DelawareRiver.net

Authored and written by: Al Winco

www.wincoscustomlures.com

Water temperatures in the 36-42 degree range are usually considered as the cold water, winter smallmouth fishing time on the Delaware river. Smallmouth bass move to their off- current, wintering holes and can be caught by the knowledgeable angler who is properly and safely prepared to fish during the cold air and water temperatures. Winter smallmouth bass anglers look for a 2-4 degree rise in water temps during winter warming trends that will get the bass looking and eating. An ice free river is mandatory for safe jet-boat navigation. Winter lure presentations are usually smaller then their warmer water cousins, as the smallmouth bass prefer a smaller meal during this cold water period. The cross-cut, rabbit hair jig, w/and w/out a trailer was considered the Gold Standard for many years and still is a fine producer for lethargic winter smallmouth bass. Three years ago, I created 2 specific, 3” soft-baits for the cold water period. The C.W. and W.W. Smallies delight Jigs. Originally, I intended the C.W. for cold water and the W.W. for warm water but they are both equally effective for winter bass. These soft-baits have12 externally rigged,3 color silicone strands that provide life-like action to the salt and scent impregnated jig-even when sitting still on the bottom. Bass usually hold onto these soft-baits,giving the angler time to set the hook. These 2 jigs were proto-typed and tested 3 years ago on a late winter, guided smallmouth trip w/Blaine Mengel of the Backwoods Angler Guide service. Air temperatures were 26 degrees @ the start of the trip and warmed to a balmy 41 degrees w/ 15-25 mph NW winds. Water temperature ranged from 38-40 degrees. I split the charter w/ another hard-core river smallmouth addict. We boated 29 smallmouth bass that day to 19” on the C.W. and W.W.Smallies delight Jigs These jigs are fished slowly across the bottom w/spinning tackle in weights of 1/8-1/4oz. Braided line w/a fluorocarbon leader works best for feeling the mush-mouth winter hit. I hold my rod still w/ tension, @ the 10 after 12 position when I feel any resistance during the retrieve. If I feel the mushy, tell-tale head-bob of the smallmouth bass munching on the jig, I’ll set the hook. These jigs are basically snag –free when use w/my new, weighted flutter heads. Here’s a pic of the kit I offer: (#FHCP) | 10@$30.00 Mustad Ultra-point (Black Chrome) 2/0 Swim-bait hooks w/Hitchiker coil keeper. Available in 1/16,3/32 , 1/8 ,1/4oz. jig weights Here’s the ultimate kit for reducing snags, using these popular 3″ soft-bait jigs for smallmouth bass in river, creeks and lake fishing. For cooling water temperatures, the proven design of the salt & scent impregnated C.W. and W.W. Smallies Delight 3″ soft-baits have earned a place in every serious anglers jig arsenal. The flutter heads slip through most difficult rocky bottom structure with 70% less snags then open hooked baits. The texposed, Mustad, Ultra-point swim bait hook provides positive hooksets-even for the cold-water, mush mouth bite of lethargic smallmouth bass. The hitchhiker coil keeper holds the head of the soft-bait firmly in place. The unique & durable attachment / placement of the multi-colored, silicone skirt strands provides life-like action to the jig-even in a stationary position. The kit includes 5 /W.W.S.D. and 5/ C.W.S.D. soft baits rigged on painted, 1/8 oz. flutter jig heads. The kit also includes 10 additional, un-rigged soft-bait replacement bodies- 5 of each style plus 2, un-rigged flutter jig heads. Available colors: #02 Black, #06 Green Pumpkin, #07 Watermelon, #24 Brown Pumpkin Fantasy, #32 Roadkill/camo and #33 Mudpie. I will gladly mix colors depending upon availability. An additional cold-water presentation was again proven in March of 2008 w/the “USUAL SUSPECTS” aboard the Backwoods Angler’s jet boat. I call these the C.W. Jig Worm Kit. The kit has various head designs, w/ and w/o dual wire rock guards for a stand-up presentation that have the approval of cold-water smallmouth bass. The baits range from 3to 3 ¾’ in length. These jig worms accounted for every big smallmouth over 14”caught that day including a real nice 20” er. C.W. Jig Worm Kit-#CWJWK 3/16-5/16 oz. heads w/ Mustad Ultra-Point & BLN Ultra-Point hooks PRICE: $25.00 per Kit Experienced anglers soon learn how finicky smallmouth bass can be. Fishing for small mouth bass gets tough after cold fronts and when the water temperatures decline into the 40’s . Smaller presentations appeal to smallmouth bass under these conditions. This kit contains high floating, smaller worms from 3-3 3/4”-all on true, stand-up jig heads that bass can easily see w/the worm raised off of the bottom. This is “shaky – head”, finesse fishing @ its finest which many fine smallmouth bass have agreed with. Simply slowly craw these jigs across the bottom w/pauses and/or add a “shake in place” to the retrieve. All jig heads are powered painted in black or green pumpkin and feature dual barbs to securely hold all types of soft plastics in place. This kit Includes * 3/ 3 ¼” Un-rigged creatures on 3/16 0z. stand-up football jigs w/Ultra-point hooks & dual wire rock guards * 4 complete Stand-up bullet jigs(2-3/16 & 2-5/16) w/8 ,hand-tied silicone layers on Mustad BLN Ultra-point hooks * 4 complete Stand-up bullet jigs(2-3/16 & 2-5/16) w/dual wire rock guards on Mustad BLN Ultra-point hooks * 4 complete 3/16 oz. Stand-up football jigs w/8 hand-tied silicone layers on Mustad BLN Ultra-point hooks. * 30 additional high-floating worms in 2 styles/lengths and three colors-watermelon, green pumpkin and black. For various, effective presentations, these worms can be easily trimmed from 3 3/4” down to 3” and anywhere in-between simply by cutting along the segment lines. Here’s a pic of these jigs underwater Cold water largemouth bass love these finesse baits! Dressing for cold weather and the wind chills associated w/ long distance jet-boat runs is recommended. Cold hands and fingers can ruin your day on the water. This system may seem like overkill but when my hands get cold and the finger tips start going numb, I warm them quickly. Holding onto a sub-freezing temp.reel seat will produce cold hands,no matter who you are. I used the heated muff 4x’s during the 1st hour on the water to warm both the left and right fingertips. The body warmer packs work the best I use these 1st- http://www.damartusa.com/pls/portal/site_framework.product?p_product_code=QQD264X Then put these on- http://www.flyfishingoutfitters.com/p/s/viewitem.aspx?pid=GLO-SIM-WIND-GLO I use two of these- http://heatreliefdepot.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=464 Inside one of these- http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=null-cat601725&id=0021064920009a&navCount=0&podId=0021064&parentId=cat601725&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=XJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&cmCat=netcon&cm_ven=netcon&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=hand%20warmer%20deer%20muff&cm_ite=netcon&rid=0180101070502 I also use a Damart Balaclava under my Watch cap to keep my entire face/neck warm when running the river in the jet. Never put Damart double force items in the clothes drier. They will shrink to 1/3rd their size. They air dry very quickly. The Damart double force turtleneck sweater is awesome for warmth.I’ll carry 2 pair of the Damart liner gloves in the real cold weather so after 1 pair gets wet I can change over to the dry pair. Al Winco – Winco’s Custom www.wincoscustomlures.com wincolures@verizon.net