Keith Lusher 03.26.25
When a uncommon February snowstorm blanketed Southeast Louisiana, most anglers stayed huddled by the fireside. However for Jason Pittman of Covington, these bone-chilling situations introduced a chance to place one in every of bass fishing’s simplest methods to work – the Alabama Rig.
“It doesn’t get chilly typically right here in South Louisiana, however when it does, I like to search out these deep holes the place I do know the bass might be grouped,” Pittman stated. With water temperatures plummeting to 43 levels within the Tchefuncte River, his method proved lethal efficient, producing a ton of bass in simply two hours.
Pittman is knowledgeable bass fisherman who lives in Covington, LA. I had an opportunity to make a visit with him in an try to select his mind and watch how he makes use of his A-Rig to catch winter bass.
For these fishing alongside the Gulf Coast in February, listed below are just a few suggestions that can hopefully allow you to catch these cold-water toads.
1. Mild Heads for Shallow Waters
In contrast to the deep reservoirs up north the place the Alabama Rig first made its mark, our Louisiana waters hardly ever attain 30 toes. “The water simply doesn’t get deep sufficient round right here to make use of heavy jigheads,” Pittman defined. “In 20 toes of water or much less, I normally use 1/16-ounce heads with stable hooks.” This lighter method permits the rig to remain within the strike zone longer with out always dragging backside.
2. The Proper Instruments for the Commerce
If you’re throwing what quantities to a small baitfish celebration on the finish of your line, correct gear turns into essential. Pittman depends on a 7.3′ heavy rod paired with a KastKing MegaJaws baitcasting reel spooled with 20-pound Covert Fluorocarbon line. This mixture supplies sufficient spine to deal with the rig’s weight whereas sustaining the sensitivity wanted to detect these delicate winter bites.
3. Discovering the Candy Spots
In southern river techniques, success typically comes all the way down to discovering the deepest gap within the river. Do some analysis forward of time with the intention to discover the deepest sections of the river. The deepest holes will almost definitely be discovered close to bends within the river or the place deeper channels meet shallow flats. On this journey, Pittman’s success got here from positioning his boat alongside the shoreline and making lengthy casts towards the river’s heart, the place pre-spawn bass typically stage earlier than transferring into the canals and creeks.
4. The Chilly Water Crawl
When water temperatures drop into the 40s, sluggish and regular wins the race. “They have been grouped up fairly good down there,” Pittman notes, however getting them to chew required a methodical method. Let the rig pendulum all the way down to the correct depth, then retrieve simply quick sufficient to maintain the swimbaits kicking. These torpid winter bass aren’t trying to chase, however they’ll’t resist what seems to be a simple meal passing proper by their faces.
5. Match the River Hatch
Whereas the standard A-rig setup requires 5 similar baits, don’t be afraid to combine it up. Whereas Pittman’s success got here on 5 white 4-inch swimbaits, our waters typically maintain a number of bait species directly. Think about operating barely smaller baits on the outer arms with a bigger swimbait down the center, mimicking a pod of bait fish defending their bigger cousin.
Whether or not you’re fishing the Tchefuncte, Pearl, or another Louisiana river system, the A-rig has confirmed itself as a cold-weather producer. Simply keep in mind – when these uncommon winter chilly fronts push by way of and drop the water temperature into the 40s, that’s when this method actually shines. As Pittman says with a figuring out smile, “That A-Rig fools them each time.”
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