Can't Get Largemouth In The Winter!

[Weld's Largemouth]

....

 

Sometimes it gets cold enough so that you almost have to hit the bass right in the head to get a bite. 

 

 

Thanks, all of you! This advice is very good! I am going to wait for the next warm front to roll in and then go fishing. Right now it has been snowing a bit and ~40 degrees 

[Weld's Largemouth]

It can be done but its awfully cold for a bass up there right now.

yes and i am grieving deeply.

[Mainebass1984]

I like fishing in cold cold water. The last day I was fishing this year the water temperature was 36 degrees. The last 3 times out fishing in my boat this year I was breaking ice. The fishing can be really productive. As mentioned before fish slow and then fish slower. I like to target isolated off shore structure. I seem to have my best luck on very steep drop offs in 15-30 feet. I have caught them as deep as 45 feet. I usually fish a jig, a blade bait or a drop shot. Don't under estimate a crankbait.

[DogBone_384]

I'll give it to you for still getting out there and trying.  I put way my gear when the water got to the low 50's.  Makes me want to give it another whirl.  Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever wacky rigged a senko and used a bobber to keep it at 4' or so in shallow water?  Sounds crazy, but I have to ask.

[flyfisher]

I'll give it to you for still getting out there and trying.  I put way my gear when the water got to the low 50's.  Makes me want to give it another whirl.  Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever wacky rigged a senko and used a bobber to keep it at 4' or so in shallow water?  Sounds crazy, but I have to ask.

low 50's is feed bag time where i fish.  And a senko under a bobber is not crazy and is along the same lines as the float & fly that is a tried and trued cold water technique.  I saw a show where people were doing exactly what you said except they were fishing a little deeper.

[Paul Roberts]

I'll give it to you for still getting out there and trying.  I put way my gear when the water got to the low 50's.  Makes me want to give it another whirl.  Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever wacky rigged a senko and used a bobber to keep it at 4' or so in shallow water?  Sounds crazy, but I have to ask.

Possible, of course. But first you have to get to the bass. Four feet might be too shallow in all but the very shallowest of wintering locations -like in small shallow ponds. Wintering spots in lakes are often over 15ft deep, thus, jigs, bladebaits, SB's, ... . Lures are tools, not magic. Again, many times some action triggers strikes, and can help you locate the sweet spots. Then you can start experimenting with mood. Passive presentations (relying on solid feeding responses) may or may not work at times. If you rely on one presentation, and the fish aren't interested, then you'll surely miss the sweet spot. Don't get hung up on one magic bait. We could call it the "Curse of the Senko" (insert any GoTo in place of "Senko").

 

In general, winter and summer both can be challenging times for anglers, not bc the fish aren't biting, but bc the fish aren't in the shallows like they are spring and fall -when and where the fishing is easier and more familiar. Many people fish only in the spring when bass are visible bc they then know they are casting around bass. This is even true in the shallow ponds I often fish, where summer and winter habitats are not physically all that far away -they just aren't right at the shorelines! The mystery of fishing blind intimidates just about everyone and it's perseverance that get's you over those rough (seemingly senseless) times. Some knowledge going in can help you cut to the chase, as it were, and keep your sanity by at least giving you some threads of sense to follow.

[DogBone_384]

Possible, of course. But first you have to get to the bass. Four feet might be too shallow in all but the very shallowest of wintering locations -like in small shallow ponds. Wintering spots in lakes are often over 15ft deep, thus, jigs, bladebaits, SB's, ... . Lures are tools, not magic. Again, many times some action triggers strikes, and can help you locate the sweet spots. Then you can start experimenting with mood. Passive presentations (relying on solid feeding responses) may or may not work at times. If you rely on one presentation, and the fish aren't interested, then you'll surely miss the sweet spot. Don't get hung up on one magic bait. We could call it the "Curse of the Senko" (insert any GoTo in place of "Senko").

 

In general, winter and summer both can be challenging times for anglers, not bc the fish aren't biting, but bc the fish aren't in the shallows like they are spring and fall -when and where the fishing is easier and more familiar. Many people fish only in the spring when bass are visible bc they then know they are casting around bass. This is even true in the shallow ponds I often fish, where summer and winter habitats are not physically all that far away -they just aren't right at the shorelines! The mystery of fishing blind intimidates just about everyone and it's perseverance that get's you over those rough (seemingly senseless) times. Some knowledge going in can help you cut to the chase, as it were, and keep your sanity by at least giving you some threads of sense to follow.

I'm still not convinced Senkos are the magic bait, agreed, I've only gotten back into fishing seriously in the past year and my first fall/winter and am sort of relearning it because I only did it for fun when a kid. Thanks for the tips. If I get a chance I might get out there & try different things out.

[Weld's Largemouth]

I like fishing in cold cold water. The last day I was fishing this year the water temperature was 36 degrees. The last 3 times out fishing in my boat this year I was breaking ice. The fishing can be really productive. As mentioned before fish slow and then fish slower. I like to target isolated off shore structure. I seem to have my best luck on very steep drop offs in 15-30 feet. I have caught them as deep as 45 feet. I usually fish a jig, a blade bait or a drop shot. Don't under estimate a crankbait.

The issue is i dont fish from a boat and i fish ponds , rarely lakes

[Paul Roberts]

The issue is i dont fish from a boat and i fish ponds , rarely lakes

The link I provided in my first post pertains to ponds from shore.