There are three keys to catching Wateree bass in January, Rodgers said: “Rocks, access to deep water and the cleanest water you can find.”

Water clarity is essential this time of year, he said.

“The water color in January is normally as clear as it will be all year and I have found that you need relatively clear water to get bites in cold 45-55 degree water. By clear, I mean that if I drop my lure in the water, I can see it down to at least 2 feet.  If I can’t see my lure that deep I move further down the lake.”

Most of the time the clearer water will be from the dam up to Beaver Creek, Rodgers said. The other two essential pieces of the puzzle are access to deep water and rocks.

“I like to fish main lake rock that is protected from the wind and gets a lot of daytime sun.  Usually, this means a northern bank.”

Put clear water, deep water access and rocks together and you have almost all the elements necessary to catch some quality largemouths – and also at times numbers of bass.

“Once I find these important variables, I begin checking my graph for baitfish.  They are often found balled up in schools in the 12-to 18-foot range.  The bass are living on the main lake, near deep water. They don’t want to have to travel very far to eat and they have to eat to survive,” he said.

Lures of choice include a No. 4 Strike King crankbait in a shad pattern, a spinnerbait with a white skirt and silver willow leaf blades and a No. 5, or No. 7 Rapala Shad Rap in a shad, or crawfish (brown) pattern.

“That bait is a little tough to throw on a bait caster, so I typically use a spinning rod spooled with 6- to 8-pound P-Line fluorocarbon. The key to the Shad Rap is the tight wobbling action the bait puts off. It’s deadly on cold Wateree bass,” he said.

“My next ‘go-to’ bait, and one I like for really big fish, is a ¾-ounce Buckeye Lures single-blade spinnerbait with a silver No. 5 willow-leaf blade and the Buckeye Lures Blue Glimmer skirt.”

Speed, or a lack of it, is also a must, he said.

“This is also the only time of year that I fish sitting down. It helps me slow down and this time of year, that helps put more fish in the boat,” he said. “ I always carry a net because you do get some big bites in January.”

Fishing on the occasional warm days is also key this time of year, he said.

“If we get three or four days of warm weather in a row, the fish will move shallow and bite really good.”

Frontal conditions are also really important in January, Rodgers said, observing that the fish bite really well during low pressure – when it’s cloudy, raining, or even snowing.

“I’ve had some of my best days there when it is cold and rainy. The bright, high pressure, bluebird sky days are when it can really be tough. If I had to choose a day to fish this month, it would be a warm, cloudy one,” Rodgers said.

“Bass really tend to gang up on Wateree in January, so keep in mind that if you catch one, others are also there,” he noted. “I always watch my electronics and ride over a spot after I catch a fish. That way, I can see what type of structure, or cover the fish are using, find out if there is any bait present, and I can often see if there is a school of bass there.”

If he sees more bass on his sonar, Rodgers said he will try a 3/16-ounce Buckeye Spot Remover jighead with a Zoom Trick worm before leaving the area.

“If bass are there, they’ll bite it,” he said “Also, keep in mind that sometimes it takes multiple casts to the same area in January to trigger a bite. Be patient and keep trying.”

Rodgers said the bass at Wateree this time of year will suspend around the first break to deep water in these areas, then move shallow once or twice a day to feed.

“I like to target these fish with slow moving Shad Raps and suspending jerkbaits like the Lucky Craft Pointer. Shad patterns do the trick and don’t underestimate the Buckeye Lures DR Edition 3/4-ounce spinnerbait slow rolled around the 10-foot zone.”

Rodgers said if you find a productive point, or bank it will typically produce through the winter into the early spring.

Besides catching quality bass, one other factor makes bass fishing on Lake Wateree in January an enjoyable experience, Rodgers said.

“This month finds very little boat traffic at Lake Wateree which makes for some very enjoyable days if you have nice weather,” said Rodgers who noted there is an added bonus to bass fishing this time of year. “The bite in January is strongest in the afternoon, so don’t be afraid to sleep in a little The fish usually bite best starting around 11 o’clock in the morning.”

Rodgers, who won the FLW Tour Co-Angler of the Year Award in 2009 and the FLW Tour’s Forrest Wood Cup as a Co-Angler in 2010 will fish the FLW Tour as a co-angler in 2014. He is also available for guided bass fishing trips on Lake Wateree and other lakes in South Carolina. For information on the tournament fishing career of Dearal Rodgers or to inquire about a guided bass fishing trip on Lake Wateree or other South Carolina lakes, check out his website: www.dearalrodgers.com.