MONSTERBASS Ambassador Vern Hall, AKA @WaywardAnglers, resides in Gallatin, Tennessee where the water temps have settled into the mid to upper 40s after last week's arctic blast.  

So the fishing is tough in the north central Tennessee, and there are only a few baits producing for Vern.  

“This time of year, jerkbait fishing in one of my main things,” said Vern. “But we’re still throwing underpins, dropshots and spoons as well.” 

The fish can be few and far between this time of year, but they’re almost always relating to bait. So, Vern makes good use of his electronics to locate the bass feeding on the bait.

“Most of the time it’s on a graph. We just see arches sitting down there on the bottom around a bait ball or some kind of structure like wood or riprap that’s out there deep.” 

Though all the baits Vern mentioned will produce in the dead of winter, the overall production is still a far cry from the warmer months. On a good day, Vern is looking at 7 to 10 bites fishing with these baits. But without them, not even that many bites are possible.  

“On the colder, harder days, I usually like to do a slow flutter spoon as close to the bottom as I can.” 

Vern’s spoon imitates the dying baitfish that are struggling and falling to the bottom in the near freezing waters.

“The underspin is more for when I’m fishing shallow, if it’s a warmer day.” 

On the warmer days, Vern has noticed that the bass will push up into the shallower ditches and pockets. That’s when he’ll throw the underspin across 3- to 5- feet of water.

The main stay for Vern though is the jerkbait, as it gets a lot of the action in the winter months.  

“This time of year, I usually do it right off ledges over deeper water. Anywhere between 20 and 25 feet.” 

Though he’s fishing over deeper water, his jerkbait is actually only around 6- to 8- feet below the surface. But the fish will come up to get it, often a long ways.  

“I’ve had them come up 20 feet or so to eat it. Usually when I’m using it is when I see bass off those ledges or on points. Like if I see a bunch of bait off of those ledges, I always love to throw the jerkbait out there to see if I can’t capitalize on that.” 

His cadence is of the typical winter sort, two pumps and a pause. Sometimes letting the bait sit “a while” on the pause, around 8 to 10 seconds. And he prefers a suspending jerkbait, but that doesn’t mean it always suspends. 

“It depends on which one I’m using. Most of the time, it’s falling. But depending on the water temps, I can get it to suspend right.”

Many jerkbaits have specific water temperatures at which they will sink, suspend or float. The packaging of any particular jerkbait will typically tell you what those temperatures are for that specific bait.  

“The Lucky Craft SPs are really nice but generally it’s the (Megabass) Vision 110s that I really like.” 

Vern typically pairs his jerkbait with 12 pound fluorocarbon line, which is a good all-around size for jerk bait fishing.  

Working through the rotation of the spoon, underspin and jerkbait, Vern is able to keep a lure in his hand that he has confidence in. This is critical during the tougher winter months and a good tip to take away and apply to your personal fishing.