Cold weather fishing is approaching and requires a change of thought, from clothing to tackle, compared to fishing in the sunny summer. For newly minted Bassmaster Elite Series pro Andrew Loberg, gearing up for wintertime fishing means an opposite approach to bait selection.
Although originally from Northern California, the Alabama angler will be fishing all winter as he prepares for his debut on the Bassmaster Elite Series and shares his top baits for cold-water bass fishing and the line he trusts to fish them.
The Notorious Jighead Minnow
The jighead minnow is one bait Loberg can’t do without in the winter months. It’s an ideal bait during winter when bass are schooled up, suspended, and chasing balls of shad.
“The whole notorious jighead minnow is one of my favorite ways to catch them in the winter months, using forward-facing sonar or not,” he said. “This is a great way to catch them when you find groups of bass, maybe in the middle of ditches or places where the baitfish congregate.”
Loberg uses various minnows and jigheads and typically starts with a 3/16-ounce head. “If I were to pick just one size, that would be it, but I use different sizes and brands,” he said. “I fish them on 12 lb P-Line SpinX and a leader of 8 to 12 lb, a great casting braid with colors changing from red to blue so you can see it in any light. I’ll always pair it up with P-Line 100 percent fluorocarbon or their Spin-X fluorocarbon leader and vary my size based on the bait.”
A Power Approach
While Loberg has seen the effectiveness of finesse and forward-facing sonar, he’s still a power fisherman at heart, and fall and winter are two great times to use those techniques.
“One of my favorite baits in the fall and winter is a lipless crankbait like the Lucky Craft LV500,” said Loberg. “It’s great for fishing around grass or rock, and I’ll always have one rigged up on 15 or 17-pound P-Line 100% fluorocarbon. I like the original 100% fluorocarbon for a lipless because it doesn’t have as much stretch, and if you are ripping it free from grass, the less stretch, the better.”
Loberg employs a typical ‘yo-yo’ type retrieve, trying to tick grass whenever possible but will also try other approaches.
“The standard ripping free from grass is always a go-to, and I’ll also do a quick fast reel and then stop it,” he said. “The great thing about a lipless is that it works everywhere from California to Alabama, it’s pretty universal. I like shad colors like ghost minnow and American shad; you can’t beat any of those colors in the fall and winter.”
Jigs and Jerkbaits
According to Loberg, two other prime winter baits are a big jig and deep-diving jerkbait. Both can ply slightly deeper water and have a knack for catching big fish.
“These fish are feeding up for the winter, and a lot of times, they want a bigger meal, so I like to use a big ¾ ounce jig,” he said. “That’s one of my favorite ways to catch them, and you will catch some quality bass. I fish it on 15-pound P-Line 100% fluorocarbon but sometimes have to go down to 12-pound if the water is really clear, and I’ll go up to 17-pound if the water is dirtier or I’m around a lot of wood."
Typically, he’s looking for prime big fish locations when fishing a jig. “It depends on the lake, but good places to start are at the mouth of a creek, in creek channels, and main lake points and places with a little bit deeper water where those crawfish live,” he said.
Another top choice for winter bass is a jerkbait for Loberg, who likes a deeper diver like a Lucky Craft Staysee 90, which will get down 8 to 10 feet deep.
“I pretty much throw the Staysee religiously this time of year; it’s just a good all-around size that gets down there quickly,” he said. “I often use P-Line 100% fluorocarbon in 10-pound but will go up to 12-pound occasionally. 10-pound gives me the best all-around action on the bait and lets the bite dive to the maximum depth.”
Loberg fishes jerkbait in many of the same places he fishes a jig but also chases them while watching his forward-facing sonar. “I look for secondary creeks, creek channels, and places where you’re likely to find groups of bass around shad,” he said. “LiveScope helps find those fish, but it’s not required. A jerkbait works so well because it imitates baitfish, which is what you want this time of year.”
Fishing during winter can be excellent if you keep things simple with the right techniques. For Andrew Loberg, that includes a handful of proven lure styles and the correct line to get the most out of them.
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