Am I the only one who likes winter fishing?

[EGbassing]

Anybody else here like fishing in the winter? Not many people would agree with me on this, but I think it's more fun than fishing in the summer. I keep hand warmers in my tackle box and just wear several layers and I love it. Am I the only one? ?

[MrFrost]

I'm guessing your winter is better than my winter, lol.  Around here it's called ice fishing, lol.

[ratherbfishin1]

12 minutes ago, EGbassing said:

Anybody else here like fishing in the winter? Not many people would agree with me on this, but I think it's more fun than fishing in the summer. I keep hand warmers in my tackle box and just wear several layers and I love it. Am I the only one? ?

Where I live they call it ice fishing... and I enjoy it, but not as much as fishing in the summer.  Anyways, I'm always envious of the people who can fish year round (Not ice fishing).  I always start off strong ice fishing and then end up missing normal bass fishing after like a week. 

[BassNJake]

I dont mind winter fishing but I prefer the warmer weather.

Once the temp drops into the low 50's I give up chasing the largies for the smallies

 

Some years I can get on the smallmouth pretty good all follow them all winter and into the spawn

Other years it seems as if I'm trying to chase them down all winter with only a few catches here and there

 

 

[EGbassing]

14 minutes ago, MrFrost said:

I'm guessing your winter is better than my winter, lol.  Around here it's called ice fishing, lol.

Eh, it gets down colder than you'd think here. It was -6 degrees one night last year. 

[Russ E]

winter fishing can be boom or bust here.

it seems the nastier the weather, the better the fishing is on the one  power plant lake I fish.

the one caveat is, they have to be generating electricity.

the cold water lakes often get ice on them. usually not thick enough to safely ice fish.

 

 

the main problem I have with winter fishing is, as I have aged, my hands can't tolerate the cold for long.

my arthritis starts acting up and my hands get sore and stiff.

cold weather is a good reminder, that you are not young anymore.

[MrFrost]

6 minutes ago, EGbassing said:

Eh, it gets down colder than you'd think here. It was -6 degrees one night last year. 

That is definitly colder than I thought it got down there, but the fact that you can remember the one time it was below zero overnight means you have better winters than me, lol.  The minute I can move south, I am out of the midwest, lol.  

 

I have thought about ice fishing, but I need to try it before fully committing.  

8 minutes ago, Russ E said:

the main problem I have with winter fishing is, as I have aged, my hands can't tolerate the cold for long.

my arthritis starts acting up and my hands get sore and stiff.

cold weather is a good reminder, that you are not young anymore.

This was my first summer fishing, and also my first fall living with RA in my hands, and when the temps here dropped to the low 50's, I experienced just how hard it is to try tieing on a different lure or setup.  Took me an emberassingly long time to make a simple lure switch.  Trying to tie a knot I've tied probably hundreds of times in the last few months, took me enough tries that I actually had to take a break from trying for five minutes before being able to complete it.  

 

I will have to keep those hand warmers handy and see if they provide much relief.  

[EGbassing]

18 minutes ago, Russ E said:

winter fishing can be boom or bust here.

it seems the nastier the weather, the better the fishing is on the one  power plant lake I fish.

the one caveat is, they have to be generating electricity.

the cold water lakes often get ice on them. usually not thick enough to safely ice fish.

 

 

the main problem I have with winter fishing is, as I have aged, my hands can't tolerate the cold for long.

my arthritis starts acting up and my hands get sore and stiff.

cold weather is a good reminder, that you are not young anymore.

Trust me, you'd love hand warmers. My hands get cold easily too but not with those hand warmers. They're awesome.

[reb67]

[Deleted account]

27 minutes ago, EGbassing said:

Eh, it gets down colder than you'd think here. It was -6 degrees one night last year. 

