Strike King pro Mark Davis covers the basics of finesse fishing during the winter months. There are a few key baits that he feels brings in the most bass in colder temperatures.
“It’s all with a little jig and a spinning rod,” says Davis. He chooses the use the Team Lew’s Signature Series 7’ medium-heavy spinning rod paired with the size 200 Hypermag Spinning Reel spooled with 10-pound Tour Grade Braid spliced with 10-pound Contra Fluorocarbon.
Davis has three different jigs that he swears by for winter finesse fishing – 1/4 oz. Bitsy Bug Mini Casting Jig, Tour Grade Finesse Football Jig, and the Denny Brauer Baby Structure Casting Jig. When the water is clear, he loves to use the Tour Grade Finesse Football Jig because of the way the rubber is cut to give it a smaller profile. If the water is stained, Davis prefers the Baby Structure Jig or the Bitsy Bug, but all will work well in any condition.
When thinking about trailers, Davis likes to use the 3” Baby Rodent in colder temperatures. “I have taken appendages off the back, left the tail, and cut it down slightly,” say Davis. Adapting the Rodent gives it a nice, small profile that excels in cold conditions. In slightly warmer water, his favorite is the 3” Baby Rage Craw. “Day in day out – that lil’ fella right there is what I’m going to be fishing,” assures Davis.
Davis recommends a few key places to check when on the hunt for bass in the colder conditions. “I’m going to look for secondary points inside the creeks that have some real deep water nearby, and bluffs, channel swing banks – all these types of places – even main lake humps,” shares Davis.
