By David A. Brown

Late fall through winter — this can be one of the best times to catch a bunch of spotted bass — often a couple chunks, to boot. But the year’s conclusion will also bring challenges, complications, vexations. Yes, we’re talking about cold fronts and the resulting meteorological mayhem, which inevitably ensues.

Changing skies, falling temperatures, rising barometers; it’s enough to put any fish in a foul mood, but Jimmy Mason offers this hope: You can catch spotted bass throughout the fall-winter transition — even on the bad-hair days.

“The cooler months can be some of the most fun fishing of the year,” Mason begins. “It’s not quite as good as it is in the spring when the fish are just getting on the beds, or just coming off the beds; however, you can expect a good number of bites. So it’s the time of year I really enjoy fishing Smith Lake and other deep water, spotted bass lakes.”

Notwithstanding the fairly mild conditions of the this year and last, normal late-fall through early-winter patterns typically bring meteorological and atmospheric fluctuations that can significantly affect the fish.

“The fronts are probably the biggest challenge,” Mason said. “The immediate pre-front, when you have a south or southwest wind and a falling barometer, there’s generally a really good feeding period.

“Then as the front passes, you transition to that north or northeast wind, a rising barometer  with bluebird skies. Especially that second day after a front, a lot of times, that’s the toughest day. That becomes more of a finesse fishing day where you’re fishing slower and tighter to cover; trying to force them to bite.”

PLAN OF ATTACK

No doubt, late-fall through winter can be a moody period, but the potential for rod-bending revelry more than justifies a diligent effort. You simply need to equip yourself with an arsenal of baits that’ll adeptly address

Here’s how Mason approaches this season.

Big Topwater — The introduction of blueback herring has altered the dynamics of several southern lakes with a mix of positives and negatives. A plus — the hardy baits thrive in cold water, so they often extend the surface action well into the winter season. On the challenging side, these fast-movers often keep the spots running, so it may be tough to reach breaking fish before they’re gone.

Mason addresses this with a 6-inch Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper — a hefty bait, but one that enables him to reach distant fish with a profile that serves direct and indirect advantages. For one thing, hungry spots have no problem choking down thick-bodied bluebacks.

Mason points out this additional benefit: “A lot of times, when a spot comes up to the surface, he’s chasing on individual herring. What you’re initially trying to do with that big plug is knock that one baitfish out of the way so the fish will eat your bait.”

Mason looks for surface activities at the mouths of short pockets with well-defined drains and expects a good morning flurry from spots that overnight in the backs of these areas. He’ll monitor his sonar for bait pods and watch mapping chart for sharply sloping points with flat tops where spots will likely feed — often in groups.

“The spots will use those points to corral the herring, it’s like running them into a wall so they can’t get away,” Mason said. “Those spots will definitely work together to push the bait.”

Wakebait — When the topwater bite dwindles, Mason remains in those early schooling areas, but switches to a Bomber Long A or a Cotton Cordell Redfin. The waking presentation, he said, tempts hesitant fish that may linger near the surface.

“The wakebait gives the slow appearance of a crippled herring or a cold-stunned baitfish,” Mason said. “Just being an inch below the surface sometimes will make a huge difference.

“It’s not that aggressive side-to-side walking the dog, it’s just that very slow V-wake. When that water temperature gets in the 50’s you can smoke some really big spotted bass.

Crankbait — Once the surface and near surface deal is done, it’s time to hit the 45-degree banks, especially those chunk rock banks that break into flat points. Often, Mason won’t have to leave his topwater areas, he simply adjusts the targeting.

“A lot of those flat points where you were catching them on topwater, you can crank the sides of those as well,” he said. “You can catch those fish that are suspended over that deeper water right there on that break on the crankbait.”

Favoring a Norman Deep Little N and a DD22, Mason recalls faring well in an Alabama Bass Trail event on Smith Lake by targeting the sides of a long, flat point. Sitting in 90 feet and casting a crankbait to 10 feet, he and his partner brought their baits off the sides and found several fish that were looking up to that drop-off point.

Lavender Shad is Mason’s go-to color but into winter he’ll switch to red to match the dominant crawfish forage.

Light Jig — For probing bluffs, stair step banks, piers, etc. Mason puts a lot of faith in a shaky head worm with a YUM Mighty Worm or the new Genie Worm. In moderate clarity, he likes green pumpkin purple flake, while translucent colors like watermelon red get the call in higher clarity.

When he comes across any wood on those bluffs or steps, Mason likes to pick it apart with a 1/2-ounce Booyah Finance Jig with a green pumpkin/purple YUM Christie Craw.

 Jerkbait — As the season wears on, and the water temperature becomes too cold for spots to hit a topwater bait or even a wakebait, Mason shows them an easier target with a deeper, vulnerable baitfish profile. Blustery days make great jerkbait opportunities and on deeper canyon lakes, Mason intentionally targets the high windward banks with as much wave crashing as he can find. This is where baitfish will be driven and disoriented, so expect opportunistic spots to be watching.

Mason likes foxy shad and foxy lady colors for his 4 1/2-inch Smithwick Suspending Pro Rogue, but he keeps a blueback chrome/orange belly jerkbait handy for sunny times. Whatever he throws, Mason uses longer pauses, up to 10 seconds, with downward adjustments as dictated by fish response.

If the spots are more aggressive, if they’re spitting up big herring, or if the day’s exceptionally windy; Mason may switch to a 5 1/2-inch Rogue. With either, he’ll add three Suspend Dot

In closing, Mason offers this tip for maximum spotted bass efficiency: Change crankbait hooks to Mustad KVD Triple Grips to keep those hyper dudes buttoned up. For topwaters and jerkbaits, he goes with round bend trebles for better hook ups with the slashing bites common in cold weather.