Cold Weather Bass Fishing Buyer’s Guide: Must Have Gear for Smart Anglers
Did Santa tell you, you’re getting EVERYTHING on your Christmas list this year?
We’ve got you covered with the ultimate guide! Our team has assembled the top 40 must-have products in our “Master List” of favorite cold-weather baits, rods, reels, and essential ‘head-to-toe’ fishing outerwear. These picks will keep you comfortable and catching until the fish start spawning again next year.
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Some of these products are “tried and true” favorites you will recognize like the Z-Man JackHammer Chatterbait. And some are new…yet still tried and true. A great example is Grundéns. For 100-years, they have been making the very best gear for fishermen needing protection in the harshest conditions imaginable. As they continue expanding their line for bass fishing, we’re here to tell you - IT’S AWESOME!
In this guide, you’ll find several new Grundéns outerwear recommendations.
No matter your budget, we hope this guide helps you stay comfortable on the water, even when Mother Nature delivers tough conditions.
Top 5 Baits for Active, Shallow Bass Fishing
Overview of Shallow Fishing for Fall-Winter Through Pre-Spawn
Many bass live near shallow areas year long and will move into shallow areas occasionally to feed. To identify and take advantage of these shorter and more rare windows of opportunity this time of year, pay attention to your Mobile Bass Alerts.
Best Rod & Reel Setup for Largemouth Bass Fishing for Fall-Winter
Deluxe Setup: Lew's Pro - Ti Speed Spool SLP Baitcast Reel paired with Lew's Custom Speed Stick Casting Rod – High-quality sensitivity, power, comfort and competition level durability in a lightweight, sleek setup. Ideal for accurate casting in shallow water, sensing delicate bites and quickly taking up line when big mama starts swimming toward you.
Basic Setup: Lew's Mach Smash SLP Baitcast Combo – A well-balanced, high performance, exceptionally built affordable rod and reel combo that delivers reliable performance and it is versatile enough to fish a wide variety of baits with.
Top 5 Shallow Baits for Largemouth Bass Fishing for Fall-Winter
Strike King KVD Square Bill Crankbait – Great for covering water and finding active bass. Designed by the GOAT himself, Kevin VanDam, to deliver erratic action and to deflect off cover to trigger reaction bites from sluggish bass. Opt for a shad color where shad are present and a crawfish color in colder months to mimic fall/winter forage.
Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer – The most popular and winningest bait on the bass pro tour. Unlike other chatterbaits, the JackHammer’s patented design causes the blade to strike the head when wobbling which creates a “ticking” sound that drives bass nuts. Excellent for drawing reaction strikes in murky water; choose darker colors for better visibility….Shhhh! Don’t tell anyone, but our founder slays em by slow rolling the fire craw colored JackHammer over rocks during the cold months.
Strike King Red Eye Shad – A lipless rattling crankbait that is gaining popularity on the Pro Tour. Awesome paint jobs, premium hooks, 3D eyes and great action triggers reaction bites. Ideal for covering lots of water and finding fish when they are roaming in the fall. Match the forage in the lake and hold on! Pro tip. Where grass and crawfish are present, fish the Phantom Watermelon Red Claw or Orange Craw by ripping it through the grass with occasional short pauses.
Z-Man Finesse TRD (Ned Rig) - Combine a Finesse ShroomZ (available in weedless too) with a Finesse TRD, the favorite bait for weekend warriors and tournament anglers alike, thanks to its floating ElaZtech material (which is environmentally friendly) 10x durability and fish-catching prowess – Perfect for finesse fishing in shallow and mid depth areas, where bass may be slightly more lethargic.
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Strike King KVD Spinnerbait – A versatile option that creates flash and vibration, particularly effective in slightly stained shallow water. It’s the go to bait of the GOAT, Kevin VanDam, in covering lots of water effectively during the fall transition. Made strictly with high quality components and masterfully painted to trigger strikes all day long.
BassForecast PRO Tip:
Use these baits when water temps are between 55-65°F, as this range often sees bass feeding actively in the shallows.