Month	Low	High
Jan	35.5°F	57.6°F
Feb	38.6°F	62.4°F

Historical averages for Montgomery. What you call winter, I call spring and fall, so yeah, I enjoy it. You haven't enjoyed winter fishing, until you've done it in Costa Rica, burrrrrrrrr!

[RichF]

My dad and I fish late fall (usually thru November) in northern NY.  That time is usually colder than most southern winters.  It's my absolute favorite time to fish.  Pretty much have all the lakes to ourselves when it's raining/snowing and 38 degrees?  You stay warm by catching a boatload of fish all day!

[NYWayfarer]

I am not a fan of ice fishing and that's the winter fishing available around these parts.

 

I do enjoy fishing in the month before hard water hits. I am generally the only person fishing in the areas I frequent. Very peaceful. The occasional hiker or dog walker will pass by and ask me if they are still biting.

[Deleted account]

1 minute ago, RichF said:

My dad and I fish late fall (usually thru November) in northern NY.  That time is usually colder than most southern winters.  It's my absolute favorite time to fish.  Pretty much have all the lakes to ourselves when it's raining/snowing and 38 degrees?  You stay warm by catching a boatload of fish all day!

I'm going to make an effort to spend more time up there in that transition period early and late in the season. I really like it up there, just wish the winters weren't so cold, I'd get a place up there.

[Russ E]

11 minutes ago, EGbassing said:

Trust me, you'd love hand warmers. My hands get cold easily too but not with those hand warmers. They're awesome.

i have fishing gloves with hand warmer pouches that help.

can't cast without exposing my thumb or forefinger. depends on if I am using a baitcaster or spinning rod. 

those are the two fingers I can't keep warm.

[GReb]

Depends on the wind. If it’s blowing hard on a cold day I’m not going outside. 

[Spankey]

Stream fish for trout soon up until the last day February. Pick up for awhile in March. I’ll see Mr. Bronzeback or Mr. Greenjeans in April. 

[fishballer06]

53 minutes ago, EGbassing said:

Eh, it gets down colder than you'd think here. It was -6 degrees one night last year. 

One night huh? They call that January and February here.

[Harold Scoggins]

57 minutes ago, Russ E said:

the main problem I have with winter fishing is, as I have aged, my hands can't tolerate the cold for long.

my arthritis starts acting up and my hands get sore and stiff.

cold weather is a good reminder, that you are not young anymore.

There's one advantage to being old, come spring and summer, we can go fishing any day we want. (As long as the pension checks come in.)

[Mobasser]

I'll fish until our lakes freeze over. In Missouri, that can vary, but usually until December. I try and stay warm the best I can

[TnRiver46]

You're not the only one, I much prefer winter fishing to any other season. Mainly because most of the fish I catch in winter are bigger. Another reason it is fun is because all my buddies think you have to fish for trout when it's cold. I can take them bass fishing and surprise them Everytime. They have short memories hahaha. Also I have most weekends off once it gets good and cold

[tander]

As long as the wind is not blowing too hard, I will fish all winter. I actually catch more in winter than the middle of the summer.

[Tennessee Boy]

Love winter fishing if the temp is above 40 degrees or so.  A mild day (say 60 degrees) in the middle of winter is the best time of the year to be on the water.

[flyfisher]

I wouldn't say I prefer it but I don't mind it.  It rarely gets cold enough here in central VA that likes ice over to the point I can't fish but it does happen every couple of years.  I do catch some bigger fish during the winter though.  I also chase trout i note small streams and spring creeks when I don't feel like going out on a lake or river somewhere.  

[NittyGrittyBoy]

I like winter fishing, hate being cold. There lies the problem. 

 

South Ga I fish year round, I actually enjoy fall and winter the best despite the cold, most guys hunt around here, and fortunately for me, I don't. So I enjoy fresh unfished water more frequently. Plus the cold keeps most Sissy's off the water so again more fishable water.

 

So I vote Yes, I do enjoy winter bass fishing ?

[Scott F]

So how cold is cold to you?