Top 5 Bait Categories for December
0. December Fishing - Approaching Wintering Bass
As we enter December and winter begins in earnest, bass activity declines, making it a challenging season when they are difficult to catch. However, it's not that bass stop feeding entirely. By carefully reading their behavior and selecting the right location, timing, and bait, there are still opportunities to be had.
So in this blog, we'll introduce five bait genres that we highly recommend using in December to help you overcome the finicky winter bass.
- 1. Thoroughly Search the Deep Zones- Deep Diving Crankbaits -
- 2. Triggering Reactions - Lipless-Crankbait & Blade Bait-
- 3. Focusing Intently on a Single Point with Finesse – Drop-Shot Rig -
- 4. Imitating Ultra-Small Winter Baitfish - Compact Crankbait-
- 5. Hunting Hawgs in the Shallows - Swimbaits -
- 6. Conclusion
1. Thoroughly Search the Deep Zones- Deep Diving Crankbaits -
As winter approaches, bass, being cold-blooded, descend to the Deep Zones where water temperatures are more stable. This is where deep diving crankbaits shine. Not only can you thoroughly search the Deep Zones by swimming them along the bottom, but you can also aim for reaction bites when they deflect off of cover.
The go-to deep diving crankbait, the MEGABASS Deep-X 300, dives quickly to your target depth right from the start of your retrieve, allowing you to efficiently cover water.
For reservoirs where you need to reach the very bottom, the IMAKATSU IK-800R2 is a niche but long-time favorite among hardcore anglers. It can dive to 8m (26ft) when trolling, even when cast to 5m (16ft).
When crankbaits seem too aggressive, switch over to the MEGABASS IXI-SHAD TX to tone down the action and profile. Despite its tiny 2-1/4" body, it's one of the few baits that can dive close to 13ft.
2. Triggering Reactions - Lipless-Crankbait & Blade Bait-
Another winter staple is fishing lipless-crankbaits and blade bait to trigger reaction strikes. The basic retrieve is lift & drop, aiming to confuse the bass with an action that appears in their sight, suddenly darts up, then vanishes. The vibration from the baits and flash from the metal are also key to drawing out those reactions.
For lipless-crankbaits, we recommend the JACKALL TN Trigon. The weighted chin allows it to fall straight down rapidly. This minimizes unwanted movement, letting you repeat your action precisely where you want. Don't forget to punctuate plenty of pauses to give them time to commit.
Blade bait fall even faster than lipless-crankbait, allowing for tighter lift-and-drop actions. Since bass in early winter in December may not have settled into their wintering spots and some bass with energy left may still be on the move, the JACKALL Knockin' Jaw is designed assuming both horizontal and vertical movement. Use the distinctively large lip to pound the bottom for lateral searches. Once you've narrowed down an area, switch to vertical lift-and-drop to trigger reactions.
3. Focusing Intently on a Single Point with Finesse – Drop-Shot Rig -
The previous two bait categories centered on actions with lateral movement, but to narrow your focus and concentrate on a single point, a drop-shot rig is most effective. Drop it straight down in front of bass hugging the base of standing timber or rock ledges. The key is to thoroughly work an area with finesse without pulling your bait away from where the bass are holding. The trick to animating your rig is to impart a tight shake while preventing your soft-plastic from rising up during that shake.
For a soft-plastic that maintains a horizontal posture and lifelike minnow appearance even without lateral movement or current, we recommend the KEITECH Easy Shaker.
If you feel you need a soft-plastic with a bit more presence, the JACKALL Wobbling 2.5 has a thicker body than the Easy Shaker and generates strong tail vibrations to catch the attention of bass.
4. Imitating Ultra-Small Winter Baitfish - Compact Crankbait-
While crustacean-based forage hide away in rock crevices and become scarce in the cold, one type of forage that remains active in winter is small baitfish. These tiny fish schooling and swimming near shallow areas can draw out bass to feed on them. Although limited to specific windows when the sun is out and water temps rise a bit, the bass are in feeding mode so it's worth targeting. Key areas are shallow flats adjacent to deep water or other spots bass can quickly escape to.
Bass will try to herd and ambush the baitfish up against shallow clear areas, weeds, or rocks, so focus on working a small crankbait around those edges. These baits, known as " Shad" in Japan, are prized for an exquisite strength of action - not too aggressive, not too subtle. Among them, the JACKALL Soul Shad excels at a relatively natural action. A simple straight retrieve is all you need. The Soul Shad lineup covers a wide range of sizes and diving Deep Zones. The original 2-1/4" 58SP targets the 3ft range, with the 1-3/4" 45SP downsized for shallower zones and smaller baitfish. On the flip side, the 2-1/2" 62DR and 62DDR can probe Deep Zones of 6ft+. Stocking the series prepares you for a variety of situations with a proven bait.
5. Hunting Hawgs in the Shallows - Swimbaits -
Bass that move up shallow during the warmest part of the day are likely to be the fish with the most energy - in other words, the biggest bass. Catching a giant in the dead of winter would undoubtedly make for an exhilarating day of fishing. These fish also tend to target larger baitfish, so don't be afraid to upsize your baits to specifically aim for a big bite.
Swimming your bait slowly in front of bass, tracing large glide movement mimics an unsuspecting baitfish and triggers their predatory instincts. The MEGABASS i-Slide 187R, a hard-bodied jointed swimbait, features widely carved cuts in its moving joints, allowing it to slowly approach bass while drawing large glide movement.
When you need to dial back the action from hard baits, tie on a JACKALL Dead Slowler. Its soft body excels around cover and enables an even slower, more subtle presentation.
6. Conclusion
We've introduced five bait categories we urge you to tie on this December.
- 1. Deep Horizontal Tracing with Deep Diving Crankbait - For a subtler approach, opt for a deep-diving compact crankbait.
- 2. Trigger Reaction Strikes with Lift-and-Drop Action - Best achieved with Lipless-crankbaits or blade baits.
- 3. Finesse Tight Shaking with Drop Shot Rig - Focus on a single bottom spot for precise presentations.
- 4. Mimic Tiny Winter Baitfish with Compact Crankbait - Designed to replicate small, active fish even in cold water.
- 5. Target Big Bass in Shallow Water with Swimbaits
When bass activity tapers off and you're at a loss for what to throw, recall these five approaches.
For a more in-depth look at winter fishing, check out our other article below.
And if you feel water temps haven't bottomed out yet, our summary of late fall to early winter tactics may also be relevant. Be sure to review that as well.
