Where to fish in the wintertime? Lake, River or pond?

[Kyle S]

For those of you who have access to wintertime fishing, what bodies of water do you prefer to fish in the wintertime?

 

During the months of December, January and February I struggle to catch bass.

 

I've fished my favorite river (Pamunkey River) many times when the water temps were less than 50 degrees or so in Dec-Feb and VERY rarely do I ever catch anything.

 

I have a strong feeling I'm fishing in the wrong locations for them however when the water temps are right around 50 degrees in the first few days of March I can catch some studs.

 

I'd love to fish some ponds during the cold weather however I don't have access to any. All of the ponds around are Private.

 

There are a few lakes and reservoirs fairly close. Very little confidence fishing them though.

 

Any advice or suggestions?

[TnRiver46]

Reservoirs, especially highland ones. The best river spots for me in winter are right below a dam because the water coming out is from the bottom of a lake and much more constant temperature than surface runoff 

[Munkin]

River because the lakes freeze. I agree with fishing below dams as well. 

 

Allen 

[Steveo-1969]

14 hours ago, Munkin said:

River because the lakes freeze. I agree with fishing below dams as well. 

 

Allen 

This^^^^^

[Susky River Rat]

Dragging bottom on rivers seems to work for me when it gets cold. Usually on the current seam around deeper water.

[Will Ketchum]

There was a now defunct fishing forum where a river fisherman did very well during winter. He jigged slow and deep in slack water with soft plastics letting the lure rest on the bottom for long periods of time and then working it a little.

[Susky River Rat]

5 minutes ago, Will Ketchum said:

There was a now defunct fishing forum where a river fisherman did very well during winter. He jigged slow and deep in slack water with soft plastics letting the lure rest on the bottom for long periods of time and then working it a little.

That’s how it gets down here in sub 40 degree water temps. You feel them pick it up off the bottom as it sits.

[roadwarrior]

Mid November through March is PRIME TIME on the Tennessee River.

We have a lot of weather this week and the flood gates are open. If they

close the gates we will be on them next week!

[MN1st21]

I am better at fishing lakes any time of year. Struggled bad with fishing the James river after moving here about 2 yrs ago... any recommended ramps to try the Pamunkey (in Richmond). Coming from Minnesota the whole tidal thing is not coming easy.

[bowhunter63]

Smallmouth fish our rivers here in the Ozarks. Hit the dams mostly Float and fly and small jigs . 

[Susky River Rat]

4 hours ago, MN1st21 said:

I am better at fishing lakes any time of year. Struggled bad with fishing the James river after moving here about 2 yrs ago... any recommended ramps to try the Pamunkey (in Richmond). Coming from Minnesota the whole tidal thing is not coming easy.

I have some friends who fish tidal water. I have fished tidal water sparely but, they way he explained it to me is think of flushing a toilet as it starts to go to low tide the water is going down the fish move. When high tide “the toilet is filling up” the fish are moving. He told me to always stay ahead of either. Once you learn to fish at the tides it’s almost like clock work. It’s still fishing you can always get skunked but, learning the areas that produce at high or low tide is key.

[Woody B]

Last year was the first year I had fished during the Winter.  I struggled some.  I've struggled the last 2 weeks this year.  I talked to a friend last night.  He said I was making too big of a deal/overthinking Winter.   The water temp is 55 hear.  The lowest I saw it last year was 46.  

 

I don't fish any rivers,  just reservoirs.  Last week the few I caught were at the dam, but the lake side of the dam.   Yesterday I went up the lake, away from the dam.  I only caught 1 but I didn't go all the way to the other dam.  

 

 

[Bigassbass]

You can catch fish from ponds in the winter, use live bait or soft plastics, fish slow and be patient.

[Susky River Rat]

23 hours ago, Woody B said:

Last year was the first year I had fished during the Winter.  I struggled some.  I've struggled the last 2 weeks this year.  I talked to a friend last night.  He said I was making too big of a deal/overthinking Winter.   The water temp is 55 hear.  The lowest I saw it last year was 46.  

 

I don't fish any rivers,  just reservoirs.  Last week the few I caught were at the dam, but the lake side of the dam.   Yesterday I went up the lake, away from the dam.  I only caught 1 but I didn't go all the way to the other dam.  

 

 

Winter time the fishing is always slower. The fish are slower so you need to be as well. Don’t ever expect to go out and crush it in the winter.  46-55 is our spring/fall water temps. Last time was out water temp was 37-40.  One of the reason river fishing is very popular in winter is the fish are more active. They have to be they are in current. 

[Munkin]

On 12/11/2022 at 12:39 AM, MN1st21 said:

I am better at fishing lakes any time of year. Struggled bad with fishing the James river after moving here about 2 yrs ago... any recommended ramps to try the Pamunkey (in Richmond). Coming from Minnesota the whole tidal thing is not coming easy.

