Best Smallmouth Bass lures for January
Typical January: ~42°F water, winter patterns nationally.
These are the month's typical nationalpatterns. What actually decides the bite is your water's live temperature, clarity, and stocking — so start from a specific lake and read its current conditions before you tie on.
Jig
brown/green42°F, clarity n/a, winter → dragged slowly (hair or football jig) brown/green jig
Why we say this: In-Fisherman cold-water smallmouth patterns
Gear up
Where to put together a smallmouth bass setup.
- Tackle & lures: Tackle Warehouse · Bass Pro Shops — Serious-angler tackle selection
- Rods & reels: Abu Garcia (Pure Fishing) · Bass Pro Shops
Smallmouth Bass by month
Where Smallmouth Bass waters are
Other species in January
Black Crappie · Bluegill · Brook Trout · Brown Trout · Largemouth Bass · Muskellunge · Northern Pike · Rainbow Trout · Walleye · White Crappie