts. Power fishing has been the predominate pattern and it’s been an absolute blast.Over the past several weeks, we’ve put together 7 tips to help you get more out of your shallow wintertime fishing.1. If you’re looking to catch bigger bass and have a greatchance at a huge limit, however, finding the warmest water is essential.Did you know? The first adjustment you should make is mechanical. You’ll be catching early prespawn bass in January and February. On dream fisheries such as Lake Falcon, Lake Fork or Lake Guntersville, it may be totally possible to catch a 30-pound limit in 30 feet of water throughout the winter. When the winter months arrive and engulf your favorite fishery with frigid air, don’t overlook the effectiveness of shallow bass fishing.For years we’ve been told to seek deep, wintertime hangouts in order to catch coldwater bass but going against the grain can result in some unforgettable fishing days. For example, in the Missouri Ozark region lakes, considered by many to be the birthplace of modern jerkbait fishing, early winter jerkbait fishing begins in December when the water temperatures are in the mid to upper 40’s. “I’m definitely going to stay in shallow water, but I’m going to slow down and bulk up my profile. Should we be fishing at all? You’ll probably only get a few bites on it, but they’ll definitely count.”4. There’s a good chance it didn’t even notice your bait on the first cast, so you need to give it a fair chance at detecting and locating your offering.Whether you lack the equipment to bass fish in deep water or you simply don’t enjoy it, don’t let the cold, nasty weather discourage you. Don't fall into the trap of thinking the bass all ran out into the middle of the lake last week as fast as they could swim. Important things to remember about bass fishing at Toledo Bend in January stuck out in my mind during Thanksgiving week. Read on and then get that calendar handy so you can start planning! "I've caught some of my biggest bass from small lakes in winter," Charlie Ingram reveals. “Although the shallow bass you’re targeting are most likely looking to eat, you have to remember—they probably won’t be chomping at the bit. A week before the full moon in January right up to the full moon is your best chance at a fish over 10 pounds. It's the peak of the sailfish run, and the fishing for this species has been better than even the oldest veterans can remember. They simply slid into deeper water.How, though, do you catch ‘em without the sun? If you see a piece of cover, whether it’s a laydown, dock or stump that fits the pattern and looks like it should hold a bass—don’t give up on it.Take a risk: Bass can get into some really thick, shallow cover this time of year, but you need to get your bait in there with them. Our Spring season usually starts right after Christmas on the first full moon in January. January brings about a fantastic time to explore Lake Okeechobee. So if you get out there much earlier, you’re more likely to find fish in the shallower water. The bass are shocked. Winter Bass Fishing Lures, Tips and Tactics ... Game and Fish Staff - January 05, 2021. Here are some tips on lure selection, presentation, and location for landing the elusive winter bass. You may not catch a bunch of bass, but the ones you catch will probably be picture-worthy. Lake Okeechobee is doing fantastic this time of year. However, keep in mind that February has highly variable weather patterns, which will cause the bass to fluctuate their depths. Is that a transition area? This pattern will continue until the water temperature reaches … December 1, 2005. It was something so simple that I couldn’t believe I missed it.The sun is the determining factor.“Shallow water warms up very quickly on a sunny day, especially when it’s stained” Batts said. During fall and early winter, bass and baitfish use creek channels as highways. To get you started off this fishing season the right way, here are three tips to locating and catching early spring bass. If you want to catch them over the next couple of weeks, you should stay put and slow down. Use soft plastics and jigs as a fallback, but go against conventional wisdomIf the shallow bite isn’t happening with your favorite hard reaction lures, a jig or heavy Texas rig is a great fallback option. This sparks an increase in their metabolism and makes them more apt tochase down prey.“Warm water doesn’t only attract bass,” Batts said. "Their small size makes them prone to rapid heating and cooling," he explains. It allows me to do two things—eliminate dead water and force reaction strikes from otherwise inactive bass.Batts agrees with this theory, primarily focusing on hard reaction baits such as shallow-running crankbaits and bladed swim jigs.“My first choice when fishing in the winter is a 3 to 5-foot SPRO John Crews Little John Crankbait,” Batts said. As the sun changes position and continues to warm the water, the bass should potentially move through places like the mouth of a stream. 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