Many kayak anglers put away their kayaks when the water temperature starts dipping down to the coldest of the year. The ones that get out on the water typically focus on fishing slowly and deeply. However, not only can you catch bass under 10 feet in cold water, but it might just be the best bite on the lake! We will discuss kayak bass fishing in cold weather.

Why Should You Fish Shallow

We know that kayak bass fishing in cold weather, the bass goes deeper in the cold. This is where drop shots, small worms, jigs, and other finesse techniques are primary. What a lot of anglers don’t know, however, is that many bass live shallow year-round. Particularly in areas like rock walls, points, ledges, or riprap.

If you can find a darker rock that will hold heat, that’s even better. Also, think vertically. Bass like to move up and down to feed in the winter. Bass easy transition from deeper water to shallow with a steeper bank will be a bass magnet.

Choosing Your Crankbait

When you’re focusing your efforts on shallow water, a traditional wider wobble square-bill or medium diving bait can do the trick. In the winter, when Bass metabolism is low and feeding is more intermittent, you need a crankbait with a different type of action. The Bagley Sunny B has that action. It was deliberately designed with a tighter movement and tremendous buoyancy that only a balsa bait Bagley’s signature.

The Sunny B also runs in the perfect depth zone, 5-7 feet, allowing you to work the bank in those heat-holding, shallow areas mentioned above. In addition, because it’s made out of balsa, it deflects well off of structure and will easily go through heavy cover. Since bass tends to stay much tighter to cover in the cold, getting right in the middle of the thickest stuff is important to get that reaction strike.

Slow Your Roll

Your winter fishing doesn’t have to be spent scouring the lake’s deepest depths, but even when you’re fishing faster in the shallow water, think slow. Get yourself a lower gear ratio reel (something like a 5:1.1) to maximize that slow retrieve. You can even spool up with less line to get the ratio down even more.

Creeping that bait along will allow your crank to be in the strike zone longer. This will make your chances of getting a bite even that much better.

You don’t have to labor away fishing ultra-deep this year. Think shallow with the Bagley Sunny B. You’ll be having a lot more fun on the water while other kayak anglers are sitting at home.

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