seasons

[hookem19]

So i am just curious, i know that everyone says that they can't wait til the spring to catch fish, do fish just not bite during the winter?  so if i was to go fishing during the winter would fish just be less apt to bite?  do the fish seek shallower water or deeper water in the cold? in what stage are the fish in right now in terms of spawning? will someone just kind of clue me in please... thank you ahead of time

Hookem

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Well you are lucky being form Texas.  If you read Tom Redington's Lake Fork report he said that some bass are already starting to move into prespawn staging areas.

A general rule for winter fishing is deep and slow, but that's not saying tht a shallow fish can't be caught.  I also prefer big baits in the winter time.  Bass are opportunist and during the winter time your really have to drop a bait in front of their face to get a bite.  A big bait in my opinion  will intice a strike over a smaller bait.  They are almost hibernating wanting to use the least amount of energy possible.

Bites in the winter are few and far between, but quality fish can be caught.  I haven't got to fish the past 2 winters.  It has been too cold and the lakes froze up in early December just like this year.  But a few years back we had a 2 mild wintes in a row and my dad and I went fishing nearly every weekend.  I actually caught my PR back then on December 31.

[Bass Hammer]

Hookem

KU explained it well.  We are all in winter right now but you can imagine the difference in water temps. between Texas ans say Minnesota.

There is a huge amount of info here on water temps and their relationship to the cycles of bass.

Do some searching and see how that relates to your area.

One helpful thing in understanding seasons is to fish year around. Seeing the changes first hand helps alot.

Remeber a lot of people are waiting for the spring because their water is hard.

Good Luck!

[stratoscaster]

I'll let you know later today when I get back.  It's 34 degress right now but it should make it up to 60 or a little better today here in the Fl panhandle.  I'm still throwing cranks, just slowing down the retrieve a little.  If you get the chance get out on the water and experiment.  You'll probably have the lake to yourself, which means less pressure.  Also don't forget a bad day of fishing (if that's possible) is better than a good day of almost anything else.

[Matt Fly]

Hookem

Being from Austin, you have some great winter fishing, Fayette County power plant lake which should be spawning pretty soon.   Lake Austin has produced its share of sharelunkers, Hit the grass up from the Dam, pig/jig blk/blu.

For Lake Travis, your backyard,  those 40 to 50 ft bluffs offer some excellent spooning during winter, they will be suspended around 25-30, but hold steady most winter.  Mid afternoon on consecutive warm days, a Bomber long A firetiger crankbait takes lots of fish on the shallow points.

Hookem

[playmaker47]

Here in Western Kansas all the water is frozen over. However yesterday it was in the high 50's and i checked some places and the ice is starting to melt off of them and these next few days are supposed to be warm, so i might be able to go fish a bit around christmas day or the day after.

[Raul]

Hookem, you 're a bad boy, don 't you see that during this tiime of the year most of our friends up north the only thing they see is water in SOLID form. We don 't have that problem, the only solid water we will ever see comes from the ice machine in the form of cubes or crushed ice.

[hookem19]

haha sorry guys i forgot how cold it is up north... i don't think i've ever seen a frozen lake before.  well thanks a lot i really appreciate the feedback.  MattFly i remember talking to you a while back about the austin area. been fishing around here in a while? how'd you fare? well just to rub beautiful texas weather into you northerner's faces... it's 63 degrees outside and the sun is shining brightly.  it's going to be a good day, especially if i get some fishing in.

[texasbass1]

Just to rub salt in the wound. It is suppose to be in the mid to upper 60's here until after Christmas.

God Bless Texas

[phisher_d]

Hookem, you 're a bad boy, don 't you see that during this tiime of the year most of our friends up north the only thing they see is water in SOLID form. We don 't have that problem, the only solid water we will ever see comes from the ice machine in the form of cubes or crushed ice.

Exactly

[Raul]

Now, if you really want to rub it in.............. Choke Canyon !, go and take some pics, then post your catch.  ;D

[basser89]

Hey Hookem,

I'm here in MD. I've caught bass on the upper Potomac in late December, early January (even on Super Bowl Sunday)! I have two coal burning power plants close to me and hit them in the winter. As long as I can keep the rod guides from freezing up, I can catch them! Its really kinda nice, having just about the whole river to myself! Cause there's not too many other nuts here that would go fishing in 20 degree weather!  

[Guest avid]

Fish have to eat.  It may be cold, the lake may be frozen over, but the fish under the ice are still eating.  I have caught many largemouth bass fishing through the ice. Of course now that I live in Florida I don't have to worry about that but if you love to fish, they are out there, no matter where you are.

[Gatorbassman]

Around here we are waiting for the water to get down into the 40's. The bass fishing will get hot in the ditches and creek channels. We take a leadhead Fluke and bounce it down the ditch. When we catch one we will catch a bunch in the same spot. And many of them will be 4lb+. You can go most of the day and not find any fish but when you do, it's one after the other. It takes 15-20lb to win a tournament in the winter on Clark's Hill.

[Rattlinrogue]

Hookem,as has been already said,yes you can catch 'em(if the lakes not frozen over),but you fish for a few bites.The good news is  a lot of the fish are pretty fair sized bass.I've averaged between 0-3 fish every tme I've been.I haven't slayed them,but I've caught a couple of estimated 5 1/2 lb bass,one that was almost a 4 lb bass,several in the 3 lb range,and several in the 2 lb range.That may not sound like much,but I've had my line stretched a few times.It's been worth every minute and dollar I've spent so far this cold season.And there's always that possibility of a truly big 'un biting.Plus I've got the lake to myself.

[basswest1]

No, bass will bite any time of the year..................they always have to eat.  Though they still eat during the coldest months........they dont eat as much.

Bass are cold blooded animals......which means that their blood is or is close to the temperature of the water.  So when it gets really cold the bass' metabolism slows down.......so they take longer to digest even the smallest amount of food.  

Also, since the bass doesnt have that much energy they are less apt to chase or strike at a fast moving lure.  So at this time of year its important to really slow down and place the lure right infront of them.

Lures like jigs, suspending jerkbaits, spinnerbaits with big colorado blades, and others which can stay in the strike zone longer are key lures.

Remember..........baitfish are at their biggest at this time of year and bass would want to catch a big meal instead of a small one so think bigger......yet slower.