Tackle Tactics » Tips-Techniques » Sweetwater-Impoundments-Brackish » ZMan Favourites for Winter Impoundment Bass

ZMan Favourites for Winter Impoundment Bass

Winter has to be in my opinion one of the best, if not the best time of the year to target schooled bass in our impoundments.

Bass will naturally school up in stocked dams through the cooler months due to their spawning urges, making it easy to target them once they have been found. It's well known that some of these impoundment fish can grow in excess of 50cm, and they really bulk up as well on the large amount of baitfish and food available to them. So if you are after that trophy sized bass, chuck on some warm gear, follow these tips and head out to one of the many stocked bass impoundments around the country.

ZMan Winter Bass - Favourites Models

It's no secret that bass just love ZMan Slim Swimz. I usually go with the 3" model in Baby Bass colour as my first option. The paddle tail on these soft plastics creates a perfect amount of vibration and water displacement, that really gets the attention of schooled bass. Their profile also seems to be a hit, being quite lean they look like a small baitfish that has found itself in the wrong part of the lake, making an easy meal for hungry bass.

Another great winter bass option is the bulkier ZMan 3" MinnowZ. Its profile is a bit chunkier compared to the Slim Swimz, so it creates more vibration and water displacement. This option is definitely my second favourite choice for bass fishing through winter. Just like the Slim SwimZ, there's a huge range of colour options to choose from in the range.

Colour Choices

Baby Bass is always high on the list, and I like to also have 3 basic options on board: a natural baitfish colour like Bad Shad, Opening Night or Smelt; something with a strong silhouette like Gold Rush or Red Shad; and a UV-reactive or fluoro colour such as Space Guppy or Sexy Penny. If one is not bringing results, often a change in colour can be the key to triggering strikes, so be ready to mix it up.

Preparation

I will usually have a couple of combos ready in my kayak, one rigged with a Slim Swimz and the other with a Minnowz. This way, I can quickly alternate between them and figure it out what the fish's preferences are on the day... The great thing is I can almost certainly guarantee that either of these options will work for me.

Jigheads and Weights

The 3" Slim SwimZ and 3" MinnowZ will accept a 3/0 hook, with the MinnowZ also fitting a 4/0 as well. These are probably a larger hook than if you were targeting something like bream in the estuaries, however they provide better hook-up rates on the bigger mouths of bass.

As for jighead weights, this will all depend on water depth. The goal is to be able to reach the bottom easily, without the lure dive-bombing too fast. For example if you are in 6-8 metres of water, start off with a 1/4oz and see how long it takes to reach the bottom. Deeper water in the 8-12 metre plus range may require stepping straight up to a 3/8oz, 1/2oz or 5/8oz option. The 3" MinnowZ usually require a little more weight to counteract the extra buoyancy, so experimenting is often required to find the right sink rate for the conditions.

Keep in mind it's really important to get the lure rigged perfectly straight on your jighead, so it swims in a natural way without barrel rolling. Take your time, and maybe pre-rig a few colour and weight options the night before so you can easily swap to find the right combination.

Bass are hard fighters, so going with the TT Lures HeadlockZ range is good insurance due to their quality hooks. Painted heads like the TT Lures DemonZ or Big EyeZ models add another dimension, creating either a complimenting or contrasting effect along with the additional strike trigger of an eye on the lure.

The Technique

Having a sounder is definitely a big help in finding schooled bass. Even a basic unit will do the trick in most conditions, as the schools are often quite large and easy to spot. Once a school has been located position yourself within casting distance, but not so close as to spook the fish. Cast your plastic in front of or past the school, and let it sink all the way to the bottom. It's important to always keep an eye on your line during the initial sink, as quite often bass will grab your plastic on the first drop as it flutters past the school.

If your plastic reaches the bottom without a strike, a steady slow roll back towards you through the school is an effective retrieve method. Repeat this process from different angles, targeting the centre mass of the schooled fish.

Also don't be afraid to explore the areas around the edges of the school. There will always be the odd fish that is exploring the area around the main group for food, and they are often in a receptive mood.

If you don't have a sounder, there's still a very good chance of finding an active school. Be prepared to move and make plenty of casts, however once you find an active area you can keep tabs on where you are and work it over extensively. Try sitting well off steeper banks and points, make long casts with heavier jigheads back towards the shore, then keep in touch with the bottom and fan your casts out at different angles to cover more ground.

Scent Makes Sense

A very important tactic for impoundment bass is adding some scent to your soft plastic. That's where the renowned Pro-Cure Super Gel and Bait Sauce products comes in very handy. The garlic flavours are a really versatile freshwater choice that can be used for any fish species, and the bass in particular seem to absolutely love it. On those days where the fish are being fussy, the addition of some scent can certainly fire them up and it's always worth dabbing a bit on your lure regularly throughout the day.

Rug Up and Give it a Crack

As with any type of fishing, some days chasing winter bass are red hot, and other times nothing seems to be working. However the ZMan models and techniques that I described here have consistently produced really good fishing sessions.

For me, it's all about being out there exploring the waterways and enjoying the outdoors, while always learning more about bass fishing. Nothing beats time on the water to hone your skills and senses. So if you're a keen angler with access to an impoundment stocked with bass, gear up for the cold weather, arm yourself with a few Slim SwimZ or MinnowZ, and go explore our freshwater dams, as this time of the year will potentially provide you with some trophy sized bass that are easy to target. Fish on!

Gearing Up:
ZMan 3" Slim SwimZ
ZMan 3" MinnowZ
TT Lures HeadlockZ Finesse jigheads
TT Lures HeadlockZ HD jigheads
TT Lures Big EyeZ jigheads
TT Lures DemonZ jigheads
Pro-Cure Super Gel Scents
Pro-Cure Bait Sauce