Winter Bank Fishing

[George DeHaven]

Tomorrow morning's weather looks pretty good here in Northeastern, PA. I'm thinking about heading down to the lake to try and see what's biting. I don't have a boat so I'll be fishing from the bank right after sunrise.

 

Any advice as to what to look for?

 

Docks?

 

Cover?

 

Or should I just cast as far as possible with a heavy lure/rig and see what's down deep?

 

I haven't been down to the lake in a little while and I might actually find that all the docks have been pulled up because we're getting close to freezing.

 

Any info will be appreciated. Thanks!

[Dyerbassman]

I plan on doing the same here in Indiana. Today was warm (50°) and tomorrow should be the same until Friday when its 20°! My plan of attack, whether its right or not, is I am going to fish whatever banks that have the most sunlight first. Then fish whatever docks or rocks that I can get to. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits are going to be on the rods first, then maybe a jig or a jerkbait if I can find some sluggish bass. Of course, this all sounds perfect in my head! Good luck!

[Bluebasser86]

I bank fish as long as there's open water during the winter at some of our local lakes. Most effective thing I've found is find some deep water with rocks and drag a small plastic or jig slowly along the bottom or parallel the drops with a slowly twitched suspending jerkbait. I've caught some really nice fish from the shore all winter long during warm winters doing this. 

[George DeHaven]

Thanks for the replies! My confidence rigs are spinner and buzzbaits along with a KVD 1.5 crank. Those will be what I start with and I will be looking for docks and cover. I will also keep my eyes peeled for the sunlight, that is a great idea and makes sense.

 

Maybe I'll take a page from Gene's book and tie on a mojo. Heck, maybe I'll try a shaky head.

 

Look out for some pictures later on if I happen upon something that's biting!

 

Thanks again!

[Fishes in trees]

I don't know about NE Pennsylvania, but I know that in Missouri, fish will get pretty shallow in colder open water.  Back in my youth, when I was bank fishing and traveling light, using mostly spinning gear, my #1 lure was a Brewer Slider worm (the snag less slider head and not the regular slider head)  secondly would be a jig & eel, I didn't mess with hard baits much then.   Basically I knew that I was fishing because I liked being outside better than being inside, but every so often I'd run into some fish.

[Crestliner2008]

Try to find steeper banks leading to deep water quickly. Also try floating a wacky rigged Senko under a slip bobber. You'll get bit.

[George DeHaven]

What a miserable day it turned out to be!

 

Because of the warmer temperatures, the area was thick fog. Visibility on the bank was 50 yds. at most. All the docks have been pulled up and there was no cover. I tried.

 

See you in the Spring!

[J Francho]

I try to find points near deeper water, with hard clay or rocky bottom, if possible.  From there, I whip a football jig and twin tail grub out as far as I can, and fish it as slow as possible, sometimes dead sticking it.  Other than that, when the water is near freezing, there's not much else that has worked consistently for me.

[Loop_Dad]

Don't have the experience in freezing cold water, but sometimes casting a single tail grub dropshotted on rocky steep bank worked for me when it was cold for our standard.

[rhinojoe2014]

Location

 

Any place with cover and deep water close by.. sometimes docks.. sometimes fallen trees... riprap.. etc... Points.. I prefer a rocky bottom if i can find it..

 

Lures..

 

I like to stick with a tube this time of year if bank fishing.. I internally weight it with a jighead (1/8th or 1/4 oz usually) and can usually get bit.. sometimes I glue a small glass rattle inside the tube for a little extra attraction..

 

 

[Bankbeater]

This time of year I have had pretty good luck with jigs, small plastic worms, and tubes.  I try and fish in grass and weeds.  If I can find some hydrilla down in deep water I will be casting a weedless worm right into it.

[DogBone_384]

No bank fishing up here today:

[BadBassWV]

Is that pic upside down...LOL no what you mean, Brutal in WV also.

[DogBone_384]

Is that pic upside down...LOL no what you mean, Brutal in WV also.

Yeah, the thumbnail is upside down, but when I clicked on it it was right side up. Our house is up high, garage-under. I took the photo from the top of the stairs looking down. Oh well, regardless, no fishing today. The ocean's creek that comes into my street is also freezing over at low tide....

Stuff happens.

[Megastink]

I feel like this thread should be resurrected. Starting today, it will be above freezing by double digets, working it's way up to 67*F on Sunday.... It's fishing time!

I'm thinking drop shot, jigging spoon, finesse jig, crank baits....

[jeremyryanwebb]

grass and weeds, shallow points with dropoffs.

 

This time of year in south carolina its consistently in the mid 50's.  Been throwin jigs with various chunk trailers at docks and grassbeds.  Any version of the senko works good this time of year in our pounds.  Just slow it way down with all your presentations.