If there is one lure that deserves to be tied on every deck in January, it is the suspending jerkbait. Cold water often clears up, increasing visibility, and bass are relying heavily on their sight to feed. A jerkbait mimics a dying shad struggling in the cold water column perfectly, but the magic isn't in the twitch. It is in the pause.

The cadence of a winter jerkbait is vastly different from summer fishing. In warmer water, an erratic "twitch-twitch-twitch" triggers aggression. In January, the aggression comes from the suspense. You want to rip the bait to get it down to depth and catch the fish's attention, but then you must let it sit. The pause is when the strike happens.

In water temperatures below 50 degrees, a pause of five to ten seconds is standard. In truly frigid water, I’ve heard of some anglers ripping baits and willing to wait up to 30 seconds between twitches. It is a test of patience, but it is necessary. The bass will track the bait, nose up to it, and examine it. If it moves too soon, they turn away. If it sits perfectly still, suspended in the water column like a stunned baitfish, they can't resist taking a swipe. Watch your line closely, because the bite often feels like nothing more than the lure suddenly disappearing.

Pro Tip:

Watch your line on the pause! Winter bites on a jerkbait are rarely violent. Usually, your slack line will just jump slightly or begin to move sideways. If you see any movement in the line while the bait is paused, set the hook immediately.

Suggested Gear:

• Rod: LUNKERSTICK Casting Series 7'0" Medium Moderate-Fast (Model: MBC-470MFC). The moderate-fast action is critical. It allows the rod to load up when you twitch, but is soft enough to keep treble hooks pinned when a fish fights.

• Lure: MONSTERBASS Slick Stick 110. This bait is designed to suspend perfectly horizontal, which is critical for fooling wary winter bass during long pauses.