Top 5 Baits for Inactive, Deeper Bass Fishing for Fall-Winter
Overview of Deeper Fishing for Inactive Bass
Fishing deeper water than you would during peak season can really pay off. Bass that are year long residents of deeper water often bite more readily than shallow water fish during cold water conditions. And many shallow water fish will “min-migrate” to slightly deeper water near their usual home range.
Best Rod & Reel Setup for Deeper Largemouth Bass Fishing
Deluxe Setup: Lew's Hypermag Spinning Reel with Lew's Custom Lite Series Spinning Rod – Jig shaking /hover strolling & mid strolling with light line is all the rage for a reason… It catches roaming and suspended fish. While a boat with Forward Facing Sonar helps, you would be surprised that this technique also works in smaller bodies of water from the bank. The Lew’s Hypermag spinning reel with magnesium frame, 11 ball bearings, magnesium frame and Winn DRi-Tec knob provides an angler the ultimate in sensitivity in fishing light jigs and shakin em. And, it's excellent for finesse presentations in deeper water.
Basic Setup: Lew's Mach Crush Spinning Combo – A rod and reel with elite level performance and second-to-none craftsmanship at an affordable price. Durable and sensitive, it’s suited to finesse tactics, a good starter combo for both jig shaking and deeper water applications.
Top 5 Deep Water Baits for Largemouth Bass Fishing
Strike King Tour Grade Shakey Head – Designed for dragging along deeper structure to trigger bites from lethargic bass.
Paired with
Z-Man TRD CrawZ– Great for subtle, bottom-bouncing presentations in cold water.
OR
Z-Man Big TRD – Perfect for a slow, methodical presentation in deeper water; its buoyancy keeps it in the strike zone longer.
Strike King KVD Elite 300 Deep Jerkbait – Works well in the 7 to 15 foot water depth range with its slow-suspending action. Slowly crank down to depth, then fish with a slow jerk, jerk pause cadence.
6th Sense Finesse Jighead and 4” Juggle Minnow - Retrieve it just above suspended or schooling bass with a steady retrieve on light line using a spinning combo and shake your slackline gently all the way in. There are tons of YouTubes vids on this technique you can watch to get you ready for action.
6th Sense Flutter Spoon - To use the natural fluttering action, you need to fish this bait on a semi slack line with your rod pointed toward the water so that when you detect a bite, you can immediately pull up to set the hook. Speed in hook setting is key because a bass is not going to spit the metal spoon fairly quickly. Make short casts. Let it fall to the bottom. Reel in and repeat in a fan cast pattern in any area where you think fish are suspended or on the bottom.
Damiki Vault 55 Blade Bait - This is like a lipless crankbait, only it’s thin metal and does not contain rattles. Use in cold water. Some bites will occur on the initial fall. Let it fall to the bottom, then raise your rod tip, crank once or twice and let it flutter on a slackline. Pay attention to your slackline as most hits will occur on the drop. You will get snags, but it is worth it. Most of the time you can get it back with a good lure retriever.
BassForecast PRO Tip:
Fish these baits in water temperatures below 55°F. Look for deep points or channels where bass are likely to hold.
Weather-Proof Outerwear for Fall-Winter Bass Fishing
Lightweight All-Weather Jacket for Southern Regions
Deluxe Option: Grundens Trident Jacket - Designed to give you a lightweight waterproof jacket that’s also breathable to deliver added ruggedness and durability for whatever Mother Nature throws at you.
Basic Option: Grundens Weather Watch Jacket – Fully waterproof and breathable, with a hood and adjustable cuffs. Comfortable enough for all day casting and designed for active anglers needing reliable protection in nasty weather down to about 50 degrees.
Heavyweight Insulated Jacket for Northern Bass Fishing Adventures
For the nastiest cold weather conditions. Founded on the learnings of protecting commercial sport fisherman like these guys in the harshest fishing conditions on earth…and adapted to the needs of the modern bass angler.
