Raleigh NC winter fishing

[JohnnyG]

Hey everyone,

 

This time of year, we like to hit up ponds and neighborhood lakes for bass, even in the freezing cold.

 

What baits do y'all recommend? Most advice out there seems geared toward fishing reservoirs and lakes with boats, but we're strictly bank anglers—no watercraft involved.

 

So far, we've tried Ned rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits, and lipless crankbaits.

Appreciate any tips y'all have!

[FishTax]

Welcome to the forum @JohnnyG! We have a good representation of NC guys on here, would love to have you stick around as the more the merrier

 

In NC, winter is variable. Last year it lasted 1 week and I'm not sure we even had any ice on water at any point. I really don't think water temps got much below 45 last year but am not totally sure on that. This year, water temps are currently in the mid/high thirties (and dropping the next 3 days  ). I say all that as a preface because that 10 degree change in water temps makes a huge difference to our bass. 

 

My advice with water temps under 45 is to go small and slow. With water temps under 40, good luck. I think our fish are in shock and we are having a fish kill of crappie and shad out this way in some bodies of water, which means a buffet for bass so in my mind why would they hit a fake lure when they can just gorge on dying baitfish with minimal effort?

 

Anyway, I'm bitter about the cold. But for lures, I'd recommend soaking a worm, however you like it. I'd go small, like 5" or less. Finesse worm, roboworm, etc. I like shaky head. With it being a pond, if the bottom is a mess of slop you may do better with a dropshot so you aren't constantly covered in gunk. I'd also look at a finesse jig if there isn't too much gunk. For each of those, let it sit on bottom. Drink some coffee. Barely work it. Keep a hand in your pocket. Etc. Very slow. Boring. 

If you want to do something, try a blade bait. Let it touch bottom, then slowly lift it until you feel vibration. I caught my only winter fish this year from a pond which has crappie and sunfish as primary forage on a chartreuse blade bait that was small size and I think a 3/8 oz weight. Several guys on here are masters of the blade bait and do very well. I'm still learning it, but have enjoyed it so far. Try using the search function to see how other guys are using it. 

 

Hopefully it'll warm up fast in February and we'll get some warm rain. We pretty much haven't had prespawn and usually that's in full swing right now I think. Will be interesting to see how all of this plays out going into the spring. I'm hoping for some very fat fish from the buffet they are currently being provided. Also follow @Pat Brown, he is local and fishes more than half the time from the bank and he is a hammer so you can learn a ton from him. He's way smarter and better fisherman than me. 

[Pat Brown]

28 minutes ago, JohnnyG said:

Hey everyone,

 

This time of year, we like to hit up ponds and neighborhood lakes for bass, even in the freezing cold.

 

What baits do y'all recommend? Most advice out there seems geared toward fishing reservoirs and lakes with boats, but we're strictly bank anglers—no watercraft involved.

 

So far, we've tried Ned rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits, and lipless crankbaits.

Appreciate any tips y'all have!

 

 

 

Sounds like you're doing everything right!

 

IMHO - you pick the bait for the cover you're fishing - like @FishTax alluded to - if you're fishing a lot of wood go something you can get in and out of wood - if you're fishing a lot of rock and hard bottom - baits that take advantage of that would do well - lots of grass could mean certain lures excel etc etc.

 

Once you have established the type of cover you will primarily be fishing - next order of business is to try presenting baits at different depths and speeds.

 

On larger bodies of water from the bank, options are pretty limited unfortunately and finding active fish is very difficult this time of year unless you have access to a steep channel banks where the main river swings up against and you can hit deep spots easily.

 

On ponds and the like, it can be easier to find the fish, but this time of year - periods where fish are active and feeding are very very small.

 

I tend to do the best on calm super sunny days this time of year unless you have a super warm rain during a cloudy front - that can be a VERY good time to go fishing in the late winter for sure!

 

When water temps are below 40 - you basically have to slow way way down.

 

A lot of baitfish die when temps get below 40 and basically, bass don't gotta chase nothing when that's happening.  Your only hope is basically deadsticking baits in high percentage areas when it gets like that and my luck has been zilch this winter.  I do NOT like targeting Florida bass on shad fisheries when temps are below 40 - it's just really really hard.

 

If your temps are above 40 - definitely a different situation.

 

I like steep banks with rock and wood and clear water (good sun penetration to temporarily warm areas throughout the day) that are protected from the wind.  Heavy wood cover is very good this time of year.  They don't like birds.  Birds eat them.  Wood is protection.

 

Lipless cranks and neds and all that stuff are staples for winter fishing around here - I like a lipless when it's dirty and warming up MUCH better than when it's clean and bottomed out.  I have never done well with crankbaits when the water is on the clearer side.

 

Ned rigs are good but snaggy - I like shaky heads and finesse jigs and dropshots when water is very cold and clear and fish are not having to chase meals at all due to shad kill etc.

 

Super super slow and subtle is the way to go.

 

It's not unreasonable to say 'cast it out - read a chapter in a book and drink a cup of coffee and let that line hold STILL' this time of year.

 

That's how everyone's grandpa in NC caught bass in the winter and it still works if you have the patience!

 

Good luck and show us your success in the latest catch thread when you catch em!

 

-Pat

[Choporoz]

Last few times out I struggled. I thought I was fishing deep, at least for me.  Found out yesterday and today that I wasn't even close, working 17-20'.

  I had never targeted bass deeper than 25' before, but all my fish the last two days were 26-32'....and very pale. Lol

 

Every fish caught hopping a 7/8 oz War Eagle spoon

[Team9nine]

On 1/20/2025 at 9:12 AM, JohnnyG said:

Hey everyone,

 

This time of year, we like to hit up ponds and neighborhood lakes for bass, even in the freezing cold.

 

What baits do y'all recommend? Most advice out there seems geared toward fishing reservoirs and lakes with boats, but we're strictly bank anglers—no watercraft involved.

 

So far, we've tried Ned rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits, and lipless crankbaits.

Appreciate any tips y'all have!

 

Ned rig and small blade baits cover 90% of my winter pond bass fishing. Add in a small suspending jerkbait and a little hair jig and you've probably covered darn near 100%. If you can find even a small patch of open water, there are bass to be had. Wide open water opens up all kind of options. 

[Choporoz]

They are moving up quickly.   Caught them in 14-17' Friday and Saturday; and 4-13' today.  Some may head back down with cold few days coming up.  

Blade bait is historically my #1 winter bait, but I couldn't buy a blade bait bite all winter.  Until today.  It was lights out all day fishing blade bait on and near secondary points and nearby flats.....maybe 2 dozen, but few good ones.  I'd never considered a blade bait in shallow flats before, but it worked like a champ.  

[Rucksack]

Raleigh bank fishing in the winter is hard. It just is. No real way to dress this up. The water is cold, muddy, and, like  @Pat Brown said, our bank access to deep water is limited. 

 

The ned rig is the only reliable method I've found. Work it very slow, lots of bottom contact. We have lots of submerged pine wood, which will snag it, so consider rigging it weedless -- like a mini shakey head.

 

I've also had luck, with cloudy conditions and some chop, with very small (meant for crappies) inline spinning jigs worked as slow as I could. 

 

Remember your water temperature will lag rising air temperature, so just because it's a sudden warm day (like last weekend) that doesn't mean our bass buddies are suddenly that much warmer. Though I have found them coming in shallower on sudden sunny days.

 

Keep it up, even when it's frustrating. A day walking the bank is better than a day on the couch!