When the bite gets tough and the fish are glued to the bottom, the jig is the ultimate problem solver. However, January is not the time for bulky football jigs with massive, flapping trailers. This is the season of the finesse jig. As crawfish go dormant and bury themselves in the mud, bass are used to seeing smaller, slower-moving profiles.

A compact finesse jig with a spider-cut skirt and a subtle chunk trailer offers a smaller package that slides through cover easily and falls slowly. The slow fall is critical. Cold-water bass are often looking up, and a heavy jig that plummets to the bottom can spook them or move too fast to track. A lighter finesse jig glides down, giving the fish time to investigate.

Once the jig hits the bottom, your retrieve should be minimal. Forget the high hops and aggressive stroking. Instead, gently drag the jig along the bottom, maintaining contact with structure. You want to mimic a crawfish slowly creeping across the rocks. Occasionally, pause and gently shake the rod tip to flare the skirt without moving the bait forward. This subtle movement breathes life into the bait without forcing the bass to chase it.

Pro Tip:

Trim your weed guard. In cold water, bass hold onto the bait for a shorter time and bite with less pressure. A stiff, full-length weed guard can cause missed hookups. Trim the guard down so it just barely covers the hook point to improve your hook-up ratio.

Suggested Gear:

• Rod: LUNKERSTICK Casting Series 7'4" Medium Heavy Fast (Model: MBC-574F). This rod offers the backbone needed to drive a single heavy hook home but has enough tip sensitivity to feel a "mushy" winter bite.

• Bait: MONSTERBASS Tungsten Football Jig (3/8oz). Tungsten is smaller and denser than lead, giving you a smaller profile for the same weight and vastly superior sensitivity for feeling bottom composition.