Time of year question

[fish-fighting-illini]

Is their a consistent air temp that you stop bass fishing for the year?

At 45-50 or less deg's air temp my area becomes dead for about anything except som Crappie

At least with my limited fishing skills it does.

Maybe tell what state you fish most and if their is a temp or time of year when you call it quits

[fourbizz]

The colder it gets around my neck of the woods, the better. Throw in a big storm and I'm a happy camper...errr...fisherman.

[Gatorbassman]

I have broken ice off the ramp to get the boat in and had a thirty fish day before. So the answer is no. Fish are cold blooded and as long as the water isn't in it's solid state they can and will bite.

[Randall]

As long as the water is above 45 degrees I am good but even if it falls below that I will still fish. Winter is big fish time. I am in Ga.

[bow3022]

I'm in jersey and  the fish are still biting. Its about 50-60(if im lucky) air temp. But man oh man the water is freezing(i like to walk in about knee deep, so i can get to some casting spots), but me and my cousin atleast 10 each this week. THe most i had was 15 and the most my cousin had as 16. We had a total of about 29 today. So I'll stop fishing when the water gets to cold for me to take a walk in:) lol.

[senile1]

Cold means different things to different people.  If you're in southern California or Florida cold might be 50 degree water.  I live in Northwest Missouri and the water temps get down in the 30s and there is ice in the winter.  We have quite a few days in the 0 - 20 degree range for air temperatures and occasionally will have sub-zero weather.  I think the coldest it ever gets is -25 or so and that is rare.  When the air temperatures are like that the water is ridiculously cold and there is a lot of ice.  Further north, it gets much worse.  On days like these bass tend to not bite as much, obviously.  However, there are days when you'll hook 'em good, though the slow days are much more common in the cold.  Bass still need to eat but their metabolism has slowed so much, they eat quite a bit less.  

[Guest avid]

I live for winter.

[Catt]

1) Is their a consistent air temp that you stop bass fishing for the year?

   

That would be uhhhh no!

2) Maybe tell what state you fish most and if there is a temp or time of year when you call it quits.

Southwest Louisiana & Southeast Texas

I've fished both extremes in winter 28 degrees/sleeting & summer 92 degrees/98 percent humidity at 2 o'clock am.

Two weather conditions can stop me, wind above 25 mph, & lighting

Anything else is game on

[fish-fighting-illini]

I guess I just need to keep working at my winter skills as I flat out stink below 45. I'll give it a shot with all the slow stuff again and see what happens.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

When that water temp gets below 33,...I'm done.  Air temp is irrellevant.

[Cigarlover 1]

As long as the water's not frozen I'll go out. Actually I plan on doing some ice fishing this winter so I take that back. I'll fish anytime. Fish have to eat year round.  ;D

[fish-fighting-illini]

Actualy I want to fish in all temps I just can't seem to get fish no matter how hard I try.

I've been bitten by the fishing bug bad bud not bad enough for the ice fishing though lol.

I'd love the peace andd tranquility but not the slab of cold under my but! Plus the falling in potential is not my thing yet.

Breaking ice off of the ramp?

My little 7.5 acre lake does have a big pump and so a small amount of water is always open. I fish it from the bank standing in snow and ice but never catch anything not even a bite.

I will win the battle somehow! I am determined to beat the fish!

[earthworm77]

I caught 15 bass on Christmans Eve last year in about 1 1/2hrs on a swimbait, that are temp was 29 degrees. So as long as the water temps are ideal, they will eat. I'd guess mine were low 50's, upper 40's

[senile1]

When that water temp gets below 33,...I'm done.  Air temp is irrellevant.

Yep, get ready to chop holes or call it a day.  

[Peter E.]

Big Ahmen to Avid here in the South we live for winter, it offers the biggest fish and ice is never an issue. So I really am out of the running as far this talk goes, it isn't an issue here.

[RoLo]

It's not Winter per se that matters, it's all about water temperature and the direction in which the water temperature is moving.

Here in Florida, the water temperatures in winter are warmer than the water temperatures in New Jersey during the fall.

If the question is: "Are bass catchable in cold water?", the answer is Yes,.

If the question is: "Does cold water reduce the activity of bass?", the answer is resoundingly Yes,

and below 44 deg the catchability of bass drops off DRAMATICALLY.

Prove it to yourself, during the ice-fishing season take a walk on the ice and visit every tip-up on the lake

and you may see one or two bass, maybe none, but you'll see hundreds of pike, pickerel, walleyes and yellow perch.

Like all things in nature, nothing is cut-and-dried and Mother Nature throws a monkey-wrench at bass fishermen during the winter.

Even during cold water temperatures, when the trend of water temperatures are "rising",

the activity level of bass will likewise be "rising". On the other hand, when the water temperature is below 44 degrees F.

and the trend is down, you can have my spot in the boat (unless we're pike fishing)

Roger

[FatBoy]

fish-fighting-illini, I'm with you.  I haven't had a bite in probably two weeks.  But so many people on this forum keep saying that you CAN catch fish in the cold water that I just keep trying.  I'm pretty sure my lack of success is more about my lack of skill than the fish.  I'm trying to slow down, but finesse is definitely my weakness.  

