What To Believe?

[ebob2435]

 This winter I have read  so many different articles on ways on how to winter bass fish.  Some say jigs slow,some say fast. Some say cranks slow, others say med,then others say fast. I've read  where the only bait some would use is a spinnerbait. Seems to me that after all of my readings.  I've come up with the conclusion that winter bass will bite on just about anything that you throw at them at a given time.  I know that the area that your in makes a big difference. I'm in Western Kentucky, weather changes all the time, sometimes hour to hour lol.  What is your opinion?

[Arki]

Fishing is a puzzle that YOU put together to be successful. Keep those articals in your mind but pay attention to what the lake tells you. Fishing changes everyday, that book is the same from day one. Just the way I think about it.

[Siebert Outdoors]

One of the major things you have too look at is the posters location.  A guy in TX will not fish the same way a guy in MO will in the "Winter"

[Sam]

May I suggest you study bass behavior? It is an amazing science and you will learn a lot about the bass as an enemy and how they will act in Kentucky (and other states) at any one time.

 

If you start with an investment in Dr. Keith Jones' book, Knowing Bass, you will understand how a bass reacts to specific baits, noises, scents, temperatures, structure, etc. It is cramped full of scientific data and research but it will give you a wonderful insight into the animal and its habits.

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=uKBd85BhyQYC&pg=PR13&lpg=PR13&dq=knowing+bass+by+dr.+keith+jones&source=bl&ots=E2Au-fukAt&sig=XFXkiMQVoRxD9OJQJObZSMBRDWw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=tMsbUaX_CMyv0AHVxoCABg&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=knowing%20bass%20by%20dr.%20keith%20jones&f=false

 

Everyone has their own favorite or confidence technique and bait. So when a guy in Florida says fish a bait "A" and a guy in Kansas suggests "B" while someone in New York offers "C" they are all correct.

 

You have to find the pattern for the hour or day and that is everyone's challenge no matter where they live and fish.

 

What makes this difficult is that the bass will change their patterns depending on water temperature and clarity, weather conditions plus other factors. You have to experiment to find the pattern. Once you do, you can move from place to place and continue to be successful. But only for that day. Tomorrow is another challenge.

 

When you read what the pros say pay attention to their techniques and types of tackle. When you read their articles omit the brand names. So if Ike says to throw a Shimano 6'10" Cumara with an E200 Curado, you read it as "throw a 6'10" with a baitcaster of your choice."

 

When watching TV always look at the bait the pros are throwing. They will tout their sponsors products but you need to watch carefully to note the type, size and color of what they are throwing that day and for what techniques. Their baits will be totally different the next day and they may or may not work in your waters.

 

You will determine favorite colors and sizes to throw and using specific techniques depending on the variables. I love Junebug for soft plastics and Fire Tiger for hard baits in Virginia rivers. Kentucky rivers may be productive with green pumpkin soft and Sexy Shad hard baits. On the James and Chickahominy rivers I have confidence in and do well with two other colors. Who knows???

 

So keep on asking your specific questions with the understanding that you will recieve a Ph.D. course in replies from guys and gals all over the world and take what they say and experiment.

 

Finding the bass is your first challenge and using the baits the bass want for that hour or day is your second goal.

 

Keep a diary of every day you fish and you will see a pattern and what works and does not work depending on the various variables you have to take into consideration.

[joetomlee]

I'm totally with you. I've noticed that the more I read, the more confused I get!! It's crazy because someone thinks they've figured out some perfect technique then I'll read a second article completely contradicting it. It's just like anything else that gets studied to death though. Think about eggs over the last 30 years.

 

They're good for you

they're bad for you

good

bad

good

bad

just the whites are good (avoid the yellows). :dazed-7: :dazed-7: WHAT!!

 

I think the important thing about fishing is just to keep on adapting to different circumstances and figure out what works best for you as an individual. Studying the subject helps a ton (but is also further confusing in my personal opinion).

 

There is no substitute for experience. Each year I go out onto the water I feel confident in my abilities but then the following year I realize how much I have learned since then and how foolish I was to think I had it all figured out. This is a annual occurance for me.

[J Francho]

One of the major things you have too look at is the posters location.  A guy in TX will not fish the same way a guy in MO will in the "Winter"

 

This point is HUGE.  "Winter" to some in the south might be a fleeting window of opportunity in fall to some in the north.

[Comfortably Numb]

This is my first winter I really spent time fishing. In January water was still 45-46 and I caught fish deep (30') on a drop shot, and on sunny days could catch them shallow 3-4' on a light 1/8 oz jig, senko, 1.5 squarebill, or suspending jerk.

 

Lately water is 41-42 and I cant catch anything. I guess that few degrees make a huge difference

[Oregon Native]

For whatever it's worth i just enjoy getting out there.  As long as it's not a major wind or cold front I try and get out.  I have found fish from one foot down to thirty.  I have heard that there are always some fish shallow and it seems to be true.  Especially if the water has a slight tint to it.  This has worked for me from Oregon on out here to Tennessee.  I may not load the boat many times but am learning.  I tend to fish the favorites.  Hair jigs in winter, float'n fly, cranks.  Water gets warmer the float'n fly goes away as the panfish tear it up.  It's a rare day ya don't get something.  Day before yesterday was pretty good.  We got drum, yellow bass, white bass, smallies, and largemouth.  Mostly on dropshot and cranks.

Tight lines...time on water is learnin and not workin

It's enjoying what our Great Lord has created.

[thehooligan]

Since ive been fishing winters i go topwater as long as possible till the bites stops. Then from there its dropshots, lipless cranks, and suspending jerkbaits.

 

And if i cant find any bass, thats when topwater goes back on and i chase spawning pickerel 

 

Or trout/yellow perch/crappie, plenty of other fish to go after...

[K_Mac]

I think the lesson is there is no 'one size fits all' answer to bass fishing-regardless of the time of year. Last week a friend and I fished two days here in So. Illinois. Water in the lower 40s, air temp around 50. The first day we fished jigs, catching a couple of decent fish. The second day a slow rolled chatterbait was the clear winner in both size and numbers. The water temp was 41 degrees for the biggest fish of the day, a couple of degrees cooler than some of the more shallow water. Reading and learning from more experienced angler's experience, studying maps, baits, and techniques are all part of the process, but there is no substitute for time on the water putting all those things to the test. As the commercial says, "Just do it."  

[Nitrofreak]

Don't put much faith into whatever it is that everyone is saying, everything you read is everything everywhere across this great nation of ours all at once.

 

One thing rings true no matter where you live, Find the fish first !!!!  and start fishing your strengths,  don't go changing baits and colors, change your speed first, and continue fishing your strength, it will start to come to you soon enough after that.

[Jig Meister]

The biggest thing you can do for your fishing ability is to....

 

study bass behavior and study bass habitat.

 

The hardest part of fishing is finding the fish, once you know how to find them, catching them is a matter of bait type....

[Deleted account]

Less reading, more fishing...

[Felix77]

One of the major things you have too look at is the posters location.  A guy in TX will not fish the same way a guy in MO will in the "Winter"

 

Agree 110%.  It's something I had to learn fast.  I learned very quickly that you need to pay attention to where they are when they say "Winter" fishing.  I live in Upstate New York and I have yet to see an article which referenced "Winter" fishing up here and a bass boat.  ;-)

 

The "Winter" pattern here begins right after ice-out (April-ish) and quickly (very quickly) turns to pre-spawn etc.