During the cold of winter, big blue cats can frequently be found hounding pods of shad around deep water structure. Drifting with a Santee rig ranks among the best ways to catch them. (Photo by Matt Williams)
Cedar Creek fishing guide Jason Barber with a hybrid striper caught dead sticking a shad pattern soft plastic and jig head over deep water. (Photo by Matt Williams)
Lipless crankbaits like the Rat-LTrap have a rich history on grass lakes during the winter and early spring months. Crawfish patterns rank high on the hit list. (Photo by Matt Williams)

WINTER’S MIXED BAG

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 5:00am

January is widely known for it New Year’s celebrations and resolutions, but it also packs a fistful of old fishing opportunities for freshwater fishing junkies. Anyone who has played this game for very long knows fishing opportunities don’t get old without being reliable. Here are a few that anglers can ...

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