Fishing in February

[ajschn06]

How far south do I have to go to have a chance at some successful fishing in February?

[roadwarrior]

We catch trophy smallmouth on the Tennessee River in February. I'm less than two

hours from Pickwick and retired, so it's easy for me to pick a day.  Planning a trip from

Minnesota is problematic. We have some nice days, but it's still winter.

 

A better bet is Texas or Florida and you can plan your outing around the largemouth

spawn.  I would highly recommend hiring a guide who can show you around and put

you on fish. I fished ToHo in January and caught my PB.  The downside is that Orlando

is too far for me to drive and another four days round trip for you.

[WRB]

If you have a ice auger Minnesota is good.

I would say East Texas, Toledo Bend Sam Rayburn if you don't mind transitional weather.

Feburay is my favorite month in SoCal.

Tom

 

 

[BrianMDTX]

I’ll be looking forward to fishing East Texas in February. Beats the &$@% out of shoveling snow! 

[TnRiver46]

Feb is a good fishing month in TN. It will be chilly most days but nothing compared to Minnesota 

[Bluebasser86]

I catch fish all through February in Kansas. January-March produces some of my biggest fish of the year every year.

[FryDog62]

13 hours ago, ajschn06 said:

How far south do I have to go to have a chance at some successful fishing in February?

Pool 2 in February will yield some of the biggest walleye that the mighty Miss can offer.  But yeah, you have to pick the right day and still might have to break through ice at the ramp to get the boat out.  

 

I have contemplated a trip south out of Minnesota in the winter for a couple years now. Health problems with family members have kept me from going but its still a goal. I think if you can time some decent weather, bluebasser is right and Kansas would be a good 1 day drive option. Otherwise further south to Oklahoma, Texas would be warmer but a much farther distance to drive. After fishing rivers up North for smallmouth for years, I think Pickwick would be a blast.  

[Catt]

Google Mason-Dixon line...stay south of it!

 

February in the south is early pre-spawn but it's also extreme weather changes. You could have bright sun shiny days or gale force winds with rain/sleet & everything in between.

[snake95]

There may be a lot of places you CAN catch bass in February but as for where I’d WANT to catch them I would say south Florida where you will have them in all stages pre through post spawn.

[Rpratt]

You can fish power plant lakes in Illinois. Just be mindful there is engine size limits (usually 50 hp) on some. Lake Egypt does not have that restriction. And usually the weather will turn semi warm for a week or so around mid February that gets myself on "normal lakes" a few times. 

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

Pool 2 in February will yield some of the biggest walleye that the mighty Miss can offer.  But yeah, you have to pick the right day and still might have to break through ice at the ramp to get the boat out.  

 

I have contemplated a trip south out of Minnesota in the winter for a couple years now. Health problems with family members have kept me from going but its still a goal. I think if you can time some decent weather, bluebasser is right and Kansas would be a good 1 day drive option. Otherwise further south to Oklahoma, Texas would be warmer but a much farther distance to drive. After fishing rivers up North for smallmouth for years, I think Pickwick would be a blast.  

Pickwick is wide gushing river at the upper end and basically an ocean with lots of sailboats on the lower end. It’s wild! 

[BrianMDTX]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

Google Mason-Dixon line...stay south of it!

 

February in the south is early pre-spawn but it's also extreme weather changes. You could have bright sun shiny days or gale force winds with rain/sleet & everything in between.

lol. I lived in Maryland for almost 60 years. It’s S of the Mason-Dixon Line. I would not fish in February if you paid me! 

[TnRiver46]

3 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

lol. I lived in Maryland for almost 60 years. It’s S of the Mason-Dixon Line. I would not fish in February if you paid me! 

You mean you don’t like fishing in the pouring rain when it’s 37 degrees ?? Yeah me neither 

[BrianMDTX]

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

You mean you don’t like fishing in the pouring rain when it’s 37 degrees ?? Yeah me neither 

If it’s 37°! Maybe 22° and a boatload of snow! 

 

Deer hunting in in cold weather is one thing. Fishing’s another. I’ll pass! 

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, BrianMDTX said:

If it’s 37°! Maybe 22° and a boatload of snow! 

