How to Catch Bass During the Winter-to-Spring Transition

As cold weather eases its grip, fishing heats up around the country.

February 17, 2025 By Dr. Jason A. Halfen

No matter what we fish for and where, there’s one thing we all look forward to every year: the end of winter. Whether the cold is already waning in your area or it will take a few more weeks, now is the time to update your marine electronics with the latest software, lube your reels and respool them with fresh line, and add the latest and greatest lures to your tackle box.

For those chomping at the bit to get on the water, there is already a number of excellent options in various parts of the country. For instance, the first opportunities to tangle with bass and crappie this year will occur as those fish begin their predictable movements from their wintering areas to the shallows. So begin your research and map study, surely there’s a productive fishery not far from you.

DEEP THOUGHTS

Despite the differences between geographical areas, one common thing rings true for a broad range of species throughout our vast nation. Most fish overwinter in deep water, where they find the mildest and most thermally-stable environment available. Indeed, even in an ice-capped lake in the Northland, water near the bottom—in depths of 20 feet or more—may remain at a tepid 40 to 42 degrees. So when the cold wind blows and the snow and sleet fly, that’s precisely where most fish will hang out awaiting the next warm spell.

Bass in large, Southern impoundments will often be found in the main river channels or along steep bluffs, frequently adjacent to extended points or steep break lines that provide quick access to shallow feeding areas. Rockpiles and sunken timber or brush piles are key pieces of structure that concentrate winter bass.

In natural lakes up north, bass often hold near remnant green weeds along the sharp break lines that separate shallow flats from the deeper basins. Crappies will be found in many of the same areas, with the edges of deep basins (frequently in the 25- to 35-foot range) being particularly productive beneath the winter ice cap.

TOE THE LINE

Knowing where your finned targets swim during the colder and transitional periods should make them easier to locate when you finally slip the boat into the water for the first outing of early spring. On a natural lake, visualize a short, straight line that connects the fish’s winter haunts with extended shallow flats, especially along northern or western shorelines sheltered from the wind, which will warm the fastest, absorbing photons from the sun as it increasingly lights up the landscape.

During the early stages of the winter-to-spring transition, bass and crappies slowly progress along said short, straight line with their positioning dictated by the recent weather. If it has been calm, sunny and warm for the past few days, you can count on finding fish concentrated along the shallow end of the aforementioned, imaginary line. Just look for them on the flats or near the first break line separating the shallows from the deep basin. On the other hand, if a harsh cold front recently delivered wind, clouds and chilly precipitation, those same fish will take up residence in deeper water again.

TRANSITIONAL TACTICS

Now that you know where to search for your favorite fish during what remains of winter, let’s cover how to catch them. I’m a big believer in keeping it simple, leveraging one or two key presentations to pick off the most active and aggressive fish.

When bass move up on the flats, I cover water by casting either a bladed jig or a square-bill crankbait. Bladed jigs get the nod in shallow bays where the first weeds of spring are beginning to grow. I dress a 3/8- to 1/2-ounce Z-Man Chatterbait with a soft plastic trailer and make long casts adjacent to or above new weed growth. I retrieve just fast enough to stay off the bottom and out of the vegetation while keeping the lure’s blade working. If I fish shallow, hard-bottomed flats and shorelines, I grind with a square-bill. Much like the bladed jig, I make long casts to cover water. With the crankbait, however, you want to reach the lure’s ultimate diving depth and make frequent contact with the bottom to kick up sediment. Typically, this garners the attention of any lurking fish and triggering strikes.

For crappies, I resort to soft plastics, primarily 2-inch minnow bodies rigged on 1/16-ounce jig heads and fished across the fish’s potential range. That range extends from the break lines where crappies will linger during cold fronts to the shallow flats where they will eventually spawn later, in the spring. On days when panfish are shallow and active, a long cast followed by a slow retrieve with lots of pauses and short hops will put plenty of crappie in the boat. When fish demand an even slower approach, I simply present the same lure beneath a float. Then, I can suspend the lure right in front of crappies’ faces and let the wind and waves provide all the action required to turn suspicious inspectors into willing biters.

With fishing season finally before us, there’s no need to wait for T-shirt and shorts weather. Just pull the tarp off the boat, load up your gear, and go find some willing fish—right now!