As the air and water temperatures drop, the behaviors of both smallmouth and largemouth bass change. Overall, the fish slow down for the winter and move offshore, which can make finding bass more difficult. Anglers attending the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft January 18-19 can expect winter conditions.
The tournament is set to take place on Lake Havasu in western Arizona where, according to local and AZ B.A.S.S Nation Kayak Angler Bradley Kuhlin, bass will be schooled up in their winter patterns. It’s been several years since B.A.S.S. has visited the Colorado River impoundment, shared in a press release, with the 2021 B.A.S.S. National Western Regional held at Lake Havasu.
Local competitive angler shares strategies for winter bass fishing in anticipation of tournament
“This body of water can be tough at times, with the water levels fluctuating in this lake…there’s gonna be pockets that are usually about 9-14 feet that are going to be a little shallower. I’m going to have to fish out at a different depth and different comfort zone. That’s if the water stays where it’s at right now,” Isac Ochoa of Indigenous Anglers who will be fishing the tournament this weekend shared.
Ochoa has been kayak fishing for about seven years, and is not only local to the area but lives on Lake Havasu on the California side. Ochoa recommends anglers fish slow, match the hatch, and pay attention to water depths.
“Structures on the bottom are gonna be your main focus,” Ochoa shared. “You wanna make sure you’re staying on any kind of structure or any grass.”
Ochoa went on to recommend football jibs, jerk baits and umbrella rigs.
Structures key in catching bass in winter in Arizona
Lake Havasu is home to both smallmouth and largemouth bass; angler Bradley Kuhlin expects largemouth will be the dominant species in the upcoming tournament. Kuhlin also believes the bass will be in a winter pattern during the tournament, with bass in schools in 20-30 feet of water, bigger rocks and chuck rock acting as the main cover.
Bait choices for these conditions will include drop shots, jerk baits, and jigs, and perhaps lipless crank bait should waters warm enough that bass begin to move to respawning areas Kuhlin suggests.
“There’s thousands of man-made structures in all depths of water,” Kuhlin shared. “Especially during the winter, those will hold plenty of bass.”
“It should be pretty cool for Arizona that time of year,” Kuhlin added. “You’ll be looking offshore at some super-slow fishing. There will be a lot of LiveScoping in that event, I can almost guarantee it.”
The event is being hosted by Go Lake Havasu.
Feature Photo courtesy B.A.S.S.