 

Deer hunting in in cold weather is one thing. Fishing’s another. I’ll pass! 

I can do snow but cold rain sucks 

[Fin S]

You can fish in February in Tennessee (I certainly do), but I don't typically have a lot of success. Weather-wise, it's cold but not particularly rainy, and it would be a rare occurrence for lakes to be frozen.

[Russ E]

Caught my biggest bass of 2020 in january. 2nd largest bass of the year was in february.

It's funny how a lot  people will deer hunt in below zero weather, but will not fish if it gets below 40.

In the Midwest you usually have to find a power plant lake to fish January and February. 

Often times the other lakes have ice.

[Mr. Aquarium]

Massachusetts.  I catch fish year round. Hell I had 2 topwater fish in early February this year. 

[roadwarrior]

 

 

 

 

 

<-<-<-<-<-<-----------       January

[BigAngus752]

10 hours ago, Rpratt said:

You can fish power plant lakes in Illinois. Just be mindful there is engine size limits (usually 50 hp) on some. Lake Egypt does not have that restriction. And usually the weather will turn semi warm for a week or so around mid February that gets myself on "normal lakes" a few times. 

Not just any power plant lake.  If the OP wants to give this a try be very mindful of researching the lake.  I will say that Newton Lake in Illinois is definitely worth a trip from Minnesota.  Clinton Lake, Sanchris, Powerton...I'd have to say no.  I know Egypt is good lake but it's fish don't compare to Newton.  Fortunately they are close enough that the OP could come down for a few days and fish both.  Newton has many a 9lb bass and I've heard that catching them during a snowstorm is an epic fishing trip.  I hope to find out this year.  

[Rpratt]

21 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

Not just any power plant lake.  If the OP wants to give this a try be very mindful of researching the lake.  I will say that Newton Lake in Illinois is definitely worth a trip from Minnesota.  Clinton Lake, Sanchris, Powerton...I'd have to say no.  I know Egypt is good lake but it's fish don't compare to Newton.  Fortunately they are close enough that the OP could come down for a few days and fish both.  Newton has many a 9lb bass and I've heard that catching them during a snowstorm is an epic fishing trip.  I hope to find out this year.  

Isn't Newton a 10 horse limit lake? I have wanted to make the trip from the St Louis area there, but if that is correct, my motor is way above that. I think that lake has been on BASS top 100 for the last few years too.

[BigAngus752]

6 minutes ago, Rpratt said:

Isn't Newton a 10 horse limit lake? I have wanted to make the trip from the St Louis area there, but if that is correct, my motor is way above that. I think that lake has been on BASS top 100 for the last few years too.

It is a 25hp limit lake and there is at least one IDNR officer at the ramp every day.  You can, however, use your big motor to launch and load and just use the trolling motor on the lake.  Not ideal but it's got the biggest bass in Illinois in it if you can find them.  Make sure your boat is totally squared away.  IDNR does random inspections all day long.  The officers are all really good guys but they will write you up if they feel the need.  I have only been there twice but I plan to make more trips now that I've "retired" into a more normal job with more time off.  

[GetFishorDieTryin]

On ‎10‎/‎11‎/‎2020 at 5:31 PM, ajschn06 said:

How far south do I have to go to have a chance at some successful fishing in February?

You can catch fish anywhere as long as you get a bait in front of them.  Im in Jersey and October to March is my favorite time to fish.  When the water gets down the mid 40s the fish tend to concentrate in similar areas.  So once you find you can wear em out.  

I also found that fish aren't as spooky in the winter, so you can get away with things that would spook fish in the warmer months.  That gives you a better chance at coaxing some of the bigger educated fish.

Fish are looking to gain the most calories they with the least the least output.  The majority of the time slowing down will yield the best results.  However I've had a few days where a 3 or 4 second pause with the a jerkbait out fished the normal 8-10 count.

Its important that you stay comfortable on the water.  If you don't have a good pair of bibs, parka and good gloves, I would recommend getting the best gear you can. 

[Bird]

I'd say you need to start south of VA.....I get skunked a lot in February.

[Alex from GA]

Florida bass are usually at prespawn in February and that's where I'm at.