Winter bass fishing

[GoneFishingLTN]

I've done quite a bit of research and believe I have a decent understanding of bass behavior. However, this season here in Iowa has me stumped. I sometimes wonder if the bass don’t follow the textbook patterns, given that our lakes are relatively small—a "big" lake here is only around 787 acres. If that’s not the case, then I’m not sure what I’m missing.

I’ve been targeting 45-degree banks near spawning zones, rocky drop-offs, or just rock in general, or even vertical structure but so far, this has only produced one or two small fish over a seven-hour period. Any insights or corrections would be greatly appreciated!

 

 

I know a bass is a bass but is there a chance they just act different in such small lakes 

[Bird]

I personally struggle to catch LM bass with 40ish degree water temps.

Did however luck into 2 nice fish couple weeks ago on East facing bank , water temp 48*.

My 1st fish of the year are usually caught on jigs, spinnerbait and jerkbaits.

It's been said that smaller bodies of water warm quicker than larger bodies.

 

[Swamp Girl]

50 minutes ago, Bird said:

I personally struggle to catch LM bass with 40ish degree water temps.

 

Yeah, me too. Cold water means cold bass. When the ice finally melts, I expect to catch zero to three bass the first few fishing trips, just like last year.

[Catt]

3 hours ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

is there a chance they just act different

 

Yes! 😉

 

A bass's metabolism is finely tuned to its circulatory system temperature which is the same as the surrounding water temperture. What this means is it takes long for the bass to digest its food. This does not mean they stop feeding.

 

We also need to understand their food source may change from one species to another, or the size changes. 

 

Y'all understand what the bass are doing, now add in what the food is doing. 

[river-rat]

39 minutes ago, Catt said:

Y'all understand what the bass are doing, now add in what the food is doing. 

 

Their are only two things that control a bass - the spawn and their food source. A bass doesn't care how hot or cold it is, it's all about the food that controls him.

 

I was taught "find the food, find the bass." It's like the old adage, if you want to learn about the owl, study the mouse.

 

[Mike L]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

 

We also need to understand their food source may change from one species to another, or the size changes. 

 

Y'all understand what the bass are doing, now add in what the food is doing. 

Excellent Advice!

 

We talk so much about different baits, actions and conditions but not so much  about where it all starts which has a bearing on everything. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Catt]

Oh! By the way it works for every season 

 

After winter comes pre-spawn, the bass move shallower for what?

 

To spawn

 

Correct but that's the #2 answer, the # 1 is to feed, & shallower is where the food is. 

[crypt]

bass are like me, I go where the food is.................the fridge......

[GoneFishingLTN]

20 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Yes! 😉

 

A bass's metabolism is finely tuned to its circulatory system temperature which is the same as the surrounding water temperture. What this means is it takes long for the bass to digest its food. This does not mean they stop feeding.

 

We also need to understand their food source may change from one species to another, or the size changes. 

 

Y'all understand what the bass are doing, now add in what the food is doing. 

Best resources to understand the details of each bait I know we have a thread in the best of but I think it's mainly shad correct. Here in Iowa we mainly have crawfish/bluegill/crappie 

[Catt]

@GoneFishingLTN Predominant

 

Start there 😉

[scaleface]

I've caught a few large bass in small lakes with those temps but its not consistent. I've had the best luck in the  afternoon  on steep, sunny banks using crankbaits . I liked the old Arbogast mudbug but Wiggle warts are famous for this type of fishing. 

[Harold H]

A lot of pb's are caught in winter, I think the key with colder water, at least where I'm at, is to fish in the afternoon when the surface temp is higher, shallow water next to a steep dropoff, is a prime target. Fish will stay in the deeper water, then when the sun is up in the afternoon, they'll swim up into the shallows to feed, then swim back deep when the sun goes down.