December is a great month to fish for and catch spotted bass. Cool and often-unpredictable weather means spotted bass will be the most-dependable bass this month.

Put up the Christmas tree and then go spotted bass fishing, trying deep-diving crankbaits in fire-tiger and the grey-ghost colors on 10-pound-test fluorocarbon line, using a slow to a medium retrieve.

Since spotted bass react well to crankbaits with very-erratic actions, rip the bait two or three times, make four or five turns with your reel, and then start a slow retrieve again. The spotted bass usually will take the crankbait when the lure stops, after you rip the bait.

Alternatively, fish a ½-ounce jig on points. Fish the jig with a slow retrieve, hop it along the bottom and up off the bottom, and then allow it to fall back almost on a slack line. The spots usually will take the bait when it's falling, after you've hopped it.

For finicky spotted bass, try drop-shotting by putting a 1/4-ounce lead on the bottom of your line. About 10 or 12 inches up the line, tie on a 1/0 drop-shot hook on 6-pound-test fluorocarbon line. Either rig the worm wacky style, or nose-hook a green-pumpkin finesse worm. Of the two rigs, rigging the worm wacky style is generally the most productive for spotted bass in December. Fish this rig on the same main-lake points where you've fished the jig and the crankbait.