Have you ever had someone tell you after a tough day of winter fishing to "Try throwing a bigger lure next time".
At first it doesn't make much sense.
Naturally, we jump to the conclusion that a smaller lure will lead to more bites, especially during a time of the year when bass aren't as active.
So, when someone says to upsize your lure it just seems a bit backwards.
Contrary to what you might think, here's one reason why the guy telling you to 'throw a bigger lure' has a good point.
Calories Spent vs. Calories Gained
Bass are cold blooded creatures.
Their body temperature is ultimately determined by the external factors around them.
For a fish, that 'external factor' is the water temperature.
When the water is cold, the bass are cold.
This means that things slow down for bass - especially their metabolism and overall activity.
To help drive the point just think about how many bass, even if it's the small yearlings, will chase your lure all the way back to you in the summer.
Now think about how often a bass will expend the energy to do the same thing in the winter.
Very rarely does the latter happen.
It's almost like a bass will do the math in their head on calories spent vs. calories gained before going after a lure in the winter.
It's this very reason why a bigger lure can prove to be more successful when water temperatures are at their lowest.
In the mind of the fish, there is a way bigger payoff for a larger meal as opposed to using up a bunch of energy to chase down a smaller one.
If winter fishing is something you enjoy you've probably already experienced this firsthand.
One example would be when jerkbait fishing.
It's not uncommon in the winter to throw a 5-inch jerkbait and catch a bass so small it makes you wonder how they'd swallow the thing if it was real.
However, in the mind of the fish, that one meal could hold them off for a week or more thanks to their slowed down metabolism.
Adjust Size According to Your Fishery
The above picture in the article was taken in the winter months when walking the shoreline of a small public lake that had been lowered.
Compare this crawfish to your average 1/4oz skirted jig and you'll quickly notice that the crawfish in the photo is MUCH bigger!
This is exactly the type of meal that a bass is looking for in order to survive another week or longer of the cold weather conditions without having to worry about eating again.
This doesn't mean just go out there and throw a musky-size lure and expect to catch more bass this winter.
However, it helps to show that there are food resources for bass in most bodies of water that are much larger than what the average angler is imitating.
Most bass prey on things much smaller than their overall size but it's not uncommon for a bass to eat something that is 50% or more of it's overall length.
Each fishery will be different in terms of overall forage size so gauge what a successful "normal" size lure is for you and consider a slight size upgrade if you're not getting bit this winter.
If a 3/8oz jig is what you typically throw in the summer or fall consider a heavier, bigger bodied 1/2oz or 3/4oz jig in the winter with a larger trailer.
It's not uncommon to go from catching a few small dinks to then landing a new personal best this time of year.
The key here is to present a slightly bigger bodied lure that makes the fish think they've won the calories spent vs calories gained dilemma.
Time to go catch em'!
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