Help with Winter bass fishing on the Delta please

[NVIOUS]

I have been fishing the Delta for 5 or 6 years now. Every fall/winter, the largemouth bite turns off and I have trouble catching the fish. Especially the bigger ones. In the summer I can go out and catch 15+ fish in a day with some nice size mamas, but as soon as the weather starts getting colder, I'll be lucky to catch a couple dinks all day long.

This winter I've gone to my summer spots that work in Franks, Disco, Mildred, Big Break, and noticed this time of year the water is much clearer and colder and I can't find any fish. Or maybe just a couple small ones. Or stripers:-)

Usually this time of year I just turn to the Stripers, but then I see guys in tournaments catching 20+ pounds for 5 fish!

In the summer I can catch them on top water, worms, rat L traps, jigs, and wakebaits, but in the colder months none of these same baits seem to work for me. I've tried points, secondary points, rip rap, grass flats, all spots where I catch fish in the warm months.

Am I fishing the wrong baits? Or in the wrong depth? Or the wrong section of the Delta? I'm not experienced at fishing any kind of depth, how would I go about finding some winter time spots if that is my problem? I wouldn't think a big Largemouth would travel miles to somewhere else on the Delta just during the colder months, do they?

How do these tournament guys catch 20+ pounds in the colder months, it seems impossible to me??

[Fishitifyoucan]

DROPSHOT, DROPSHOT, DROPSHOT.....SLOW PRESENTATION TOO, LET IT SIT A LOT LONGER....outlside the weedlines!!
Seems with my bites, the bigger ones are coming with larger worms too!

However, I am sure there are others here that might give you some better insight, but lately, that is what has been working for me.

[Terry Smith]

Rattle trap, Rip bait, Wadda Jigs with SCENT on it,and Drop shot dont give up on your wake baits either just slow them down more. last but not least 6" Sinko always deadly

[aNNieNsaLTIE]

i can't see why a Carolina rig wouldn't help in this situation. i do remember COOCH posting a few winter pictures or s few really nice size bass. you what he was throwing,.......A JIG!! A WADDA JIG!!

Last time i was out, which was two weeks ago, i had a spook bite but that was when the sun started to come down. i hear a lot about things picking up good after the afternoon sun warms things up a little, it works for me.

saLTIE-

[Dewayne]

This time of year the bass are feeding less. They will remain inactive for most of the day. For me, I cover more water this time of year, but cover it painfully slow. I like a crank bait this time of year fished as slow as I can get it to wobble. I will add weight to a speed trap to get it to almost suspend. Make sure you stay out of the current. The fish will stack up this time of year in places with depth and low current. The biggest key is to slow way down, they will not chase a bait, but the might eat an easy meal.

Water temp also can play a big part. As the tide rises it covers rocks that have been heated by the sun. This can create warm shallow water and the bass will move up and become active. Likewise the cooling we have seen the past week will make the bite slow till the water temp stabilizes.

I have also learned to sleep in. The morning bite for me is usually terrible. If I go out first thing I am too often frustrated with the lack of bites and cold by the time they start biting.

Crank baits, rip baits, drop shot, jigs, and Senko are all good baits for this time of year.

[Calistar]

good stuff, Dewayne....thanks for sharing.

[Vince Borges]

Well like Dewayne, I too like to fish a slow crank and jigs. However last week i was fishing down south for stipers they were pumping water out like mad plus the incoming tide so the curent was ripping. I was throwing a swimbait through the opening under a bridge where the water was 30' deep and stacked with what i thought were stripers. first cast lure gets to the bottom and i get slammed by a 4.5lb black. I thought what the heck is he doing in that fast water. next cast a striper, third cast another 4+ black. Point is dont be afraid to try different things that seem crazy to you. Good Luck, oh yeah dont throw a drop shot this time of year on the outside weed lines in corners, it doesnt work at all

Vince

[Cooch]

This winter I've gone to my summer spots that work .

In the summer I can catch them on top water, worms, rat L traps, jigs, and wakebaits, but in the colder months none of these same baits seem to work for me. I've tried points, secondary points, rip rap, grass flats, all spots where I catch fish in the warm months.

Sounds like yer still fishing in the summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How do these tournament guys catch 20+ pounds in the colder months, it seems impossible to me??

It's not impossible, it's as easy as adjusting to the changing conditions, just like the bass are forced to do. Toss big, white, slow moving baits, in places where you'd expect ta catch stripers, you will be pleasantly surpised!

[NVIOUS]

It sounds like these are some of the basic recommendations for winter fishing:

1.) Slow way down when fishing a worm or drop shot
2.) Back off the shallow water and fish with jigs, crankbaits, and other deepwater baits
3.) Fish where there is little or no current

So basically I need to throw out my most of my summer spots

I spent alot of money finding those summer spots (gas), I know it's going to cost alot to find new spots in the winter. So I think I'm going to try to stick by the Franks tract area since that will save a bit on gas. Seems the bigger fish I catch are out of Franks anyways(in the summer at least).

Does this all sound about right? In my experience, deep water is almost always accompanied by current, but I guess I just haven't been looking in the right areas.

It would be wonderful if anyone would let me know of any suggestions where I might start my search.

Thanks for all the responses!

[brambo0311]

I have been ripping a chrome blue rattle trap through the tullies and on points out there in the sloughs around franks. I am not getting 20 fish days, but a good 10 to 15 fish. at first light the lucky craft california wake bait really slow is working. They might make 4 strikes at it before they take it, so dont pull it away. Stacey 90 fished really eratic on rock points and intersections has been my bait of choice right now. But they wouldnt touch it last weekend, and changed to the rattle trap. Didnt have any luck finesse fishing, all my fish have been reaction bait. But the general rule is slow fishing this time of year.