Early ice is an excellent time to target bass on late fall hotspots. Wired2Fish’s McKeon Roberts shares some pointers for finding and catching bass by paying attention to bottom hardness and bringing the fish to you using rattling lipless crankbaits.
FEATURED TACKLE :
- Rapala Ultra Light Rippin Rap, size #3
- 13 Fishing Widow Maker Ice Rod, 37″ Light
- 13 Fishing Black Betty FreeFall Reel
- Sufix 832 Ice Braid, 8lb
- Sufix Invisiline Ice Fluorocarbon, 6lb
*Additional links at the bottom
Hard-bottom areas like rock piles can be bass magnets this time of year. McKeon explains the importance of making noise by pounding rattling baits on the bottom and vertical jigging to both attract and trigger bites. He shares some critical rod and line considerations for working the lure, driving hooks home, and ultimately getting fish topside without tearing out tiny treble hooks.
This isn’t your standard early morning affair like bass fishing during the summer months. Roberts talks the best times to chase largemouth under the ice, with sun and temperature being important factors to success.
