Quick Trip...

I got the chance to make a quick stop at a small pond near my home this afternoon.  The weather has been better and the water was not as cold as the last few times I have been fishing.
I decided that I would try some smaller baits due to the relative size of the pond that I reckon was about a quarter of an acre or so.  This seemed to be the right choice and I caught 4 small bass from a half pound up to about one pound in the 2 hours I was there.                    
I used a white Chatterbait jig and a Beetlespin with a white grub.  These are usually pretty reliable and once again proved their worth!

Cold Weather Fishing

If you are a hearty soul, now is a great time to catch some really big bass. You will have to have patience and the right equipment to go after bass at this time of year.
I would suggest that you use a depth finder, even a cheap one will do, because most bass will be in the deepest water of your favorite fishing hole. You will need to have an idea where these spots are and a depth finder is a must have. Bass Pro Shops and Cabelas have a large selection and like I said, even a cheapie will let you identify deep water.
Once you have an idea where to fish for those deep water largemouth bass and smallmouth bass you can use a deepdiving crankbait to probe these areas. I also like to fish with a jig and trailer bait in cold water. The jig should be fished slowly since the bass are more lethargic in colder months and the bait they normally feed on is also moving more slowly now. This will provide a more natural bait presentation.