Zoneloc On Tour: Jay Yelas
Dec 5th, 2016 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Dec 5th, 2016 at 12:00 AM
Winter is often the season many anglers forget about bass fishing, at least in the snow belt of the USA. Northerners are busy dreaming of warm spring days ahead.
But if you are the hearty type, Zoneloc pro Jay Yelas offers a few tips to hopefully increase your odds of fishing success when the air is frosty.
Eyeballs on electronics.
“You really need to pay close attention to your electronics when fishing during the winter,” said Yelas. “I use Garmin units and pay close attention to finding schools of baitfish. If you find baitfish, you will find bass.”
Drop-shot in the cold.
“The drop-shot technique is a terrific choice during the winter months,” said Yelas. “I will often be fishing vertically in fairly deep water. Look for deep structure often in 20-foot depths or more.
“My basic setup is braided line tied to a swivel to prevent line twist. Then a fluorocarbon leader tied to a Zoneloc drop-shot hook, usually finished off with a ½-ounce weight for starters.”
Small offerings are best.
“I like using small Yamamoto soft plastics for drop-shotting during the winter,” said Yelas. “Small shad baits or Slim Senkos are my favorites, especially if spotted bass or smallmouth bass are present.
“I usually nose-hook the baits since most of the time I’m fishing areas that don’t have issues with snags during the winter.
“The hits usually feel like added pressure. I like to tighten down and just lift up to set the hook.”