Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2017 - 15

the shore into deeper water can be an ideal
location to set up shop.
I look for cold-water Smallmouth Bass
in rivers in slightly different areas. Bass
tend to gather in deeper channels and
depressions, often near the bank. Pay close
attention to undercut banks and deep
channel swings as these spots can be prime.
A friend and I once found a school of over
100 Smallmouth Bass holding tight to a
shoreline rock wall against some deep water.
We enjoyed some unbelievable late season
fishing. The sun would heat up the rocks,
which in turn made this a warm spot on the
river. Whenever I am bass fishing during
the colder months, I am always asking
myself where the warmest water is located.
Keep in mind that the fishing is often best at
mid-day when the sun is high and a change
in water temperature of just a few degrees
can often spur a feeding window. Bass don't
stop feeding when the water cools, fish just
feed less often as their metabolism slows
with the declining water temperatures.
These fish will often be in large schools,
and bass will generally remain in that locale
for quite some time unless there is a rapid
change in the weather or water level.
This late season Smallmouth Bass took a small grub on a 1/8-ounce jig head.

Soft plastics and hair jigs are excellent cold-water baits.
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Baits that catch more than their share of cold-water
bass include marabou jigs, hair jigs, jigging spoons, soft
plastic grubs and suspending jerkbaits. I tend to downsize
my baits in cold-water. In jigs and soft plastics, baits in the
1- to 3-inch range are often effective. Fish jigs slowly, with
constant attention to the position of your line. Bites are often
extremely soft and it has been my experience that there is
a slightly longer window to set the hook in colder water. If
I can force myself to pause for just a second when I sense
the bite before setting the hook, I have a much higher catch
ratio. When fishing jerkbaits, look for most of the strikes to
be on the "pause" portion of the retrieve. I like to give the
bait two solid jerks by sweeping the rod to the side as I reel
and then pause the bait for 10- to 20-seconds, just letting it
suspend in the water column, before repeating the sequence.
Watch for the line to suddenly move right or left on the
pause and if it does, set the hook immediately. Use jerkbaits
in natural color patterns in the 21/2- to 4-inch range. Coldwater fish won't mouth a jerkbait for long. Bass tend to
congregate in colder water, so cycle back to areas where you
catch fish throughout the day. Some bass in a group may be
actively feeding while others are not. If you revisit an area,
there is a good possibility that you will encounter new fish
from the school that have become active.
Dress for the weather, and always wear your life jacket.
Don't put your open water bass fishing gear away for the
year. Cold-water bass are still actively feeding and worth
the effort.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2017

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