Best bass of January

The fish don't bite for everyone in cold January, but these B.A.S.S. Facebook fans definitely have some bass to be proud of!

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<p> Bass fishing may be a far away dream for many Northern anglers in January, but lakes in some parts of the country are giving up lunkers every day of this chilly month. B.A.S.S. Facebook fans offered up their best catches of January, and some hail from Oklahoma, Georgia, California and Texas. Gilbert Juarez (pictured) had this California bass to brag about! Got cabin fever? Check out the bass photos uploaded daily on <a href=
Bass fishing may be a far away dream for many Northern anglers in January, but lakes in some parts of the country are giving up lunkers every day of this chilly month. B.A.S.S. Facebook fans offered up their best catches of January, and some hail from Oklahoma, Georgia, California and Texas. Gilbert Juarez (pictured) had this California bass to brag about! Got cabin fever? Check out the bass photos uploaded daily on Facebook!
<p> “Nice January 5-pounder right here!” said Allen Hooker.</p>
“Nice January 5-pounder right here!” said Allen Hooker.
<p> Andrew Redwine doesn’t say where, but he does say when! This pretty bass was caught Jan. 11.</p>
Andrew Redwine doesn’t say where, but he does say when! This pretty bass was caught Jan. 11.
<p> Ben Jacobi's biggest catch this month was this 9.13-pounder. He was fishing a 1/4-ounce Spot Remover with a custom Teacha Worms crawdad. The water was clean but slightly dark and 45 degrees, with an air temp of 48.</p>
Ben Jacobi’s biggest catch this month was this 9.13-pounder. He was fishing a 1/4-ounce Spot Remover with a custom Teacha Worms crawdad. The water was clean but slightly dark and 45 degrees, with an air temp of 48.
<p> Brad Saunders caught these two — a 5 1/2- and a 4-pounder — on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake, Jan. 21.</p>
Brad Saunders caught these two — a 5 1/2- and a 4-pounder — on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake, Jan. 21.
<p> Brent Bareswill caught this 10.7-pounder in Virginia this month.</p>
Brent Bareswill caught this 10.7-pounder in Virginia this month.
<p> Brian Hess caught this 11 1/2-pounder Jan. 7 in San Diego. That’s what makes the West Coast golden!</p>
Brian Hess caught this 11 1/2-pounder Jan. 7 in San Diego. That’s what makes the West Coast golden!
<p> Chris Garrison's bass came from Kentucky Lake, Jan. 6. Garrison said the water temperature was 46 and the air temperature was 42.</p>
Chris Garrison’s bass came from Kentucky Lake, Jan. 6. Garrison said the water temperature was 46 and the air temperature was 42.
<p> This fish was Dan Geurtsen’s first fish of the new year! It weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and he caught it out of South Carolina’s Lake Murray.</p>
This fish was Dan Geurtsen’s first fish of the new year! It weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and he caught it out of South Carolina’s Lake Murray.
<p> Daniel Howard’s January bass came from Lake Amistad in Texas.</p>
Daniel Howard’s January bass came from Lake Amistad in Texas.
<p> Eric Williams shows off his best January bass.</p>
Eric Williams shows off his best January bass.
<p> Wait, that’s not a bass! No, it’s a 26-inch, 5 1/2-pound brown trout caught by James Mikoleski. It was his best January catch, plucked from New York’s Otesgo Lake on Jan. 24.</p>
Wait, that’s not a bass! No, it’s a 26-inch, 5 1/2-pound brown trout caught by James Mikoleski. It was his best January catch, plucked from New York’s Otesgo Lake on Jan. 24.
<p> “January 2012 started out with this 8.5-pound bass!” said Jim Marona.</p>
“January 2012 started out with this 8.5-pound bass!” said Jim Marona.
<p> John Thomas sent in quadruplets as his best catch of January.</p>
John Thomas sent in quadruplets as his best catch of January.
<p> Joseph Caldwell’s 7-pounder came during a high school bass tournament that comes around every month.</p>
Joseph Caldwell’s 7-pounder came during a high school bass tournament that comes around every month.
<p> Justin Bun shows off his 6-pounder!</p>
Justin Bun shows off his 6-pounder!
<p> Justin Delcoure caught this 6 1/2-pound smallmouth in Oklahoma.</p>
Justin Delcoure caught this 6 1/2-pound smallmouth in Oklahoma.
<p> Justin Garrett’s father, Jeff, sent this one in. Looks cold!</p>
Justin Garrett’s father, Jeff, sent this one in. Looks cold!
<p> Kathy and Larry Easterling caught these almost identical 5-pounders. “He was Carolina rigging a 10-inch black-and-blue PowerWorm, and I was fishing a black-and-blue jig with a partial 10-inch PowerWorm attached,” explained Kathy. “It was fun!”</p>
Kathy and Larry Easterling caught these almost identical 5-pounders. “He was Carolina rigging a 10-inch black-and-blue PowerWorm, and I was fishing a black-and-blue jig with a partial 10-inch PowerWorm attached,” explained Kathy. “It was fun!”
<p> On Jan. 15, Maddux Lytle caught this 6.6-pound bass on a private lake in Moreland, Ga. “It was 45 degrees outside with 42-degree water,” explained Lytle. He was using a Zoom Ultra-Vibe Worm in blue fleck.</p>
On Jan. 15, Maddux Lytle caught this 6.6-pound bass on a private lake in Moreland, Ga. “It was 45 degrees outside with 42-degree water,” explained Lytle. He was using a Zoom Ultra-Vibe Worm in blue fleck.
<p> Marcus Villanueva guesses this bass was around 7 pounds. “I forgot my scale at home,” he said. It was his biggest ever, caught from a kayak.</p>
Marcus Villanueva guesses this bass was around 7 pounds. “I forgot my scale at home,” he said. It was his biggest ever, caught from a kayak.
<p> This chunky bass jumped onto Micah Hazelip’s hook on California’s Clear Lake this month.</p>
This chunky bass jumped onto Micah Hazelip’s hook on California’s Clear Lake this month.
<p> Rivers Grove caught this bass below Holtwood Dam on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.</p>
Rivers Grove caught this bass below Holtwood Dam on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.
<p>  </p> <p> Shane Storie caught this brown beauty on American Lake in Lakewood, Wash., Jan. 10.</p>
 

