Things To Do During The Freeze

[joshuaray83]

Our lakes here are officially frozen and I don't foresee them thawing anytime soon. With that said, I also only have three rods, all my tackle fits in a backpack, and I don't own a boat. I've reorganized tackle and that only took 45 minutes. I still need to clean the reels, but they're both less than a year old, so I'm not super worried about that. I'm missing the sport already. What other things do you bass fisherman do to pass the winter?

 

Also, are there any hobbies that people pick up during this time of the year that are cheap (we have a new baby) and that I can work on throughout the day when I have a couple minutes to spare?

[Mobasser]

Pick up some good books to read on Bass fishing. You can take your time to clean and lube your reels. Watch some fishing shows on TV, and wait for spring and warmer weather. Pick up a few new baits or some terminal tackle, kick back, and wait it out. 

[roadwarrior]

Plan a trip to Florida or Texas. I'm headed to ToHo and Stick Marsh/ Farm 13

later this month. This is PRIME TIME in the southern states!

 

[joshuaray83]

2 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Plan a trip to Florida or Texas.

That's actually a great point...

[Miabucman]

I am in the same boat.  I am over in the middle of the state and I am looking at trying to make some tackle to use when the ice breaks.  Not sure if I will get around to it but I am in the researching phase right now.  When I was stationed in Alaska, I tied my own flies and hunted a lot.  When I lived in Oklahoma and Florida, it was mostly fishing!  

[Backroad Angler]

3 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Plan a trip to Florida or Texas. I'm headed to ToHo and Stick Marsh/ Farm 13

later this month. This is PRIME TIME in the southern states!

 

Idk about prime time, at least here in Texas, but we definitely have better fishing compared to the North right now!

[joshuaray83]

5 minutes ago, Miabucman said:

I am in the same boat.  I am over in the middle of the state and I am looking at trying to make some tackle to use when the ice breaks.  Not sure if I will get around to it but I am in the researching phase right now.  When I was stationed in Alaska, I tied my own flies and hunted a lot.  When I lived in Oklahoma and Florida, it was mostly fishing!  

I started making jigs this year myself. I get all my stuff from LurePartsOnline. They're great to work with, responsive, and have great prices. That's a good idea as well.

[Choporoz]

Take a look at Barlows and Janns Netcraft websites.  You will be tying jigs, painting cranks or making spinnerbaits next week.

1 minute ago, joshuaray83 said:

I started making jigs this year myself. I get all my stuff from LurePartsOnline. They're great to work with, responsive, and have great prices. That's a good idea as well.

Or, LPO

[throttleplate]

wife and i went out last saturday and looked and walked on our frozen favorite lakes and talked to some ice fisherman. Walked around the frozen shoreline and downed timber we wade and fish.

The lakes look so much smaller when all covered with snow and with no shore brush and weeds my favorite wading spots look so easy to access.

[rtwvumtneer6]

7 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Plan a trip to Florida

Trying to make this happen in Feb ??. 

 

Probably not realistic with a new baby, but something to keep in mind!

 

The winter months offer an opportunity to practice.  Learn backhand, skip, pitch, backhand and opposite handed cast etc.  All are very useful with all the obstructions you will encounter bank fishing.  You'll catch more fish being able to effectively place your lure in spots other anglers can't get to. 

[GaryH]

7 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Plan a trip to Florida or Texas. I'm headed to ToHo and Stick Marsh/ Farm 13

later this month. This is PRIME TIME in the southern states!

 

 

I'll be headed to ToHo in March. dang I miss it. 

[jimmyjoe]

8 hours ago, joshuaray83 said:

What other things do you bass fisherman do to pass the winter?

 

   Eat.

   Take long naps.

   Eat some more.

   Tell doctor that I can't understand why I'm gaining weight.

  

   ???     jj

  

[soflabasser]

8 hours ago, joshuaray83 said:

Our lakes here are officially frozen and I don't foresee them thawing anytime soon. With that said, I also only have three rods, all my tackle fits in a backpack, and I don't own a boat. I've reorganized tackle and that only took 45 minutes. I still need to clean the reels, but they're both less than a year old, so I'm not super worried about that. I'm missing the sport already. What other things do you bass fisherman do to pass the winter?

 

Also, are there any hobbies that people pick up during this time of the year that are cheap (we have a new baby) and that I can work on throughout the day when I have a couple minutes to spare?

You can workout at home. Give yourself fitness goals and work to accomplish them. 

[Bankbeater]

Sharpen hooks, practice knots, take the family out to the lake for a lure hunting trip.

[A-Jay]

I'll participate in a bit of diet & exercise when the mood strikes me. 

Even slip in a little dog sledding, in the odd chance we may actually get some snow.

?

A-Jay

 

[roadwarrior]

You  da MAN!
 

[GTN-NY]

I never have anything to do in the winter also. 
This year I started walking a creek fishing for trout. I know nothing about trout but it’s been fun catching some fish when I normally hibernate. 
This 18”er is my biggest one so for. 
 

Do you have any creeks and trout around?

[Junk Fisherman]

In terms of hobbies, I hike a lot in the winter.  I try to get a lot of home improvement projects done over the winter as well.  Sometimes I feel doing a lot of prep and research makes cabin fever even worse but I do it anyways.    Usually, I would say going to a couple fishing shows and the local BPS a couple times would be some ways to kill time over the winter but those are out this winter.  

[Sphynx]

Fishing related ways to use your time productively include practice with pitching/flipping to targets in your yard or nearby park, equipment maintenance and organization (sharpen/replace hooks/rings, check skirts andother bits forrust/dry rot,) research into spring/spawn/post thaw fishing, research your specific bodies of water (what sort of water is it, what vegetation specifically grows in them, bait population and variety) Google earth/maps, and for the more adventurous, suit up and take advantage of the ice to explore the banks you can't get to easily to see if they are worth the effort (ice safety applies here).

 

Other non-fishing hobbies? I enjoy playing guitar, recently picked up a Fender acoustic on sale for $170, add a pack of picks, a strap, and a stand your out maybe just over $225, but I don't know what you consider "inexpensive" so I could be way off, but none of my other hobbies qualify as inexpensive, so I will leave them out.

[MIbassyaker]

Play Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing and join the Bassresource league.  It just went up, and I'm sure somebody will announce the Bassresource league in the General Bass Fishing Forum soon

 

Our thread from last year:

 

[DitchPanda]

Ice fishing. Can get by fairly cheap if you want...get a hand auger, a spud bar, some ice jigs and a cheap combo. Probably get all that for $150..get out and catch some gills. That's what I do all winter...along with building jigs...reading and watching alot of instructional bass stuff plus old tournaments.

[scaleface]

I go hiking in the winter . Its the best time to go . No bugs , prints in the snow . Take a cigar , half pint of whiskey , a couple of oranges and trail mix .

[Bluebasser86]

Before I started hitting the power plant lakes, I did a lot of bank walking looking for baits and other treasures. I'd fill a couple 3700 trays full of baits every winter along with various other finds (duck decoys, arrows, bobbers, a rain suit, deer sheds, sinkers, an electric dog collar, rod holders, ect). Good exercise too.

[GreenPig]

If I was boatless and lived where it froze I'd work a pile of OT if possible or take a second job to get me something that floats to fish off of when the water softens.Fish/Eat/Sleep/Work/Fish. If you can't fish then work. When fishing is good don't sleep as much.

[Spankey]

I have stuff to do around the house all the time. But I get some winter trout fishing in and this Sunday I’ll be shooting sporting clays with my shooting buds. I shoot clay targets of one discipline or another one day a week after work.