Deluxe Option: Grundens Buoy X Gore-Tex Anorak – Top-of-the-line waterproof/breathable technology for the harshest conditions imaginable, featuring the GORE-TEX® GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY® promise.
Basic Option: Grundens Bulkhead Jacket - a highly technical, burly defense against bitter cold and wet conditions.
BassForecast PRO Tip:
Bass anglers in the South may only need lightweight options, while northern anglers will benefit from investing in highly insulated jackets.
Sunglasses for Low-Light Conditions in Bass Fishing (Hobie and Costa)
Overview of Polarized Sunglasses for Low Light
Most bass anglers have polarized sunglasses for high UV summer sunlight conditions. But, very few anglers have the right sunglasses for winter and early spring conditions when the sun’s angle is not as direct and traditional polarized glasses are just too strong. You will be amazed at how much better you can see through the water in the fall and winter in these 2 low light polarized fishing glasses our staff hand picked for you. Being able to identify any type of wood, rock or weed that will hold heat will help you make the more precise casts needed during cold water condition and all the difference between catching or ending up in skunk town.
Hobie and Costa Sunglasses
Deluxe Option: Costa Blackfin Pro with Sunrise Silver Mirror Lens – Enhanced contrast and glare reduction, ideal for early morning, late evening or overcast conditions typical of fall/winter.
Basic Option: Hobie Hank Cherry Mojo Float Polarized Sunglasses with Sightmaster Plus lenses – Affordable and effective with polarized lenses that enhance visibility in low-light scenarios. And, they float. So, when your nice sunglasses fall overboard in 55 degree water as you're frantically lipping your next PB, don’t worry…You don’t have to dive in to retrieve them. These are our founder’s faves.
BassForecast PRO Tip:
Polarized lenses with a copper or amber tint work best for low-light and cloudy days often seen in fall and winter.
Gloves and Undergarments for Fall-Winter Bass Fishing
Gloves for Cold Weather
Deluxe Option: Fish Monkey Yeti Gloves – Insulated, water-resistant gloves designed for extreme cold while providing flexibility for handling tackle and equipment.
Basic Option: Fish Monkey Task Fleece Gloves – Lightweight, fleece-lined gloves with decent warmth, great for moderately cold days.
Essential Undergarments for Layering in Cold-Weather Bass Fishing
For the coldest conditions: Grundens Grundies Thermal ¼ Zip Top and Bottom – Prudent layering pays off big time when bone chilling weather sets in. This base layer collection will help you retain body heat. A premium insulation set with moisture-wicking and anti-odor technology to keep you warm and odor free all day long.
Down to 40 degrees: Grundens Grundies Mid ¼ Zip Top and Bottom – Same quality as the “Thermal” line, just a bit lighter.
Must Have Gear for Your Head and Feet in Cold-Weather Bass Fishing
Simms WINDSTOPPER® Tech Beanie: This 3 layer stretch fleece will keep your noggin warm, dry and alert so you can better detect those subtle winter bites.
Simms Coldweather Cap: When it’s brutally cold, this technical hat made with a wool poly blend will keep your lid and ears toasty…And, you’ll look more stylish “outdoorsy” than Grizzly Adams.
Grundens Deck-Boss Ankle Boot: Designed to keep your feet dry and comfortable during long days on the water with a thicker shock absorbing insole and anti-odor cooling liner…So, the only fishy smell at the the end of the day will be on your lipping hand!
Thermal Socks: No matter how warm your body is, when your feet get cold your whole body feels miserable. Made with Merino wool, the insulating power of these socks will keep you dry and warm all day long.
When the temps drop, don’t let your fishing game cool off. Armed with the right gear, you can stay on the bass bite all season long. Whether you're firing up reaction strikes in the shallows or slowing it down for deep, lethargic fish, the right baits make all the difference.
With this guide, you’re locked and loaded for anything fall and winter throw your way. So gear up, hit the water, and keep those rods bending. Cold weather? No problem!
