The Secret to Winter Bass Fishing! (Sneaky Bait!)

[@uberkull9326]

Great video Ike. This is like listening to a professor lecture at a college. Excellent! You show the techniques and explain ‘why’. So informative!

[@FishinDr]

How you show the retrieve styles is the best thing on KZbin.

[@mikeiaconellifishing]

I’m glad you like it!

[@andybales7318]

Wobblehead with a 3-3 1/2" soft plastic craw is always 1 of my combos in the cold water

[@tinman6514]

We have a very short cold water period in northern Wisconsin, but if the water is 45 to ice, I’m throwing a shallow shade rap (SSR5 & 7- 5 being the best producer; shad, perch, or bluegill pattern, with bluegill being the best around grass followed by perch) on the inside of grass lines or over the grass where there’s transitions or turns- nothing has been better for me in the last 20 years since I got my own boat at 16. If they’re deeper, I’ll target the outside of the grass lines, especially those with rock/sand transitions that have multiple inside turns nearer deep water, with the primo spots being near a main lake or secondary point leading into a spawning bay. I’ll toss a standard shap rap (SR4-7 with 5 being the best producer; perch is the best in the deeper water followed by bluegill; the exceptions are our lakes with Tulis or other pelagic forage & then shad or some version of works better). If it’s slow, once I do get a few bites, I’ll slow down and drag a light 3/16-1/4oz cylinder drop shot with a very short leader & a small, do-nothing, natural colored bait. The key spots are very small and I have to rely on my spot lock, Talons, electronics, & feel to keep it in the grass pockets or points with adjacent rock/sand. All are thrown on a 6’8” ML power Fast action rod or a 7’ M power fast action rod. 6-8lb fluoro to 12-15lb braid, with 12lb braid & 8lb fluoro being my favorite. I’ve had hundred fish days many times and there’s almost always a few 4+lbers mixed in but the majority are 1-3lbs. I use the same pattern in reverse once we have ice out, along with a hard jerkbait & dropshot. If I’m targeting big fish in either scenario, I’ll throw a swimbait and crawl it along the bottom in the same areas - just catches big ones… Same tackle as other baits. If I’m fishing Smallies, the same tactics work but I’ll focus deeper and the grass must have rock/sand in or near it. If it’s sunny, I fish higher in the water column & deeper if it’s cloudy. If you’re ever in Vilas County or any of our northern counties… Now ya know. Forgive my novel, but I’m bored… 🎣🇺🇸

[@ATLOutdoors]

Caught my PB yesterday on an umbrella rig (24+inch 8lber) but numbers wise I’ve been catching a lot of lipless cranks since fall. My favorite crank bait by far.

[@Glock-1]

Appreciate the info Mike these videos really help!

[@lowlifeangler]

I like that hoodie in the thumbnail......OHIO STATE BUCKEYES colors lol😂 I like lipless cranks due to they catch bass and saugeye in cold weather

[@joshgrimes9554]

I take a blue and chrome original rattle trap, change & put on good sticky sharp hooks like G finesse...and my trick is paint brush on chartreuse dip dye liquid on the sides, gives it a glowing flash...throw it on braid with 3ft mono leader using a long rod that has some moderate bend to it. Man it works like magic.

[@Joseph_Brown1986]

I fish a big creek all year long here in Indiana. Average depth of 4 foot with a few holes here and there. I always snag and loose lipless cranks anytime I let them touch the bottom. This year I bought a couple suspending rattle traps. I'm hoping to stay off the bottom but generate strikes by letting it hang in the water column

[@mattrobertson9046]

Lipless have treated me very well early winter in the mid south. They have wanted it a little faster but I figure that will change as water temps drop into the low 40s.

[@bigmikefishingchonicles9950]

thank you mike

[@rogersmith8593]

I use Rattle traps regularly on the Brazos River in Texas year-round!

[@michaelsheppard4227]

Great video.

[@BenjaminGoude]

Caught a 3 pounder on a silver blue one today

[@tinman6514]

I do love lipless baits, too, Mike… They’re awesome for Largies & Smallies, but I modify the lure & my tackle setup for Smallies because they throw them so easily. I’ll watch later… Done for the day, so I’m gonna take the Brittany & go hunt up some Grouse ~ 🎣🇺🇸

[@davemccann3730]

If you slow roll a lipless you better have a bunch of them or a good plug knocker!!!😮

[@kasonf2176]

Please do that little fliker shad if you ever have time.

[@arniejohnsen2353]

How do you keep it from snagging the bottom if you let it hit the bottom?

[@michaelsheppard4227]

If your not getting snagged your not fishing where the fish are. A good plug knocker and patience is paramount. I love the daiwa plug retriever it has small chains on it plus it comes with its own twine already spooled up on a reel type deal with a small hand crank. I've only had 1 bait I couldn't get back with it (knock on wood).

[@richardkeller6940]

Sounds like a snag nightmare but that’s just me.

[@chriscurtis8577]

Could you still did you get back at 🌊 why it's in the water

[@mrlrgmouth3692]

Sorry mike this is one lure that doesnt ever see the lakes here in san diego. Lmfao they actualy just take up space in my tackle boxs

[@jukebox5308]

Why don’t you jump in the water yourself and see if a bass bites you ???

[@lowlifeangler]

My favorite Kayak Fishing KZbinr found a Berkley Warpig lipless crank when he was freeing a snag. So he tied the Warpig , caught a really nice bass immediately. I guess the Warpig really works. kzbin.infoeek4ELAgZqs?si=Q4R_pjgcIbKDhOpa