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In this Christmas special of the Alabama Freshwater Fishing Report, host Nick Williams sits down with longtime Lake Eufaula guide Steve “Graz” Graziano to talk about one thing every bass angler dreams about: wintertime giants. Graz breaks down why the cold months are prime time for trophy bites, how he’s landed double-digit bass on Lake Eufaula, and what it really takes to consistently put yourself around the biggest fish in the lake.
Conditions Recap
The theme this week is cold-water opportunity. Graz emphasizes that winter bass absolutely still feed—often more predictably than other times of the year—especially as big females start “feeding up” ahead of the spawn. He points out that water level swings (like the kind caused by heavy rain) can quickly change positioning: when the lake rises and stains up, fish may push shallower; when conditions stabilize, the biggest fish often stage where shallow feeding areas have quick access back to deeper water.
Water temperature matters, and Graz keeps it on the screen at all times. He notes that temps in the 50s are a sweet spot for triggering big bites, and that some of his biggest fish historically came when temps were hovering around the low 50s (or even colder). Another winter advantage: less boat traffic, since many folks are hunting, which makes it easier to fish key places without the pressure you’d see in spring and summer.
Lake Eufaula Trophy Bass Playbook With Steve “Graz” Graziano
Graz has been fishing since the early 1970s and says the colder months are when anglers have their best shot at the biggest bass of the year. Two of the “hammer” fish that sparked this episode were both caught early in the morning—one a 10 lb 7 oz bass (caught January 2, 2000) and another fish that hit the 12-pound mark (caught in 2006). His biggest point: if you want a true trophy bite, don’t wait until it “warms up.” Graz believes those big females are most active early, and the morning window can be the difference between getting a shot at a double-digit fish or missing it entirely.
When he’s targeting giants from December through February (and into March), Graz looks for classic staging and travel areas: creek mouths, ditches and drains leading off major creeks, hard-bottom areas, and places that allow a quick escape to deeper water. On Eufaula, he prefers those transition zones closer to deep water rather than running all the way into the backs of creeks. He also notes that the lake doesn’t fish like it did decades ago, but the trophies are still there—just fewer of them, and older fish are harder to fool.
Electronics matter for this game. Graz recommends quality mapping, side scan, and (if you’re running it) forward-facing sonar to shorten the learning curve and help you understand how fish are positioning. Still, he repeatedly comes back to “seat time”—learning fish behavior and seasonal movement by being out there often enough to see the patterns.
Timing And Rotation: How Graz Works A “Big Fish” Area
Graz approaches winter fishing with a mix of confidence and efficiency. His first stop of the morning is usually a “good stop,” and he’ll work it long enough to determine whether the fish are set up and feeding. Sometimes that’s around 30 minutes, but he’s quick to adjust—if he doesn’t see bait, doesn’t see life, or doesn’t get signs of activity, he’d rather rotate through multiple high-percentage places than force a dead area. In tournament mode, he may hit several key spots in an hour or two.
One detail he’s noticed over the years: a spot that produces a big bite at first light may not reload later in the day. The fish move. That’s why he’s so adamant about being on the right places at the crack of dawn instead of showing up after the sun is already high.
Lure And Tackle Notes (Products Mentioned In The Conversation)
Graz’s winter trophy toolbox covers both bottom-contact baits and reaction presentations. For cold-water feeding, he leans heavily on a jig (a crawfish imitator) and a Carolina rig, especially around hard bottom and wood. He also highlights the value of “reaction” baits—tools that can trigger a big fish that’s set up under more active fish.
Here are the specific products and styles mentioned on the episode, with how they fit into the winter program:
Bottom & Structure Tools: Graz talks about catching big fish on a jig (including the 12-pounder) and notes that wood and hard bottom were key elements in his biggest bites. He also discusses the Carolina rig as a consistent way to target bigger fish holding near transition zones.
Zoom Creature Bait On A Carolina Rig: Graz specifically mentions throwing the Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw (Magnum) on a Carolina rig as a big-fish producer on Eufaula, and believes it can translate across other fisheries.
Worm Surprise: A fellow angler’s report stood out to Graz: a pair of quality fish caught dragging a Zoom Ol’ Monster worm on a Carolina rig (he mentions June bug as the color). His takeaway: don’t get locked into one “winter-only” idea—if fish are telling you something, experiment.
Reaction Baits For Giants: Graz calls out the tail spinner (he compares it to a “Little George” style) and notes he lost what he believed was a double-digit fish when it bent the hook—partly because that setup typically relies on a single treble. He also mentions a shallow-running crankbait (around a 10-foot diver) as the lure that produced his 10 lb 7 oz bass, again early in the morning.
Vertical “Pack” Fishing: When bass group up deeper, he likes a jigging spoon dropped vertically on fish marked under the boat. He also mentions flutter spoons and describes these as hard for bigger fish to ignore when they’re set up beneath active fish.
Blade Bait: Graz calls the blade bait a classic cold-water tool that’s under-discussed and says it can work well beyond winter, too.
Lipless Crankbait: While much of the conversation centers on Eufaula’s hard-bottom and wood bites, Graz also notes that a lipless crankbait can be a big-fish bait this time of year—especially on grass-heavy lakes.
Color Adjustments: In stained water, Graz mentions leaning darker—colors like June bug and even black—to help fish track the bait.
Cold-Weather Safety And Comfort
Graz strongly recommends wearing a life jacket in winter, pointing out how dangerous cold-water immersion can be. He specifically notes that inflatable life jackets won’t get in the way and are a smart choice during the cold months.
The conversation also touches on comfort gear that makes it easier to build winter “seat time,” including heated boat seats, a heated vest, and heated insoles. The point isn’t luxury—it’s staying out there long enough, often enough, to learn the pattern and be in position when the trophy window opens.
