Winter Fishing

[Sam]

Winter Fishing???

OK, here is winter fishing:

1. When the calendar says it is winter.

2. When the water temperatures drop into the low 60's.

3. When the air temperature drops into the 50's.

Usually I put everything away in November based on the calendar.

I will fish ponds during the winter months along with the Hot Side of Lake Anna if I feel like it and it is not too cold.

Since I hate cold weather once the air temperature drops below 70* it is winter to me and time to take tackle inventory, clean rods and reels, reogranize tackle, read fishing articles and books and watch bass fishing DVDs.

[Bass Angler Magazine]

I got a bunch of floatn flys last year and looking forward to trying them this winter especially on spots - we also have agreat article on how to fish a floatn fly with Stephen Hedrick the smallmouth guru in the next issue.

[fishinkeebs]

In between hunting trips I plan on fishing. whether smallies or stripes but dont intend to stop because of winter! The fishing bug has got me bad lately!

[merc1997]

bass are just like us. they keep on eating, and i will keep on fishing.

bo

[Sun Fish]

I'm fishing until the water's frozen! Would love some more articles focued on North East bass habbits. It seems the vast majority of articles on bass fishing are focused more on southern regions.

[Bass Angler Magazine]

Hey Sun Fish - what are some good anglers up in the North East to work with?

Thanks

Mark

[WRB]

The winter seasonal period in climates where the core water temperature drops into the low 40's or the surface water freezes over is a difficult time for LMB, it's the one factor that limits distribution. LMB are just hanging on, trying to survive and adding fishing pressure to those bass may not be good for the fishery.

Florida strain LMB are limited in range due to the fact their low temperature limit is 45 degrees. We need to acknowledge extremely cold water can make life a challenge for LMB and give them a break.

Those of us who are fortunate to live where the climate is moderate and the core water temperatures rarely drops into the low 40's can continue to bass fish year around. However there are limits how deep we should fish for LMB as the bass go deeper to seek warmer water. My personal depth limit is 40', the reasons are; over inflated air bladders and brain damage due to severe pressure changes caused by being brought to the surface quickly.

With that disclaimer stated, winter bass fishing presentations differ fromm other seasonal periods. Out west our reservoirs get regular* stocking of hacturary raised rainbow trout because the water is cold enough to support the trout for recreational fishing. Trout imitating swimbaits become popular during the winter period.

The threadfin shad populations start to go deep and.die offs occur, deep presentations using shad imitating lures like structure spoons, ice jigs, drop shot small soft plastics, finesse jigs and now A-rigs are popular.

We have both big swimbaits that look like trout and small lures that look like shad, plus jigs for bass those bass targeting Crawdads. Swimbaits, spoons / ice jigs, drop shot and jigs make up the majority of lures and presentations we use to catch basss out west.

Tom

* non native species folks have managed to stop the trout stocking programs in several trophy bass lakes in SoCal, for the past 3 years. The planted trout are sterile and the lakes or streams never have a native trout population.

[rb56]

i unloaded my canoe from it's rack above my truck last week sadly. i deer hunt also and will be spending time with that but after that when the temps hit the low 70's here i'll be putting it back and going. on the ar.-tx. line here some of the best bass fishing is when temps hit the upper 60's and 70's here, which in december isn't much if at all, but mid-late january and february we do see several days with it up. of course here, you never know, a foot of snow or ice one day and low 70's 4 days later. i didn't get my canoe until late spring this year and i will be hitting it earlier this spring.

[Christian M]

Usually this is the time when hundreds of freshwater anglers on the Jersey Shore begin to change gears. They put their 6 and 7 foot rods up on the racks and store the freshwater tackle in favor of 10 to 14 foot surf casting rods. By this time we're all headed for our secret spots, rock jettys, and piers at sunset ready to fish through the night. Armed to the teeth with giant topwater chuggers, huge swimbaits, big bucktail jigs with sand eel trailers, heavy diamond jigs tipped with teasers, and a cooler full of ice just incase they want live bait, all in pursuit of our biggest Striper yet. Sadly, Super Storm Sandy wiped out what was shaping up to be one of the best Striped Bass seasons in years. However, the real tragedy lies in the devastation and havoc that Sandy visited upon our beloved shore. The lives lost, torn apart, and changed forever, with nothing but memories remaining. What some of us have called home all of our lives is now gone forever. How do we go back to normal from here? We've traded in our surf rods for shovels, our coolers for trash bags, and our tackle for tears. I remember complaining about the "bennys" visiting the beaches that we call home, ruining the shore for everyone that grew up walking these boardwalks and beaches, in reality, it never would have been the same without them. You never know what you've got until its gone. My heart, prayers, and thanks go out to the workers who have come from all over the country, leaving their homes, families, and loved ones behind. All in order to dig us out of the debris, and to bring power back to our great state.

[haydenf96]

Hey BAM If you are ever in Central MA, specifically around Webster Lake area, hit it up with this kid Kamil, he knows the lake better than anyone i know

[tbassfd]

Plan on fishing thru the winter, used to deer hunt but got my boat this Sept. and haven't really thought about hunting. Just caught a nice limit of crappie this AM.

[EastTexasBassin]

I'll be bass fishing as much as I can through the winter. The only time I've seen ice on my lake was when I spilled my drink. Winter bass are FAT and easier to find.

[hookset on 3]

I'm fishing until the water's frozen! Would love some more articles focued on North East bass habbits. It seems the vast majority of articles on bass fishing are focused more on southern regions.

I ice fish for Bass and Pike. Like, SunFish said, up here in the North East, we feel like it's all about down South as far as the focus of most articles.

Let's hear about Winter fishing north of 40 Latitude. You can leave out the parts about shad, too!

Whew... Feeling much better, now that my mini-rant is over.

[BridgerM]

Got the bass bug again this summer and winter has just arrived (way too soon imo) here in Utah with 10" snow. Unless i want to take a road trip to lake mead or mohave(which i do), no bass until we thaw next spring. no ice fishing for me.

WRB - From what i understand, Utah does not have a warm water species hatchery and has had to import those species from other states. And was not aware of the different strains of LMB until I read some of your posts(and learned alot). So, I was curious if you knew what strain(s) of bass Utah might be stocked with?

[tnriverluver]

Nope. I fish year round for several different Species here in Tenn.

[BassfisherMass]

i am heading out one last time this weekend then i will hang up the rod and go shooting for the rest of the winter

[PABASS]

When ice is on I stay away, our river system rarely freezes but I do lol..

[tholmes]

As long as the water is not frozen over I'm fishing.

Same here!

Tom

[bazzelite19]

Last year I fished all winter but this year ice has developed a couple inches thick so im guessing its going robbed atleast a few weeks if im lucky until I can hit the water again .

[tugsandpulls]

im bummin water is frozen but not safe enough for ice fishing

[gripnrip]

Lake Texoma for me this weekend! Temps in the mid 50's!

[Catt]

The Big Pond

 

Now until Mid-March!!!

[WRB]

The Big Pond

 

Now until Mid-March!!!

Happy New Year Catt! Good to see you are above the grass.

Tom

[Gatorbassman]

The Big Pond

 

Now until Mid-March!!!

Yea bud we were worried about ya.