Gift Certificates for all or part of a fishing trip make excellent holiday gifts!

 HAIR FOR COLD WATER RIVER BRONZEBACKS

     Many anglers are unaware of the fact that smallmouth and largemouth bass do not “go dormant” when water temperatures plummet during the shorter, darker days of late fall and winter in the Eastern, Pennsylvania region.  By contrast, this time of the year can produce some of the largest bass of the season, provided anglers take heed to a few different ideas.

     Largemouth bass anglers are accustomed to using slow, methodical presentations for hot water bass or bass under a great deal of angling pressure.  Few would argue that the simple silicon jig-and-pig tempts trophy bucketmouths as good as any other offering.

     For that other "black bass", however, hair jigs often out-produce rubber or silicon . Smallmouth bass inhabiting most rivers in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast prefer hair jigs to silicon or rubber skirted jigs during the cold water period, hands down.

     The cold water period is an excellent time for river anglers to catch trophy smallmouth bass.  A fair share of cold water smallies are taken on tubes, grubs, plastic worms, suspending jerkbaits and even silicon jigs.  For those moody smallies less apt to move in cold water, hair jigs may be the only way to trigger strikes.  Bucktails, deer hair and marabou style jigs are productive on many game fish, especially smallmouth bass  While extremely subtle in presentation, hair jigs, especially those made of rabbit, fox or bear hair, heighten curiosity in smallmouth that are not tempted by other productive lures.  .

     Don's Handcrafted Jigs(B.C. Dampman Lures) has created a jig called the Millennium Jig. The jig is made with rabbit hair and top quality jig heads and is the choice for trophy cold water river bronze.  Rabbit hair, unlike deer hair or bucktail jigs, pulsates when submerged in water, giving the lure an almost lifelike quality even in the lightest current.  Smallmouth bass holding in water temperatures as cold as the mid 30's can be tempted by the extreme subtlety of Millennium Jigs.

               The right lure is of no value if the fish are not present.  Find the feeding zones used by large smallmouth.  A hair jig will produce as poorly as a rattling crankbait if fished in an area that isn't holding bass. Eddies and related current breaks, deeper ledges, mid-depth rocky flats and rocky drop offs adjacent to deeper winter holding pools are all good areas to target for the few smallies aggressive enough to feed during the cold water period.  Above areas located in direct sunlight during the highest light period of a winter day will offer the warmest water on sunny days or during a warming trend. Smallmouth seek quick, big meals during this period. Remember, they aren't inclined to expend much energy in cold water.  Transitional bottom areas where a soft, sandy bottom merges with rock or ledges are classic feeding areas for winter smallmouth.  Remember to fish any concrete or wood cover within the targeted area for less active bass.  Smallmouth hold in these areas from the late fall period right through the cold water period and into early spring on most area rivers. 

     Fish hair jigs to drop offs and structure near these feeding areas. Slowly lift the rod tip to a point as high as your forehead. This allows the jig to fall straight and keeps the line tight.  Aggressive bass frequently strike the jig while it is still falling immediately following the cast.  Strikes often feel like mushy weight, similar to grass or a small stick. At times, strikes can be a bit more evident, and a "tick" or "tap" will vibrate through the rod. Forceful hooksets are important.  Many anglers use the "I'm not sure if it's a fish" theory if the bite isn't obvious. The "When in doubt, set the hook!" theory is much more effective for landing fish. 

     The rod tip remains high and the line tight as the hair jig is slowly moved across the river floor or structure.  The jig shouldn't move more than several inches to a foot at a time. Swimming hair jigs is an effective method when fish are chasing lures. That usually occurs when water temperatures are in the forties. 

     Cold water smallies prefer a slow and deliberate dragging, hopping or jigging motion.  The jig is effective for fooling the most stubborn smallies when left motionless on the river bottom for a time.  

     Effective colors are black, olive and brown, although gray, tan and white will entice bass as well. Many jigs have combinations of several of the above colors. Jigs can be tipped with plastic or small pork trailers for more profile.  Match the jig color with the trailer color for best results.  Jigs can be thrown on graphite medium action rods equipped with 6-10 pound McCoy Mean Green line.

     River smallmouth bass provide a twelve-month-per-year fishing opportunity for anglers unable to accept stowing away fishing gear for the winter.  Use extreme caution in cold weather to avoid hypothermia.  Try fishing hair jigs on the next cold water outing.  The results may be surprising.

(left)  Vince Keiper holds this winter hair jig bass taken on a warm early March day, one of many he caught with me last year.  This one weighed 5.1 pounds on his scale.  (mid)  The Millennium Jig.  (rt.)  This 4.3 pound brute ate a Millennium Jig on a drop off in a wintering hole.  Water temp. was 42 degrees  

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