Suspending jerkbaits are great producers in the winter months, but a lot of guys fish them way too fast. When the water temperature gets down into the mid- to low 50s, bass just aren’t as aggressive and you have to give them more time to make up their minds. Develop some way to make yourself slow down the retrieve.

When I first started fishing suspending jerkbaits, I forced myself to take my hand off the reel handle, put it down by my side for a second or two and then bring it back up. Even then, I fished too fast sometimes. Now I might take three or 10 seconds before I move the lure.

My favorite winter jerkbait is a Jackall Squad Minnow, and I use it with 10-pound-test monofilament and a 7-foot medium or medium-heavy rod. I don’t like fluorocarbon in cold water because it has a tendency to sink and put a drag on the bait. Transparent colors such as Ghost Minnow or Chartreuse Shad work best for me on bright sunny days, and solid colors such as Tennessee Shad or Table Rock Shad seem to work better on those dark, windy days.

Another thing to consider is how the bass want the jerkbait presented to them on any particular day. Sometimes it’s jerk-jerk-pause, or jerk-pause-jerk-pause, or some other combination. It’s probably not the same every time. Also, you might have to extend the pauses one day, and then shorten them the next. The bass will let you know.

— Ranger pro Scott Canterbury of Springville, Ala.