Land of Giants

Targeting bass during the coldest months of the year is not for the faint of heart. However, if you are willing to brave the extreme cold and follow the advice of these Elite Series pros, you may well catch the biggest bass in the lake

BUNDLED UP, FROSTY breath clouding the air — don’t think the big biters won’t show themselves during winter’s chill. It’s not easy and you have to play their game, but as our Elite experts explain, a giant bite may be waiting at the end of your next cast. Here’s a handful of suggested tactics.

Carl Jocumsen — SOUTHERN RESERVOIR (ROCK)

Ask the Aussie pro his opinion of winter fishing and he’ll tell you it’s a drag — in the best sense of the word. In his experience, it’s hard to beat the meticulous presentation of a big jig.

His preference: a 1/2-ounce Molix Football (MF) jig that features a “bi-round” tungsten head that’s a kind of football/flipping jig hybrid dressed with a fine-cut, mop-style silicone skirt and fit with a wide gap hook. Calling this jig the right tool for the job, Jocumsen said the key is low and slow.

“That style head comes through rock, brush and about anything you throw it at,” Jocumsen said.