Anyone have tips for winter river fishing?

[Riley]

In South Georgia, the temps are expected to get up around the high 70's this weekend....after fishing on the altamaha river last sunday, i managed to pull in a 3 short fish and only 2 keepers(one of which nearly tipped 6lbs) My mainstay was texas rigged plastics fished slowly in logjams and brush. It has gotten cold since then but with this little warm front coming through im going to hit the water on saturday! I've never really fished in the winter much so could any of you guys please help me out with any info you may have on fishing rivers in winter....thanks a lot.                   Riley

[paparock]

I will just offer "go prepared" for survival. I mean that wool is one of the few insulators that retains it's insolation qualities when wet. As to bait I like hair jigs and float-n-fly. Just remember fish slow because the colder it gets the slower you need to fish.

[Chris]

There is some stuff in here

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1129970015

And some stuff here

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1129579395

And even more stuff here

http://bassresource.com/fishing/seasonal.html#winter

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

[basspro48]

Another good strategy is to find deep slackwater areas that look like they provide sufficient cover. Once you find a good area try slow dragging small jigs, slowly swimming a 3-inch grub on a jighead, and twitching a suspending jerkbait.

Hope this helps.

[kayl.]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I about fell out of my chair when I opened up this topic and read about 70* winters!  It's currently about 20* out and snowing, with snow on the ground!  I'm so jealous of you guys that get to fish all year long!  (Of course here I get Lake Michigan and the salmon runs as well as Ice Fishing!)  Now for my recommendations:  Try a Jig & Pig worked slowly through the timber or a Pointer or similar suspending jerkbait.  Best of luck!

[roadwarrior]

Well, if there is ever a time of year when you are willing to fish live bait, this is the time. January and February are the two best months to catch monster smallmouth in the Mid South. In this region the smallmouth spawn in late February and early March on the rivers, specifically on the Tennessee River. So, believe it or not, we are approaching pre-spawn. Of the fourty-two bronzebacks over 5 lbs that we have landed in 2005, thirty-five were caught January through March. This fall has been weak mostly because of water flow, rainfall this year is eleven inches below normal. This weekend will be my last trip this calander year.

The recommended rig is spinnining tackle, #4 or #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft, #4 or #5 split shot and #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks. We fish live shiners, the bigger the better. We fish in current out five to fifteen yards from the bank, trying to drift the boat and the bait at a steady pace so that the minnow looks as natural as possible. Sounds simple, but it's not. We are always subject to current, wind and weather. Bundle up and get out there, the bass are hungry!

Remember, the next World Record is just one cast away.

[Peter E.]

Here goes bud,

 for me there is no off season for fishing cause I live in central alabama. Here are some tips that i garuntee will catch you more fish in your area!

First: Bear in mind that the bass are mostly feeding on shad and other bait fish and not as much so if at all on craw fish and aquatic salamanders.

Second: The shad are moving from he main river channels into feeder creeks   and to dam areas where the running waters remains at a higher tempreture because of the friction created by the water movement.  

Third: look for areas where there is minimal wind and that has a dark or sandy bottom in the shallows, these areas can hold surprising numbers of fish that come here to sun. the sandy produces better on a sunny day and the dark bottom content on a cloudy day.

Fourth: during this time of year the fishes metabalism drops and they expend their energy carefully and usually eat only the largest bait that requires the least energy to obtain.

                               Good luck and have fun,

                                                               Peter

[Riley]

I'd like to say thanks to all of you that have replied....Im getting everything together and i will let you all know how it goes tomorrow....pics if i do good ;D I sure do wish i had taken a pic of the 6 lber other than on my camera phone.