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Posted

I'm a northerner. As such, does there come a point where the bite is just "over with" until the spring? The water isn't hard yet, but it's been 3 weeks and I haven't had so much as a sniff. I have tried: Senkos (Texas and Wacky, weighted and weightless), jerkbaits, lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits and inline spinners, Texas Rigged worms and lizards, jigs and tubes, shaky head, Ned Rig, and drop shot. I fish a half dozen ponds from shore and it's been the same at each one of them. I fish almost daily, at various times of day. This is the first time I have ever tried bass fishing past the month of October. So far, terrible! I have tried various rates of speed, all the way down to ultra slow, and when I thought I was going ultra slow, I slowed down even more. I have gone down to the lightest line I can get away with and in straight fluorocarbon. I'm not sure there's anything else to do?

Posted

I'm right there with ya.  Haven't had a bite in the small lakes I fish.  Went to the spillway yesterday and caught 3 lmb a smallmouth and a crappie.  Maybe the current or warmer water coming through the spillway is keeping them more active.  I'll be staying tuned for other replies.  Would like to get out again before ice up.

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Posted

Friends are getting them at 25 ft on my lake in central NH

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Posted

Yeah, I'm done for the year, all the shore fishing that I frequent for a quick fix are not producing. And the boat is winterized so getting that out is not an option without a lot of work and rework.

 

Time to clean and lube the rods and reels and organize tackle to see what's missing and needs replaced.

 

I'm in PA

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Posted

Nope, the bite is never "over with", the fish still gotta eat once in a while!  You just have to adapt to the conditions.

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Posted
2 minutes ago, IndianaFinesse said:

Nope, the bite is never "over with", the fish still gotta eat once in a while!  You just have to adapt to the conditions.

I've gone ultra finesse and ultra slow, especially with jerkbaits and shaky/Ned/drop shot, on light fluorocarbon, and it's been dead for 3 weeks. I'm not sure how else I can adapt to the conditions.

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Posted

Yes. 

 

My season was over on October 22nd The area I launch my kayak closes on Oct 30th but RL issues kept me from launching after Oct 22nd. After that I would have to travel a good distance to kayak fish anywhere close. 

 

The weather in northern NY turned real fast. From 60’s and 70’s to 30’s overnight in early November. I have hung it up for the year. It was a good one and I know next year will be better as it will be the first year I have a kayak the whole year. 

 

I look foward ward to spring 2018 and live vicariously though my Bassresource southern brothers.

Posted

I fish up until the water is too hard to launch. Having said that, the bite definitely slows down as the water gets colder but I can still muster a fish or three here and there. I went out last Sunday in 43 degree water and caught 28 from 630am to around 1030am; pretty good bite for 43 degrees. It did shut right off after that and that's what we usually experience is a good bite for a short time, and then the window closes. When it gets cold you can fish all day and only have a small window where they bite. And it's ususlly in the same spot as it was for us that day. We busted them pretty good till it slowed, went to some other spots where we didn't do well, back to the first spot, off to more, and back there a third time to get the last few biting fish. And they were all on one bait...my tried and true fall, cold water bait

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wait for it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the original Bill Lewis rattletrap in red craw. This bait cannot be beat in cold water for me.

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Posted
1 minute ago, Glaucus said:

I've gone ultra finesse and ultra slow, especially with jerkbaits and shaky/Ned/drop shot, on light fluorocarbon, and it's been dead for 3 weeks. I'm not sure how else I can adapt to the conditions.

Location, depth, timing, and speed have to all be checked;).  Try steep/vertically  dropping shorelines and fish them thoroughly with jerkbaits and drop shots (maybe a shaky head to) at various speeds.  It literally took 10 minutes per 30 foot cast working a dropshot today, but they wouldn't have anything else.

 

Oh, and make sure to find the clearest water you can.  The more clarity the better in cold water.

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Posted
58 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

I'm a northerner. As such, does there come a point where the bite is just "over with" until the spring? The water isn't hard yet, but it's been 3 weeks and I haven't had so much as a sniff. I have tried: Senkos (Texas and Wacky, weighted and weightless), jerkbaits, lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits and inline spinners, Texas Rigged worms and lizards, jigs and tubes, shaky head, Ned Rig, and drop shot. I fish a half dozen ponds from shore and it's been the same at each one of them. I fish almost daily, at various times of day. This is the first time I have ever tried bass fishing past the month of October. So far, terrible! I have tried various rates of speed, all the way down to ultra slow, and when I thought I was going ultra slow, I slowed down even more. I have gone down to the lightest line I can get away with and in straight fluorocarbon. I'm not sure there's anything else to do?

