You Bet! The top water bite in January can sometimes be a way to put that winter monster in the boat. As erratic and unusual as this might seem, I ve seen it done, I ve caught them on top and they are usual monsters. Guntersville over the years has had some elements that make this very possible. Its called grass the process of the grass dieing off is a slow process that allows you to fish thick mats sometimes all through the winter. The back pockets, or hidden edges around the channel and hidden areas from the wind generally do not lose their grass until late March when the new growth begins. That my friends, allows for the water under the mats to reverse the summer trend of cool water to a warm water phenomenon, meaning that the water is now warmer under the mated grass. When this happens bass will hang in the cold weather under the grass mats and when the timing is right strike your frog sitting on top.
Over the years some of Guntersville biggest lunkers have come on a rat in the mid of winter.
The rat bite is not the only way to put top water fish in the boat this time of year. A Zara Spook has produced maybe more of big fish especially along the channel edges where the grass still holds along some trees or islands that stay out of the wind most of the winter. I ve said this before but a Zara Spook is probably the most versatile top water bait made. The winter bite on a Zara Spook is always strong you just need to work it slower, be more methodical about where you place it and hang on!