 

Tidal water is a love it or hate it thing and I am not a fan. Tide moving has been the best time and low tide I just want to trailer the boat.

 

Allen

[MN1st21]

13 hours ago, Munkin said:

 

Tidal water is a love it or hate it thing and I am not a fan. Tide moving has been the best time and low tide I just want to trailer the boat.

 

Allen

Definitely. As someone who doesn't get to pick any day of the week or time of day to get on the boat, the tidal windows can make it tough. Most of the times when I'm out there and the tide IS moving I haven't had luck but I'm going to chalk that up to probability and user error. Hopefully it'll get better with experience. First year was very tough.

On 12/11/2022 at 5:25 AM, Darnold335 said:

I have some friends who fish tidal water. I have fished tidal water sparely but, they way he explained it to me is think of flushing a toilet as it starts to go to low tide the water is going down the fish move. When high tide “the toilet is filling up” the fish are moving. He told me to always stay ahead of either. Once you learn to fish at the tides it’s almost like clock work. It’s still fishing you can always get skunked but, learning the areas that produce at high or low tide is key.

Thanks for the tips, definitely been keeping my eye on the tides. I've had one good 2 hour stretch in a creek where we caught a bunch but other than that I still haven't had much luck. I think I need to spend more time on the rivers to better learn how the fish set up.

[Susky River Rat]

6 minutes ago, MN1st21 said:

Definitely. As someone who doesn't get to pick any day of the week or time of day to get on the boat, the tidal windows can make it tough. Most of the times when I'm out there and the tide IS moving I haven't had luck but I'm going to chalk that up to probability and user error. Hopefully it'll get better with experience. First year was very tough.

Thanks for the tips, definitely been keeping my eye on the tides. I've had one good 2 hour stretch in a creek where we caught a bunch but other than that I still haven't had much luck. I think I need to spend more time on the rivers to better learn how the fish set up.

Since I mainly fish non tidal I live and die by the river gauges. It takes lots of time to learn where is good at one river level. I know in my river it can be middle of winter ice flowing down it. At a certain height everything will still push shallow. 

[Bird]

I've found over the years that lakes and ponds produce much better than rivers during the winter for Largemouth and the shallower the better on sunny days.

I also much prefer the water temp 45* or above or I'm just simply enjoying the day and not catching.

Smallmouth around here, mainly the river are much more active in the colder months and are easier to catch.

 

[Mr. Aquarium]

Up here in Ma we have a ton of bodies of water to fish. Mostly smaller, we call them kettle holes. 20-50 acres, natural ponds but deep like 20 plus feet.  They can be great in the winter. They are spring fed, so the weeds are alive  and the water tends to stay warmer. We still get ice though.  Other place are small mill ponds they have running water, they are ponds dammed up streams. They are shallow but can also be really good.  Our bigger places are  only 100-300 acres,  not huge lakes like down south or up north.   Not a ton of off shore structures either. You got to hunt them, but when you find them, your golden. Different bottom compositions, living weeds, or deep structure and cover. 

I clear water is the best, winter can be tough but when you find them you are set. I can confidently target the same spots every winter and get them.  Where I live you can hit multiple ponds in a day, if one spots slow, hit another and another until you get em 

[Bluebasser86]

We have no rivers with any fishable population of bass near me. If everything is open, I'd choose to fish smaller lakes with decent water clarity, bonus points if it has grass in it. 

[T-Billy]

Shallow sunbaked laydowns with deep water close by are my #1 cover choice for LM when the water's cold. Needs to be sunny and not too windy, but a little wind helps. They'll be shallow and super spooky if it's slick calm.

Just like the rest of the year smallies can be anywhere, usually on schools of shad in my area. I can't catch them as consistently as LM in frigid water. It's usually feast or famine with them. 

[Mike L]

Fish availability year round is one of the advantages of living down here
 

Fish patterns, weather patterns, locations, bait and equipment choices will have to be considered but the choices of waters to fish don’t change just because of the season. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Dogface]

I have been reading this post and was not going to respond but when I thought about it I have a lot of opportunities here in SE PA. I fish a few different rivers and lakes if they are open and haven't frozen over.

 

The non-tidal Delaware offers SM and Walleye. The local creeks offer catfish and a few crappy. A club I belong to has 3 lakes that provide good fishing for walleye, pike and crappy all winter as long as they don't freeze. Then there are trout streams an hour or two away. I guess I'm pretty lucky.   

[Scott804]

Lake Anna & James River. Those are my favorites in the winter around here! (Especially if you can find a buddy with hot side access on Anna... that's a real good time.)