Without knowing more about your northern regional location answering this type of question is impossible. You mention ponds so assuming you are asking about largemouth bass?

Tom 

 

Posted
22 minutes ago, IndianaFinesse said:

Location, depth, timing, and speed have to all be checked;).  Try steep/vertically  dropping shorelines and fish them thoroughly with jerkbaits and drop shots (maybe a shaky head to) at various speeds.  It literally took 10 minutes per 30 foot cast working a dropshot today, but they wouldn't have anything else.

 

Oh, and make sure to find the clearest water you can.  The more clarity the better in cold water.

Guess I'll hang it up til spring.  I simply do not have the patience for 6 casts an hour.  I only fish for fun and that's no fun for me.

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Posted

My last catch was November third.  I’ve been out twice since, in Plymouth, MA.  I fish from a kayak and plan on getting out once or twice more.  Blade baits, hair jigs, and jerkbaits couldn’t buy a whiff.

 

I’m sticking to small waters in order to cover as much area as possible with the short days, bringing a drop-shot this time.

 

So to answer your question. It’s only over if you don’t go out.

 

https://youtu.be/ep-xgd_eETE

 

 

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Posted

I think the double whammy for us Northern folks is a lot of times you've got to fish super slow sometimes to get bit, like 5-10 minute casts slow, or just straight deadsticking. Now if you're fishing that slow and don't have electronics, or aren't very familiar with the lake, finding fish is going to be VERY difficult, and if you aren't getting bit...it's difficult to understand why. Were you in the wrong spot, fishing too fast, wrong bait, were the fish just turned off from the weather, from turnover, did you simply not make enough casts in that area to come across sluggish fish? The issue is you could fish an hour in one area, doing everything right, and not get bit....and you would never know it and likely move on to a new strategy. It's a grind for sure, and electronics IMO are going to help you out now more than ever because you simply don't have enough time to eliminate unproductive water by purely fishing. It's a high percentage game and I feel like you really need to commit to an area that you have confidence holds fish, and just grind it out. Now is the time to fish the lake you know like the back of your hand. 

 

I've had very little luck so far this November, some decent action in earlier in the month but the last few weeks it's been nearly dead. I've fished Hudds, jigs, slow hopping lipless cranks, and deadsticking large swimbaits. I fish mainly from a kayak with no electronics. If I go out again I will probably try dropshotting deep areas on the lakes I know well. 

 

Also I feel you on the whole "6 casts per hour". I've slowly forced myself to fish that slow and it's tedious. I fish for fun too but I also am okay with going fishing and not catching fish, I still find it enjoyable, a little less so than if I was loading the boat sure but I;m content to grind it out while being the only soul on a lake. 

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Posted

Sounds about right....  The pond in Plymouth I’ve frequented this fall is big for paddle power.  I’m headed to Hedges Pond in Plymouth next week. It’s a small, 15-17’ deep, cereal bowl with one hump in it.

 

If I can catch something in December, I’ll have caught fish in 10/12 months in ‘17. Pretty good for eastern Mass.

Posted

The hardest winter bass to catch is that first one.

 

Years ago when I was trying to turn my bass fishing into a year round activity I can remember that first December when it seemed pretty hopeless. Three weekends of no bites and the water temperature was dropping towards 40 degrees. I was fishing a small swim jig on the bottom in 10' of water out in front of a beaver dam. I just kept mindlessly retrieving that jig, ticking little branches and sticks when I felt that pop of a bass inhaling my jig. I froze for a good 5 count not believing what had just happened but stared at my line moving off in a different direction. I set the hook and reeled in a lethargic 18" largemouth (they fight poorly in cold water). I could not have been more proud of catching that bass.

 

The door had been opened, the next week I caught my last bass of the year and the first of the next year. The New Year's Day bass is something I always strive to make happen.

 

I have come to really appreciate winter bass fishing. You have the lakes to yourself and the catches mean more to me. Yes, I get skunked and I have a lot of one fish days but because I get out there and grind away all day with a jig I catch some of my biggest largemouth of the year. I catch them in 37 - 38 degree water and when my lakes in Maryland freeze over I roll down to Virginia where you can almost always still find some open water.

 

Here is a nice one from the day after Christmas a couple of years ago.

 

 

 

lm122614.jpg

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Posted

I tend to keep fishing until everything freezes up, but I will admit my motivation becomes more about casting practice than actually catching a bass.

