Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2020 - 44
Cold Water Crankbaits
for Largemouth Bass
by Vic Attardo
photos by the author
Largemouth Bass do not have as much energy in water
temperature below 55 degrees F as in water temperature
above 65 degrees F. A prime outcome is the fish's reduced
metabolism for digesting food; and a diminished
willingness to take a meal. While bass still must eat, these
cold water outcomes often mean bass are reluctant to chase
"fast food"-highly active prey.
For anglers, lures that work in these conditions are
slower, less energetic lures than ones used in the summer.
When I think about lures for cold water, I initially turn
to jigs and blade baits. But, when working in jig-pressured
waters, I switch to crankbaits.
It is the shape, length, and angle of the crankbait's bill
that determines the depth it rides while the body shape
determines its action. Generally, the bulkier the head and
thinner the tail, the more wobbling action the lure will
44
display. Lures that are designed to be wide wobblers are
not the best for cold water success. For cold conditions,
a lure with a tight side-to-side shimmy but not an
exaggerated tail action is preferred.
Deep divers-lures that track below 12 feet-are the
traditional offering for cold water bass, but there are some
non-traditional offerings that also put bass in the boat.
An early, successful lure that ran at a moderate depth
and with little exaggeration was the cigar-shaped Pikie
Minnow. The metal bill had a creased lip, like a single step.
This configuration gave the lure a straight, tight action.
I liked this design in cold water at depths where the lure
could track a foot or so above the bottom. Though some
are antiques, I successfully still use a Pikie Minnow where
coves meet sunken creeks, along the edges of old road
beds, and on special occasions when bass corral a pack of
shad a foot or so under the surface in cold water.
Some anglers claim that a lipless crankbait works best
in the spring, and maybe it does. But, if you combine these
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2020
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