BTW, where are you in central Illinois?  I'm in C-U.

[fish-fighting-illini]

Same with me FB on ths slow skills. I guess I'm more of a power fisherman than finesse. I use spinnerbaits and swimbaits the most. Guess I have to keep busy that slow stuff bores me. I bet I can count on one hand the times that I fished with a pl worm or jig this year. Could off all my fingers and still count the number of fish I caught on them! LOL

I'm in Washington IL   between Peoria and Bloomington.  I fish a small lake in Morton that I pay to belong. I fish in Eureka a fair amount and I joined Lake Evergreen near Bloomington. What lakes do you fish?

[FatBoy]

Looks like Washington is about 1.5 h from C-U.  I fish mostly small ponds around town.  But I also fish Homer Lake (not great), River Bend and occassionally get over to Clinton.  I've never been over to Evergreen.  How's the fishing there?  There report on ifishillinois.org looks pretty good.  6% of LMB over 20" is not too shabby.  

[edbassmaster]

In northeast PA I fish all year round if possible. I slow my presentation down and sometimes have to downsize because with the cold water the bass are less active, but they still need to eat, they are not bears. Just fish s...l...o...w...

[kbkindle]

kb here when water temp gets to 45 deg i call it quits   if i didnt i would not have enough time to make crankbaits  kb

[llPa1nll]

Well up here in NH it has been cold. Nov 5th I had to break thru .5in of Ice at the ramp. The water temp inside that marina was 32°F, the water temp on the main lake was a blistering 40°F that ended up warming to 43°F by the middle of the day. This is a 200+ acre lake, needless to say my slowing down and downsizing wasnt enough to get bit. I did not get out this past week but plan to go out this coming weekend. I fear I can see myself winterizing my boat sooner rather than later. The latest I have been out fishing is Dec 20th on a slow moving river, water temp was 39°F and it was sleeting outside. We did catch fish all of 3 but did leave early because the fishing decks quickly froze and became quite slippery.

So I ask what particular baits and techniques do you use to catch fish in the 30-40°F water temp range. I can successfully catch them down to 45°F, but I have trouble going lower than that. in terms of consistancy.

[fish-fighting-illini]

FB sorry for the delay. As far as 6% of LG Bass in lake Evergreen being over 20" is news to me. I haven't had a lot of success at lake Evergreen. I've caught more fish from the bank at smaller lakes than from this lake. It could be that this lake is still new to me and it might take a while to become familiar with it. The biggest fish we've caught from it is 2.5lb (maybe 14") LGM's  and as far as Bass only a few per outing. It does have a decent population of Crappie and I've caught a few nice ones but not a large qty. The lake also has some decent Muskie, Walleye, Suger & some White Bass.

The lake has a $40 annual boating fee so the jury is still out as to whether it is worth it but it is the closest  lake that I can use a gas motor on (40hp limit?). The $40 might be worth it just for the scenery as between the timber in the water and all the wildlife it is a neat place.

[fish-fighting-illini]

InPa1nl

Someone else will have to answer this because I've got the same problem as you. One problem I've had is I didn't have a boat or a fishfinder/temp until this year so I caould only use air temp as a rough guide. All I know is the more below 50deg it is the more I'm screwed for catching fish.

I orig started the post wondering if people just became frustrated in the cold like I do and at below some magic temp for their area they call it quits for the year. If we want to combo that with what do people switch to or change in colder temps I'm courious too.

[dizzy5868]

Ok here in NE PA We fish year round. Once the lakes ice over we fish the susquehanna river. Everyone is saying to slow down in cold water temps. That is not always true, For smallies on the river we fish fast moving jerkbaits in January in 50' of water. The key is to find the active fish. Largmouth are tougher to pattern but smallies are fairly easy, especially in rivers. The first thing you need to do is find out what the forage is at the time you are out. Water temps below 43 deg usually mean that the craws and insects have all but disapeered. So you will need to imitate baitfish. A tube jig is probably the best all around bait for this time of year. It will mimic both craw and baitfish. I have had 40 fish days in Jan and Feb doing this. Most of the fish are eager to bite and are the bigger fish of the year. You have to remember one thing, In warmer water conditions, the smaller fish have the advantage. they are faster and more aggressive, hence they usually get to the bait first. It's almost a contest for the food.There are always more smaller fish than big ones. In colder water temps the oppisite is true. the smaller fish are not as active and the bigger fish need to feed more and will chase a bait. There is nothing like a 4 lb smallie coming out of 30' of water to hit a jerk bait. On lakes, find the schooled up baitfish and you will find the bass. They will follow the food all over the lake. Verticly jigging silver or gold kastmaster spoons for these fish is the ticket. It may take a little while to get them to bite, but once they do it turns on the school and starts a feeding frenzy. When I do this, I will 4-5 rods rigged up the same way ready to cast. I have had fish on all rods at the same time. Hook one and get him to the boat and drop another spoon. This will last as long as 30 minutes befor the school gets spooked. Many tournaments are won this way. This also works well is the summer.

Good Luck

Rob Rosencrans

Suskie Bassmasters