How Hard Is It???

[JWOA]

  Was at BPS today looking as some cold weather gear...wondering how hard is to catch bass in the winter? Is it easy...east is not always simple...but can it be done...first u have to know where the fish....are the same methods I use in the spring/summer used during this season also???

[RandySBreth]

People catch fish through the ice all the time, so catching them in "Winter" in Georgia is not a problem. I catch some of the biggest Largemouths of the year in Winter - you just fish a little slower and and in different spots. Are you fishing small ponds, or bigger lakes and reservoirs?

[JWOA]

People catch fish through the ice all the time, so catching them in "Winter" in Georgia is not a problem. I catch some of the biggest Largemouths of the year in Winter - you just fish a little slower and and in different spots. Are you fishing small ponds, or bigger lakes and reservoirs?

  I'm fishing larger ponds.....if that helps any

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Georgia has winter? 

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I fish all winter up here where the water almost always hits the low 30's by February (if there's not ice.) The fishing is much slower, and so are the presentations. 

 

Try downsizing your offerings, and your gear. Usually in the winter the heaviest line I use is 6lb. If you start tossing smaller lures you will probably nail some good crappie and pickerel too.  

 

The lures I throw most in cold water are:

 

-jig and grub

-dropshot

-jig and pig (use real pork trailer in winter)

-anything Gulp!

-suspending jerkbait

-silver buddy

 

And fish them slooooow.

 

I've caught fish in as shallow as 2' in near freezing temperatures, but you're probably going to do better if you can find some deeper water in the ponds you're fishing. 

[WhiteMike1018]

Just find the nearest lake with grass and spend a day ripping a lipless crankbait through and over it, I garuntee you catch a couple nice fish. 

[Catt]

Winter time bass fishing

Think Vertical

Think Deep

Think Bottom

Think Slow

Stability! I don't care what the ambient temperature is as long as the weather has been stable for 3-4 days. In order to take full advantage of stable conditions one must have the ability to pick and choose the days you can fish.

A bass's metabolism is finely tuned to its circulatory system's temperature which is the same as the surrounding water. In cold water their metabolism slows down, their brain slows down, so the bass slows down. In cold water a bass 's instincts are less finely tuned, it has less appetite and it mostly stays suspended at or near the bottom.

It is fairly easy to catch bass in cold water, if you can find them and if you use the right techniques. This means putting a bait in front of a fish that looks right, sounds right, and smells right.

Jigging spoons or jig-n-pig (pork frog) are probably the two most popular methods. If you want to get into the finesse end of things, fishing a small grub can also be good.

[jeb2]

Some of the best fish of the year are caught during the winter around here. I caught this big girl in mid-December a couple of years ago:

 

Suspending jerkbaits, in addition to what has been mentioned above, are good choices for cold water.

[river-rat]

Winter is my favorite time to fish - fewer people. I don't catch as many as other times of the year, but the average size fish fish is better. And I keep it really simple. I use a 5/8 or 3/4 spinnerbait and a jig and fish on the bottom.

 

However, if the water temp is below 50 degrees and the water is muddy, I stay home. I've never done well in those conditions.

[JWOA]

TRhanks for the tip...May have to try some new tactics though

[Bankbeater]

Bass have to eat in the winter too.  The big ones have to eat more, so in theory, they would be biting more than the small ones.

[Sam]

Jay, unless hibernating all animals have to continue to eat during winter months.  This is true for fish including our beloved small and largemouth bass. 

 

The difference in the amount of food consumed and how often are the keys when the water starts to cool. A bass' metabolism slows down as the water gets colder and they can "hover" in oxygen and structure for a few days, up to a week, without eating. In cold water the bass do not want to travel far to eat so they will be hiding in places where their baitfish pass by presenting a short and fast attack.

 

The bass can take up to seven (7) days to digest their meal depending on its size.  I have a chart upstairs in my man cave that I got at a Bassmasters University which shows the number of days a bass takes to metabolize its baitfish depending on the water temperature. Since I am stuck downstairs due to a knee replacement I can't give you the figures but you may be able to locate it via the Forum's search feature.

 

Remember, as the water cools the bass want two things: 1) an easy meal and 2) a big fat meal. So a nice fat spinnerbait or a slow moving crankbait with a tight wobble, or a slow sinking Senko, YUM or other stick bait falling into their comfort zone will create an outstanding opportunity for a strike. They don't want to travel far to expend a lot of energy when feeding so keep that in the back of your mind when selecting your baits and presentations.

