Rick Clunn’s Winter Bass Fishing Strategy Explained
Rick Clunn’s winter bass fishing approach centers on three core principles: fish vertically, extend the pause, and keep the bait above the fish. Rather than covering water horizontally, Clunn isolates depth on creek channel swings and steep structure, slows his cadence dramatically, and triggers strikes during prolonged suspending pauses.
Clunn, a four-time Bassmaster Classic Champion and one of the most analytical anglers in professional bass fishing history, emphasizes that winter success is not about speed — it is about discipline.
Why Does Rick Clunn Fish Vertically in Winter?
In cold water, bass reposition vertically rather than traveling long horizontal distances.
As water temperatures drop:
- Baitfish slide down structure
- Bass follow depth adjustments
- Fish hold tighter to creek channel swings and ledges
Instead of casting shallow and retrieving across points, Clunn positions his boat over the vertical drop and works baits within the precise depth band where fish are holding.
Key Winter Structure Targets:
- Creek channel bends
- Steep ledges
- Bluff transitions
- Channel swing banks
- Vertical drop-offs near bait
Winter fishing becomes a depth control game, not a coverage game.
How Long Should You Pause a Jerkbait in Cold Water?
According to Clunn, longer than you think.
In one Kentucky Lake tournament, the key adjustment was extending his jerkbait pause to eight seconds. The strike consistently came only after the bait had remained completely still for that duration.
Winter Cadence Rule:
- Reel bait to maximum depth
- Sweep or twitch
- Pause for 6–8 seconds (or longer)
- Repeat with consistency
Winter bass often strike during complete stillness. The pause is not a transition — it is the trigger.
Why Do Winter Bass Strike During the Pause?
Cold water bass are energy conservative.
They are not reacting to speed.
They are committing to vulnerability.
A suspending bait that hangs motionless:
- Remains in the strike zone
- Looks wounded or exposed
- Allows fish time to decide
Clunn stresses that learning the correct pause length is often more important than changing lure color or size.
Should Your Lure Be Above or Below the Fish?
Above.
Clunn reinforces a critical feeding principle: bass feed upward.
During a Falcon Lake event, he struggled when his crankbait ran below suspended fish. After downsizing and keeping the bait higher in the water column, his weights increased dramatically.
Winter Feeding Insight:
Bass rarely drop to eat in cold water.
They rise to intercept prey above them.
Keeping the bait above the fish’s eye line increases commitment rates significantly.
How Do Bass Adjust After a Cold Front?
Vertically, not just horizontally
Clunn explains that cold fronts often cause fish to:
- Slide deeper along the same structure
- Drop into the channel instead of staying on the lip
- Adjust depth bands without leaving the area
Before modern sonar, this adjustment could take hours to rediscover. Today, electronics accelerate relocation, but the behavioral truth remains unchanged.
Fish reposition down. They don’t disappear.
What Percentage of Fish Were Anglers Actually Targeting Before Modern Sonar?
Clunn estimates that even elite anglers were effectively fishing for only 20% of the fish in a lake prior to forward-facing sonar.
The remaining fish were:
- Suspended deeper
- Beneath the boat
- Outside casting range
- Invisible to traditional electronics
Modern tools expose more fish, but Clunn emphasizes that discovery and environmental awareness remain foundational skills.
Rick Clunn’s Core Winter Fishing Adjustments
For quick reference, Clunn’s winter formula includes:
- Focus on vertical structure over horizontal flats
- Target creek channel swings and ledges
- Use suspending jerkbaits and tight-wobbling crankbaits
- Extend pauses to 6–8 seconds or longer
- Keep lures above suspended fish
- Expect vertical depth changes after cold fronts
- Maintain emotional discipline in tournaments
Winter success comes from patience and precision.
What Is the Biggest Mistake Anglers Make in Winter?
Moving too fast.
Clunn admits that in one event he lost because he abandoned his long-pause cadence under pressure. Boat traffic disrupted his timing, and he sped up.
The fish didn’t change.
He did.
Winter fishing requires emotional control as much as technical execution.
Rick Clunn’s Winter Philosophy
Rick Clunn’s winter bass strategy is built on depth control, extended stillness, and behavioral understanding.
Fish vertically.
Pause longer than feels comfortable.
Keep the bait above the fish.
Adjust depth before changing location.
Control what you can control.
Winter is not about forcing activity.
It is about presenting opportunity, and waiting for commitment.
That discipline, more than any specific lure or technology, defines Rick Clunn’s cold-water success.
