<*dv_2*>Berkley Gulp! Baits are going to play a huge role during this time of year. Gulp! dispenses scent so it actually attracts fish, then convinces them that it is food. Because of their lack of feeding impulse, this scent shows them it's time to eat. Scent gets more wintertime bites, and since Gulp! dispenses 400 times more scent than soft plastics, it's the perfect tool for wintertime bass fishing.

My favorite presentation is a 3-inch Gulp! Minnow Grub on a 1/8- or 1/4-ounce ball head jig fished with 8-pound-test Vanish. I cast it and count it down so I know I'm at the right depth and count until it hits bottom. Every bait is different, so don't assume that this jig will fall the same as a Carolina rig. It's always best to check them out.

<*dv_0*>I cast to the area I think is holding fish. After I catch one or two, I fish vertical with a drop shot rig. I like the 3-inch Gulp! Crawler for this mostly, but sometimes I go up to a 6-inch Gulp! Nightcrawler. The fish will tell you which is best.