Shane Storie caught this brown beauty on American Lake in Lakewood, Wash., Jan. 10.

<p> This has been Shaun Shafer’s best catch this month. He estimates the bass weighed 4 1/2 to 5 pounds.</p>
This has been Shaun Shafer’s best catch this month. He estimates the bass weighed 4 1/2 to 5 pounds.
<p> A 300 Series Bandit lured this 5.7-pounder onto the hook for Shawn Williams’ son Hunter. It was Hunter’s first bass of the year.</p>
A 300 Series Bandit lured this 5.7-pounder onto the hook for Shawn Williams’ son Hunter. It was Hunter’s first bass of the year.
<p> Steve Ericksen caught these two bass earlier this month on California’s Clear Lake. The 10-pounder and 4-pounder both went for a swimbait in 35 feet of water.</p>
Steve Ericksen caught these two bass earlier this month on California’s Clear Lake. The 10-pounder and 4-pounder both went for a swimbait in 35 feet of water.
<p> Steve and Addison Townsend caught these 5- and 5 1/2-pounders in north Georgia.</p>
Steve and Addison Townsend caught these 5- and 5 1/2-pounders in north Georgia.
<p> Sven Voigt said this bass was not only his first bass of 2012 but also his personal best! He listed it at 2.6 kg, or 5.7 pounds.</p>
Sven Voigt said this bass was not only his first bass of 2012 but also his personal best! He listed it at 2.6 kg, or 5.7 pounds.
<p> John Bailey caught this 7-pounder on Jan. 21. “I really think the handheld scales are off on this one because he looked like a whole honey-baked hame!” said Tracie Cook Bailey. Tracie added that she and John caught more than 20 bass that day in the 3- to 6-pound range on John’s homemade lure.</p>
John Bailey caught this 7-pounder on Jan. 21. “I really think the handheld scales are off on this one because he looked like a whole honey-baked hame!” said Tracie Cook Bailey. Tracie added that she and John caught more than 20 bass that day in the 3- to 6-pound range on John’s homemade lure.
<p> Tracie Cook Bailey caught this one Jan. 15.</p>
Tracie Cook Bailey caught this one Jan. 15.
<p> Tripp Pittman caught this 8-pounder on Alabama’s Pickwick Lake, Jan. 6.</p>
Tripp Pittman caught this 8-pounder on Alabama’s Pickwick Lake, Jan. 6.
<p> Tripp Pittman followed up his 8-pounder with this 22-inch smallmouth on Alabama’s Pickwick Lake, Jan. 6.</p>
Tripp Pittman followed up his 8-pounder with this 22-inch smallmouth on Alabama’s Pickwick Lake, Jan. 6.
<p> This 6-pound, 3-ounce largemouth is Walt Stock’s best bass of January. He caught it on Center Hill Lake in Smithville, Tenn., on Jan. 22, when the water was a cool 45 degrees. He was fishing a 3/4-ounce Stan Sloan Zorro Bait Co. Cumberland Craw football head jig with a Zoom trailer (pumpkin green). Join us on <a href=
This 6-pound, 3-ounce largemouth is Walt Stock’s best bass of January. He caught it on Center Hill Lake in Smithville, Tenn., on Jan. 22, when the water was a cool 45 degrees. He was fishing a 3/4-ounce Stan Sloan Zorro Bait Co. Cumberland Craw football head jig with a Zoom trailer (pumpkin green). Join us on Facebook to show us your best bass of January!