Post Freeze & Snow Warm Front Fishing

[TravisVirginiaAngler]

In Virginia, we've experienced the Polar Vortex, going from low 40's to low 20's and getting between 6-8" of snow. All of my multi-acre bass pond spots are frozen, however by today temps jump to the mid 40's and by Friday (when I hope to get out on the water) they'll be in mid to upper 60's. While I realize there have been many posts about post cold front fishing... this is more specific to Virginia and to a 40 degree swing. I know the water will still be chilly (prob low 40's) but will the bass be shallow and sun-bathing after all this cold shifts to warm? If so... what would you guys recommend throwing? Squarebills? Jigs? Im supposed to fish a 50 acre awesome pond Friday and want to be prepared. Thanks!

[Paul Roberts]

We cannot know what the bass will be doing. You just have to fish.

 

A guess: In small shallow waters it is more likely they will be able to move/be shallow. If the water is deep, and the majority of bass winter deep, it is less likely they will suddenly appear shallow -at least in mid-winter like this.

 

I'd use regular cold weather baits -probably a jerkbait and a jig. But other options could work too. Let us know what you find.

 

We've had enormous temperature swings here too . As much as 50F change in less than a day. There's a lot of warm air in the area, and then some arctic blasts barging in. The winds between these fronts have been... scary. We commonly get 50 to 70mph winds up here in the mountains, but we've broken 100mph a few times this winter.

[TravisVirginiaAngler]

Thanks Paul. My winter arsenal will be: squarebill crank baits, rat-l traps, jigs, and of course jerkbaits! I'll keep you guys posted. Cheers! I did catch a 3 pound trout in a country club pond when we got 8" of snow, in 20 degree weather. That was awesome!

[IgotWood]

I'm interested in hearing responses to this topic. We got just about a foot down here in Yorktown. I plan to fish a reservoir near my house later this week. As of now, I plan to fish some structure in the deeper section (7'-9') with jigs, jerks, and the trusty old senko.

[grampa1114]

My $.02 

If you are fishing from shore..try to find the closest spot to severe depth changes and bounce something slowly off the bottom until you get hit. Then pay attention.  Sun getting higher and water warming will change things. Again pay attention. 

If you are fishing from a boat then reverse the procedure...maybe with a slowly cranked, deep diving crank bait or again something bouncing off the bottom. Remember to pay attention to where the hits are happening.

Bass are always hungry but they've been confused by the weather so the most important thing you can do is pay attention...good luck.

[TravisVirginiaAngler]

I Got Wood: Greetings from the 804 to the 757 my friend! I will post everything from my Friday trip, and hope to land some nice sized ones. Probably will start with a 6-9' suspending jerk bait and twitch that by brush piles and deep water structure. Thanks for commenting Grampa11114. Tight lines guys!

[Paul Roberts]

Here's a similar experience, although a bit further north:

 

 

[frogflogger]

jerkbaits if clear water - ned rig no matter what the conditions

[geo g]

Florida bass usually take a few days of warm weather before they adjust.  Unlike there northern cousins that adjust quicker.

[TravisVirginiaAngler]

Never used/tried ned rig. Youtubing that now! Thanks for the suggestion... I'll definitely tie one on Friday!

[grampa1114]

65 yesterday, 75 today, Lake Moultrie tomorrow midday. Twitch and maybe spinnerbait in the shallow stumps and bouncing something small in the troughs. We'll see.....

[VAHunter]

I live in Chesapeake, so we are facing very similar conditions.  I believe the fact you are fishing a pond is going to benefit you in the end.  I've found that ponds generally have more willing fish, especially in the winter.  As noted, you can't go wrong with a suspending jerkbait.  That is my number one lure, even in water that is barely above freezing. 

 

Keep in mind that all fish do not go deep in the winter.  There is a certain percentage that never goes deep, they just wait it out in the mid-range. 

 

One other bait you may want to consider is the silver buddy or any of the knock-off brands.  I've had exceptional days in our region with that bait.  I'd start with the 1/2 oz. version in silver. 

 

Finally, an Alabama rig can also be killer this time of the year.  My buddy fishes a private lake over my way and he slays the bass on the a-rig when the water is really cold.

[grampa1114]

10am...64 air temp...50 water temp. Fished 2 hours...gained 6 degrees air temp...2.6 degrees water temp. Bounced Ned rig, Grub and Senkos off the bottom of the troughs and caught 1 fish. Threw 3/8 oz tandem chartreuse spinnerbait in around and over stump field 1.5'-2.5' deep and 52.6 degrees. Caught nothing and switched to 1/4 oz single blade white spinnerbait and still caught nothing. Clear water and very long casts still got me nothing. Twitch bait got caught on every stump with every twitch. Went home.

[RoLo]

Wide schizophrenic swings in water temperatures are Good & Bad.

Even here in Florida we experience wide swings in water temperatures, but here we're dealing with a different set of numeric values, and furthermore dealing with Florida-strain bass. Nevertheless, it's really not about absolute water temperature, but more about the water temperature 'TREND'.

 

Roger

[TravisVirginiaAngler]

Today was a very special day for me. Knocked off work a tad early to fish with my best bud, my dad. The weather got up to upper 60's so, after all this cold weather, pops and I were excited to go, however he wasn't feeling too good, had a bit of a cold and I offered to cancel and re-schedule, but I could see in his eyes he too wanted a father/son day. Picked him up, we hit the fishing club in New Kent and to our surprise, half the lake was still frozen! We even loaded up one john boat with all our gear, and couldn't even reverse it from the dock. We tried a boat on the other side of the hanger, where the sun had been shining a little more direct, and were able to back out after a fellow club member who lives on the land pulled us with a rope through some ice. From there, it was my job to smash ice from the very front of the boat as dad guided the trolling motor the most direct route to get us to the thawed half of the water. 3 casts in, he smashes a MONSTER 5.0 pound bass, and 10 minutes after than he lands a 4 pound pike! I ended up catching 3 small bass, but the time we spent together, swapping stories... discussing life and just being buds, coupled with helping my dad net 2 giants gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. Dad's monsters were caught all on a crawfish colored squarebill at a medium retrieve. My 3 spotted bass (?) were all on a 6' suspending rapala jerkbait. Only in 2 hours time! Cheers SOUTHEAST ANGLERS!!! It was also 15-20 MPH winds. Worth IT!

[TravisVirginiaAngler]

In Richmond VA today... the sun finally reared its head out and it was 60 degrees and gorgeous! Wind was a factor, but a good thing, churning up food and currents were strong. I hit a large pond in Powhatan wanting to try out 2 new Bagley balsa squarebill crank-baits. I picked 2 bright colors as it was murky, and fished em' shallow with a super slow, twitchy retrieve. Caught 2 dinks and 1 chunky 3.2 pound momma in 2 hours. Great fishing! Lost a nice one too... gotta upgrade the hooks on these Bagley's. Cheers VA Anglers!!!!

[Bassun]

The photo of your dad with that bass is fan-freaking-tastic!  Congrats on the quick trips and success!