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The feeding frenzy that increases the bass’
susceptibility to a variety of shad-imitating
presentations as the leaves change color in much
of the country is common knowledge to most, if
not all of the black bass chasers out there.
However, once most of the leaves have turned
golden-brown, fallen to the ground, and the
surface temperature of your favorite fishery
rivals that of the water in the row of plastic
bottles in your refrigerator, most anglers
“retire” their crankbaits for the winter in
favor of fish-catching favorites including an underspin, a swimbait, a jerk-bait, a blade-bait
or a flutter spoon. As late fall transitions to
early winter, a crankbait will still “amp up”
the bite on a cold day. There are a few
important factors to consider when opting for
this approach to cold water angling.
As they say in the
marketing business, “location, location,
location”. To catch ‘em cold water cranking, an
angler must focus on relatively small areas that
schools of bass and the baitfish are using. The
majority of the bass and baitfish will be
grouped up in fewer key locations during this
time of year as opposed to months when they can
be found dispersed in more and varying habitat
locations. An angler must maximize the number
of his or her presentations in these areas
acting as though the rest of the lake is
off-limits. Covering water with bait-in-hand is
often fruitless at this time. Map study and use
of electronics are more productive tools for
finding prime bass-holding real estate such as
long points, deep banks, and rocky shoals.
 Closely tied to the
importance of location is the “bite window”.
Even when an angler’s boat is sitting on top of
the most prime piece of bass-holding real estate
on the lake, the clock might tick for quite a
while as he or she waits for the bite to begin.
And, when it begins, it often comes suddenly
with extreme urgency. An hour-and-a-half of
chunking-and-winding without a bite will be
followed by six bass caught in the next ten
casts. Then, it is over again for an hour or
so. What is my point? My point is to remain in
your best areas for as much of the fishing day
as possible so that when a bite window opens the
angler is there to capitalize. To that end,
when the first bite comes, take note of the
specifics of the presentation so that it can be
repeated…..much like ledge-fishing in early
summer. At this time of year, an angler must be
supremely confident in the area(s) he or she
chooses to fish, because putting bass in the
boat is often a waiting game. When the bite
window opens, jump through it!
The third key factor
to successful cranking in water below 45 degrees
(my definition of cold-water cranking) is line
size. While I do catch bass in these conditions
on co-polymer line as heavy as 12 lb. test, my
preference is 6 – 10 lb. test Silver Thread
fluorocarbon thrown primarily on spinning
tackle. If conditions dictate that line
strength be more than 10 lb. test, I choose a
co-polymer line such as Silver Thread AN40. Why
I make the choice not to throw fluorocarbon line
above 10 lb. test in cold weather is an article
for another day. Light fluorocarbon allows for
long casts, gives the bait maximum depth, is
virtually invisible to the bass, and allows the
bait to swim in as life-like of a manner as
possible.
The final key factor
to successful cranking in the cold is lure
selection. Shad-style crankbaits are a must.
Their tight-wiggling action and natural profile
produce in these conditions, often like no
other. As far as more standard body-style
crankbaits, I choose the smallest profile that I
can fish at my target depth, keeping in mind
that maintaining bottom contact at a
slower-than-normal retrieve speed is mandatory.
Even in frigid water, bait deflections produce
strikes! The Strike King 3XD and Series 300
Bandit are two brands that I lean on. Anglers
who fish in the south, where the big ones grow,
might take exception to my statement about
selecting smaller-profile baits, but I promise
that in the Land of Lincoln, as well as the
pressured waters of nearby states, it makes a
difference.
So, when the surface
temperature on your favorite fall fishery
reaches that of an Eskimo’s bath water, do not
put your crankbait box into hibernation. There
comes a time every fall that more traditional
cold-water presentations become the better
choice for catching bass, but I would bet that
the actual date on the calendar is not quite as
early as you traditionally would think. Until
next time, God Bless, good fishing, and tight
lines to all.
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