Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3804 Feb 1-15 2019 | Page 22

20 Feb 1-15, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 4 BASS FISHING SPOTLIGHT Unless you live in Florida or south Texas, the bass in your local lakes are likely swimming in some of the coldest water they see all year. Fishing for them can seem like an exercise in futility, not to mention a great way to expose yourself to some pretty unfriendly conditions. As intimidating as the negatives of winter fishing can be, there are also some positives. The scenery can be amazing, there is little to no compe- tition, and the fish you do catch are usually the right ones. By focusing on those positives, FLW Tour veteran and Denali pro Michael Murphy has developed a healthy appreciation for winter bass fishing. “We can talk all day about the cold, or how they don’t always bite well in the winter.” Murphy said. “But what I like to focus on is how refreshing it is to have the lake to yourself, see some beautiful scenery, and catch giant bass.” Murphy has always been a jerkbait fisherman, a trait bred into anglers that fish the clear, blueback lakes around his Lexington, S.C. home. “I spend a lot of time on lakes like Murray, Hartwell, Clarks Hill, and Wateree. All of them have clear water and have dynamite winter jerkbait bites. The bass are suspended in that cold, clear water. A jerkbait just hanging in their faces triggers strikes on even the worst weather days.” Obviously, the first key to success with winter jerkbaits is to put on some cold weather gear and actually get out on the water. Once there, Murphy has the following tips to help you extend The February Chill your bass catching season into the New Year. Use The Right Rod Murphy said that the number one thing anglers struggle with when fishing jerkbaits in cold water is getting the setup rod right. “Having a rod that is designed perfectly for your technique is more important in the winter than it is any other time of the year. It’s already cold, your hands may not work as well, and you’re likely wearing a bunch of gear. If you’re frustrated from fighting with backlashes or missing and losing fish (which are all things that happen with jerkbaits when you don’t have the right rod), you’re not going to be successful or have fun.” Murphy uses the Denali Rosewood jerkbait rod (S802JBC) that he designed, and pairs it to a 6.4:1 Lews BB1 casting reel. As the primary designer of the rod, Murphy put a lot of time on the water testing to ensure that it has the absolute perfect flex and power for fishing jerkbaits in cold water. “We built the Denali jerkbait rod as an alternative to the high dollar custom jerkbait rods lots of guys were using. We shortened the rod handle so it doesn’t get in the way of heavy clothes, gave it the right parabolic bend to keep fish hooked up, and kept a good tip for getting the proper action.” Winter bass are lethargic and often just slash at jerkbaits, resulting in poorly hooked fish. If you’ve got a big bass hooked up with just a single hook or outside the mouth, having a parabolic action with some give is imperative to keep the hook buried. In addition to the parabolic flex, Murphy also designed the rosewood jerkbait rod to By Scott Estes have a fast tip to impart the perfect subtle flash required to draw strikes in cold water. “A lot of crankbait rods have that good parabolic action we were after, but they are kind of dead in the tip which makes them less than ideal for jerkbaits. We kept the flex in the mid-section of our jerkbait rod but added a faster, more sensitive tip so that you don’t lose the ability to precisely control your bait.” As far as baits go, Murphy has had experiences with a number of different baits over the years, and said that almost all of them can be successful if the conditions are right. The one he uses the most though is the Ima Flit, which he also had a hand in designing. “I look at the Flit as one of the only jerkbaits out there that can be successful under any conditions.” Murphy said. “It dives 6-8 feet deep like a Lucky Craft Staysee , has the subtle darting action of a Megabass Vision 110, the high pitched bb sound of a Rogue, and lacks the internal weighting system like a Husky Jerk. It does it all and I have a ton of confi- dence that it will catch fish no matter what conditions you’re experiencing.” Work Slow…Fast This might sound confusing at first, but winter bass often group up and suspend over different types of structures, making it important to fish a variety of different locations in a day to locate bass. “I have seen winter bass suspend around almost any type of steep cover available.” Murphy said. “Sometimes it’s bluff walls, other times chunk rock points or dock pilings. Whatever it is though, it’s important to hit a bunch of spots in a day to figure out where the bass are. That’s where the fast comes in. I like to hit a spot for 15-20 minutes tops, and if I don’t get a bite then I’m off to somewhere else.” See the Grady-White Fisherman 216 & a Full Line of Other 2019 Grady-White Models at Central Valley Marine! G rady-White’s Fisherman 216 sets the standard for a smaller premium coastal center console with its seating and access innovations and Grady’s signature rugged elegance. Fishing design expertise is clearly evident throughout the Fisherman 216. A room-to-move-around cockpit with Nevada High Desert Outfitters impressive rod and tackle storage, plus just the right placement and angle for rod holders, • MULE DEER • ELK • ANTELOPE • SHEEP • TURKEY • SNOW COCK MULE DEER HUNTING Opportunity to draw a tag for Non-Nevada residents Deadline is March 1st. Non-residents receive a 50% chance or better of drawing a tag. Ask about Nevada’s Guide tag allocation program for Mule Deer hunting and Sign Up Now with NHDO! Nevada High Desert Outfitters Mitch Buzzetti 3804 775-738-4082 • Email: mitch@nhdo.com PO Box 28-1251 • Lamoille, Nevada 89828 begins the list of sturdy and highly functional fishing features. Two 81-quart insulated fish boxes are under the bow seating. Bow seating is long and wide enough to stretch out on, and, complete with optional patent pending fold away forward facing bolstered adjustable backrests, is fantastic for mates riding to the fishing grounds. The console is available with a sturdy fiberglass T-top including integrated wind- shield, radio box, storage net, dome light, spreader light, and four rod holders plus radar flat. The optional T-top replaces the standard console windshield. The helm seating also enhances fishing function. Standard is a lean bar with backrest, flip-up bolster, footrest, tackle trays, lockable storage, and four rod holders. The available deluxe lean bar adds a 25-gallon livewell with uniquely Grady-White engineering that really keeps bait lively. The helm itself is truly ergonomic, with easy access to systems and controls, and a big electronics area offers plenty of room for flush mount equipment with monitor screens as large as 12 inches. Central Valley Marine is your official Grady-White dealer in central California and best of all they are offering up 2019 models at sizzling special boat show prices! If you would like to check out Grady- White’s full line of fine vessels just drop by Central Valley Marine’s retail headquarters at 2355 S. Bascom Ave in Campbell, CA or give them a call at (408) 371-6681. Ask about Nevada’s Guide tag allo- cation program for Mule Deer hunt- ing.