Strike King pro Denny Brauer highlights common winter patterns and what that means for finding bass in Zone 1 during the month of December.
“As the water temperatures are in the 50’s and 60’s and continue to cool down, deeper water becomes your focus,” shares Brauer. Looking for cover in shallow waters is key, according to Brauer. “Also, focus on heavy cover on shallow lakes with wood and vegetation. I really like this winter mode fishing as it yields some of my largest bass every year,” Brauer says. As a final tip, Brauer says to “keep your eyes open for diving birds and wintertime schooling activity.”
If the water is clear, Brauer prefers his jig in Green Pumpkin with Rage Chunk trailer. In stained water, he switches to Peanut Butter Bug. For muddy water, Brauer will favor Black Blue.
The design of Strike King's Denny Brauer Structure Jig shape and weedguard angle reduce hang-ups while the wide footprint of the head helps increase your feel of the bottom.
Brauer likes to Carolina rig the Rage Denny Brauer Craw with ¾ oz Tour Grade Carolina weight.
Brauer’s choice for clear water is Green Pumpkin, while he opts for Summer Craw if the water is stained. Brauer reaches for Black Blue in muddy water.
The Strike King Rage Denny Brauer Craw is perfect for colder water temperatures or when bass just aren’t looking for a fast-paced action. Its streamlined design allows it to easily get in and out of cover, and its ribbed body and claws slow its descent to maximize time in the strike zone.
Brauer likes to rig the 4.75” Rage Swimmer on a Tour Grade spinnerhead.
He opts for Ghost Shad in clear water, and switches to Electric Shad if the water is stained. In muddy water, Brauer reaches for Sexy Shad.
Designed to provoke an immediate reaction, the Rage Swimmer has a sleek nose cone and softly ribbed body closely replicate the contours found in nature, and its thin, pancake-like tail pumps out frantic vibrations at any speed.
Brauer prefers to rig the KVD Dream Shot on a ½ oz. Tour Grade Drop Shot weight.
If the water is clear, he will throw Dirt, while more stained water calls for KVD Magic. In low-vis conditions, Brauer grabs Morning Dawn.
Molded from super-soft plastic, the KVD Dream Shot features a hinged tail section that quivers and shakes at the slightest movement of your rod tip. Extremely lifelike feel and action – a deadly choice for any dropshot rig.
He opts for Double Header Red in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw June Bug, while he will switch to Black Blue Flake if the water is muddy.
Strike King's KVD Perfect Plastics Rodents are enhanced with real coffee bean granules and coffee bean oil to give the tubes an earthy tinge and a naturally strong scent/taste that big bass are eager to slurp up.
Strike King pro Greg Hackney shares typical water conditions during the month of December in Zone 1.
In Zone 1, Hackney looks for clear to stained water and expects the water to be in the 50s and low 60s.
If the water is clear, Hackney prefers Chrome Sexy Shad. In stained water, he switches to Gold Black Back. For muddy water, he will favor Chartreuse Baitfish.
The Red Eyed Shad has incredible action and features some awesome paint jobs, premium hooks, 3D eyes, and free-floating rattles to give you the best action and sound of any lipless crankbait.
Hackney’s choice for clear water is Mouse, while he opts for White/Silver if the water is stained. In muddy water, Hackney picks up Chartreuse/White.
With heightened effectiveness in cover, the Tour Grade Spinnerbait is designed with a light wire frame to help produce maximum vibration and comes complete with a hand-tied skirt.
He opts for Blue Craw in clear water, and switches to Summer Craw if the water is stained. In low-vis water, Hackney prefers Bama Craw.
Designed to be fished through the nastiest underwater jungles, both shallow and deep, the Hack Attack Jig features an exclusive no-flex Extreme Gamakatsu® black nickel heavy wire hook for extra bite, and a 30-degree line tie to increase hook-up percentages. An exceptional jig as the water cools in the late fall and winter months and fish slow down and become finicky eaters.
If the water is clear, he will throw Blue Craw, while more stained water calls for White. When fishing in low-vis conditions, Hackney chooses Black Blue.
If fish are reacting to a faster moving jig presentation, Hackney will often opt for the Strike King’s Hack Attack Heavy Cover Swim Jig. It is designed with a strong and durable weed guard that will help you navigate through the thickest of cover and cut through the grass to find the big ones. If you're hauling big fish out of grass or wood, this is the jig for you!
He opts for Olive Shad in clear water. If the water is stained, he will throw White, while he will switch to Black Blue if the water is muddy.
Strike King’s Thunder Cricket was designed by Greg Hackney, Kevin VanDam, and Andy Montgomery and has changed the game for vibrating jigs. Its innovative design provides maximum swimming action, flash, and thump, with a superior hookup ratio.
