Finesse winter bass with a grub

​During the winter months when the water is cold, anglers need to slow down with the right baits and lures to get bass to bite. A good bait to start with is a ¼-ounce jig head with a 4- to 5-inch twister tail grub. This bait is made to be worked slowly along the bottom––the slower the better. The tail still puts off action while sitting on the bottom and this tail action is created from the natural current under the water. During the winter months bass tend to feed on shad, so replicate the grub to a shad-based color of the forage in your body of water. Adjust the jig head weight appropriately to your target depth and look for fish on steep drop-offs. Selecting the right rod is crucial. You will need an extra-sensitive spinning rod with an extra-fast action, which allows you to work the jig correctly, feel the difference between the bottom and a bite, and set the hook effectively in deeper water. The ideal rod for working finesse jigs on the bottom is a G. Loomis 852S JWR––made to perfection.