If you’ve been following this blog series, you already know how I like to break things down. Every month, I give you two baits for anglers in the Northern part of the country and two baits for anglers in the Southern part of the country. February is no different. Before we get into the baits, let’s talk about the month itself. February is the tail end of winter. You might get a warm day or two, maybe even a short warming trend, but don’t let that fool you, this is still late-winter fishing. The big change is the bass. They’re starting to shift from that sluggish winter mode into a late-winter, pre-spawn feeding mode. They know March is coming, and they’re starting to eat more. That’s good news, no matter where you live.
Northern Anglers
Bait #1: Micro Jigs and Finesse Jigs
For my anglers up north, bait number one in February is a micro jig or finesse jig. We’ve all heard about throwing big skirted jigs in cold water, but February is all about scaling down. These fish want an easy meal. A small jig crawled along the bottom is deadly this time of year, especially during a colder-than-normal February.
Two of my favorites are the Missile Micro Jig and the Missile Micro Football Jig. These are true skirted jigs, just in a compact package; thin skirts, lighter weights, and a smaller profile overall. I’m fishing these slow and low, dragging them along the bottom where bass are starting to feed on crawfish again. My go-to weights are 3/16 and 1/4 ounce, though I’ll go up to 3/8 if I need a little more bottom contact.
Don’t overpow the jig with a big trailer. Keep it small. I love cutting down a Berkley MaxScent Flat Worm or ripping the back half off a Berkley MaxScent General. Threaded on the back, it turns that jig into a perfect mix of finesse jig and Ned rig, they absolutely crush it.
Bait #2: Finesse Shad-Style Plastics
My second February bait for northern anglers is finesse shad plastics. As soon as you get a couple warmer days and the water temperature bumps up even a degree, those bass start moving. When fish start moving, they start hunting.
If you are NOT using forward-facing sonar, a small boot-tail swimbait like the Berkley Power Swimmer is hard to beat. I’m talking 2.8- to 3.3-inch sizes on a simple ball head or hybrid jig head. Stick with 1/8 to 1/4 ounce for most situations. This bait lets you cover water while still staying subtle.
If you ARE using forward-facing sonar, this is where a minnow-style bait shines. One of my favorite sleepers for February is the Berkley PowerBait Switch. The jig head is molded right into the bait, so it’s perfectly balanced and easy to fish. That 2.5- to 3-inch size lets you put the bait right at the fish’s level and just give it a subtle shake. Same fish, same pre-spawn mood, just a different presentation.
Southern Anglers
Bait #1: Suspending Jerkbait
For my anglers down south, bait number three is a classic for February: the suspending jerkbait. Even in places like Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and Florida, winter still lingers. February brings more warm days, but the bass aren’t fully committed to chasing fast baits yet. A suspending jerkbait gives you movement and pause, which is exactly what these fish want.
Cadence is everything this month. Change it often. Try two twitches with a five-second pause, then switch to three twitches with a longer pause. On colder days, slow everything down. On warming trends, speed it up just a bit. I also like carrying multiple sizes and diving depths of the Berkley Stunna. The Berkley Stunna 100 is great for shallow fish, the Berkley Stunna 112 covers those staging areas just off the flats, and the Stunna +1 or +2 is perfect when fish are still a little deeper.
Bait #2: Lipless Crankbait
Last but not least, the bait that absolutely dominates February—the lipless crankbait. If there’s one month all year where the rattle trap shines, this is it. You’ll see it tied on everywhere in February tournaments, especially down south.
The key is not overfishing it. Be deliberate. Let it tick grass, rock, or bottom. Yo-yo it, pop it, and let it fall. You don’t need a ton of colors, either. A red or orange crawfish pattern is a must, like the Berkley Warpig or Berkley Jack.
Crawfish are waking up in February, and bass are keyed in on them. Gold and copper colors are also incredible, especially in stained or tannic water common in the South.
There you have it, my top four baits for the month of February, broken down north and south. Winter’s almost over, but it’s not done yet. Stick with these baits, fish them the right way, and you’ll put more bass in the boat this month.
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