 

The main thing I struggle with in the winter is keeping my hands/fingers warm.  Once my hands get cold my fun level plummets, to the point where I stopped bothering to take my kayak out once drysuit season hits.  This year I am going to try fingerless gloves and handwarmers stuck to the tops of my hands to see if that helps any.  

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Posted
2 hours ago, Glaucus said:

I'm a northerner. As such, does there come a point where the bite is just "over with" until the spring? 

 

Nope - there is no such thing as "too cold." I've caught them pulling blade baits off ice shelves before...then when it freezes up, if ice fishing is your thing, plenty to still be caught through the small holes. Not all ponds are created equal though, so you might need to rotate through them until you figure out which ones still produce down to liquid ice conditions. Avoid the muddy ones, too. Look for clear water and green weeds, and reachable holes or deep water from shore.

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Posted

Ice fishing is a clear demonstration that bite is never “over”.

 

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Posted
On 11/26/2017 at 5:51 PM, Glaucus said:

I'm a northerner. As such, does there come a point where the bite is just "over with" until the spring? The water isn't hard yet, but it's been 3 weeks and I haven't had so much as a sniff. I have tried: Senkos (Texas and Wacky, weighted and weightless), jerkbaits, lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits and inline spinners, Texas Rigged worms and lizards, jigs and tubes, shaky head, Ned Rig, and drop shot. I fish a half dozen ponds from shore and it's been the same at each one of them. I fish almost daily, at various times of day. This is the first time I have ever tried bass fishing past the month of October. So far, terrible! I have tried various rates of speed, all the way down to ultra slow, and when I thought I was going ultra slow, I slowed down even more. I have gone down to the lightest line I can get away with and in straight fluorocarbon. I'm not sure there's anything else to do?

Super easy answer for this one ~ NO, it's not over.  As long as there is open water - Bass can be caught. 

And since many bass are caught through the ice - late (and very early season) open water is no different. 

I've caught many fish from partially frozen lakes.   Late season, I almost always have to fish deep. But regardless of presentation depth, I always have to fish slow.  Blade baits & lippless baits (fished like a blade bait), as well as hair jigs, & deep jerkbaits, can & do catch bass for me - especially smallmouth.

 While the late fall / early winter weather here in Northern Mi often does not offer many opportunities to get on the water, I'll go every time I can and I certainly expect to get bit.   My best trips often include the sun, less wind, and fishing during & through the warmest part of the day.  And fishing super slow can not be over emphasized.   

 I was on the water two days ago, water temps were 35.  A 5/8 oz Silver Buddy blade bait took 6 smallies up to about 3 pounds.   My frozen face smiled every time.  Forecast says Tuesday might be good - I may have to crack a little ramp Ice - but that rarely stops a motivated Basshead.

 

I got out for the first time in December last season - here's a clip of it.

:smiley:

A-Jay

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Posted

For me it's over right now. There comes a time every late fall where it just happens. Not because of the conditions exclusively but when the bite gets tough I start chasing waterfowl and whitetail. Couple that with work and a baby and fishing is done until spring. (I hate ice fishing)

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Posted

I fish for bass all winter but my main focus is on trout in the spring creeks and the mountain streams.  Something special about getting out in the mountains and catching the only native species on the east coast with snow on the ground.

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Posted

One of these days you northern bass anglers will take some advice from a warm water bass anglers; use Rapala Ice Jigs in blue back chrome, structure spoons and hair jigs.

Very cold water you need to down size and for whatever reason 1/4 oz black ball head hair jigs with UJ 101 spin frogs will catch LMB and SMB in cold water.

Tom

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Posted

No, they will certainly be less aggressive, and it will require a different approach to catch them, but they can be caught year round. Usually, they will be active on a smaller window, and they will become more selective. I like a jerkbait, lipless and blade bait. I like to hit areas I am familiar with, as it makes it easier to locate fish, as they go to the same places, and group together. Once you've put in some time and eliminated all the water where they are not, it improves motivation to put on the layers and head out there. Also keep in mind that a warming trend of 2 or 3 days can move them shallower and make them more aggressive. I've caught fish with a square bill in open pockets in the ice.

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Posted

Welcome aboard!

 

As said, ice fishing proves it ain't over!

 

That said, if you are not quite into that sorta thing (I'm not),

then yeah, it might be over.

 

In my neck of the woods (mid-Atlantic), it is never quite over.

And I've "discovered" the joy of striper fishing in the creeks 

locally, and the York River, so my fishing has been expanded!

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