 

As for your opening sentence in your post, if you will go to Wal-Mart and look for the Under Armor knock-off shirts and pants that fit tight on your body, like the football players wear, they are a wonderful addition to your winter fishing wardrobe as they will keep you toasty warm. Get two sizes larger than you normally wear in either white or black. You will not be disappointed in how they feel and keeping you warm.

 

Just one small suggestion with the knock-offs: Have your mom create a "fly in the front as they do not come with flies.

 

Try to find the metabolism data on the Forum. I will take a whack at it and if I find it in either my fishing folder on the computer or on the Forum I will post it for you.

 

All the best and remember it is extremely important to wear your PFD when you fish, either in a boat or along the bank, in the winter.

[Sam]

Jay, found the post. Here it is. Everyone enjoy and make notes!!!

 

They are probably staging along the edges as the water temperature drops.

They may swim around very slowly as the water gets cold, but mostly the large bass will stay put, waiting for a meal to swim by while the smaller bass will be a little more active.

I attended a Bassmasters University back in January of 2004, and Ken Cook was one of the presenters.

Ken discussed the fish, itself, and gave us these metabolism rates so we would understand how the bass feeds.

You can use this information when considering how to fish for the bass during the winter and why they do not feed as fast as they do in warmer water.

SPEED OF METABOLISM

40* = 8 days to digest a minnow
50* = 7 days to digest a minnow
60* = 2.5 days
70* = 24 hours
80* = 18 hours
80*+ = 18 hours

73* to 75* degree water is the most efficient metabolism for a bass.

Ken went on to remind us that a bass is a predator and they go on search and destroy misions by ambushing or taking advantage of their prey.  

Edges are important to a feeding bass.

The bass will eat anything that presents itself as it looks for an easy opportunity for a nice meal.

When the water temperatures are under 60* and over 90*, Ken said the bass want a "roof" over their heads when not feeding.  They will use water for a roof or go deep, go into grass beds, lily pads, boat docks and piers and any structure they can find for cover.

When the water turns cold, Ken says to go with minnows or shad colored baits.

So all I can add is to take Ken Cook's advice and go for the bass staging off the edges, just sitting there waiting for your beautiful minnow or shad colored bait to float by for an easy meal or fish any underwater structure you can find where they can hide.

Give it a try and let us know how you do.  

[WhiteMike1018]

Jay, unless hibernating all animals have to continue to eat during winter months.  This is true for fish including our beloved small and largemouth bass. 

 

The difference in the amount of food consumed and how often are the keys when the water starts to cool. A bass' metabolism slows down as the water gets colder and they can "hover" in oxygen and structure for a few days, up to a week, without eating. In cold water the bass do not want to travel far to eat so they will be hiding in places where their baitfish pass by presenting a short and fast attack.

 

The bass can take up to seven (7) days to digest their meal depending on its size.  I have a chart upstairs in my man cave that I got at a Bassmasters University which shows the number of days a bass takes to metabolize its baitfish depending on the water temperature. Since I am stuck downstairs due to a knee replacement I can't give you the figures but you may be able to locate it via the Forum's search feature.

 

Remember, as the water cools the bass want two things: 1) an easy meal and 2) a big fat meal. So a nice fat spinnerbait or a slow moving crankbait with a tight wobble, or a slow sinking Senko, YUM or other stick bait falling into their comfort zone will create an outstanding opportunity for a strike. They don't want to travel far to expend a lot of energy when feeding so keep that in the back of your mind when selecting your baits and presentations.

 

As for your opening sentence in your post, if you will go to Wal-Mart and look for the Under Armor knock-off shirts and pants that fit tight on your body, like the football players wear, they are a wonderful addition to your winter fishing wardrobe as they will keep you toasty warm. Get two sizes larger than you normally wear in either white or black. You will not be disappointed in how they feel and keeping you warm.

 

Just one small suggestion with the knock-offs: Have your mom create a "fly in the front as they do not come with flies.

 

Try to find the metabolism data on the Forum. I will take a whack at it and if I find it in either my fishing folder on the computer or on the Forum I will post it for you.

 

All the best and remember it is extremely important to wear your PFD when you fish, either in a boat or along the bank, in the winter.

 

Reading this almost makes me feel guilty for fishing, all he wants to do is relax and eat to survive and here i come ripping a hook through his mouth