Time of year question

[llPa1nll]

Well this is what I was trying on the 5th. I started out with a 1/2 oz RattlTrap looking for some active feeders. I had some bites the week prior when the water was 46°F. I also tried popping and deadsticking a straightailed worm, Deadsticking a senko, 1/8 oz hair jig, 1/2 jig and pig. Also tried popping a 1/2 oz and 3/4 oz silver buddy off the bottom. Well to this it was no avail I didnt get any bites. I am hoping better luck next week, anymore suggestions are welcome.

[fish-fighting-illini]

I gave it another shot tonight. Air temps in lower 30's. Had been a decent day earlier maybe upper 40's.

I tried 2 sizes of swimbaits, a small Crappie spinner and a suspending Rogue worked slow. No go no bites. I fished from about 7:30pm until 9pm. Verry hard to see they had shut off the lights around the lake too.

I was trying for bass but the lake also has a few Walleye that also have bitten the swimbaits.

Not sure what the water temps were as I was fishing from the bank.

Oh well I will keep experimenting.

[Daniel My Brother]

Hey Illini,

I've never had much luck night fishing in cold water. When it gets to be this time of year we get the most bites at mid day when things warm up a bit. A little sunshine, even on a really cold day, and you can find good fish in shallow water.

And don't forget about those power plant lakes. Great warm water fishing year round.

Dan

SE Missouri & So. Illinois

[jdw174]

There's a lot to be said for winter fishing.  There's a distinct lack of water skiers/jetboats/ pleasure boaters around.  If your lake has a winter drawdown, it's a great time to get out and just idle around while marking drops/stumps/rockpiles/sandbars/brushpiles that will not show when water levels are up.

Sure it's cold out there, so dress for the occasion.  Take a big thermos full of coffee/hot chocolate and some snacks.  Also, think S-L-O-W.  You're most likely not going to get a whole lot of bites so don't get discouraged.  Pros know that they might only get a handful of bites all day but keep working at it. 8-)

[dink]

I guess it's still Fall at Washington Co. lake. :-?  I got out yesterday to 46 degree water on the surface.  Located big schools of shad 7 - 12 feet down and marked a few fish as well.  An hour and eight different baits later, I admitted defeat.  Relocated to the back of a cove where I saw a couple of dimples on the water (baitfish).  I ended up with 5 keepers on spinnerbait and jig.  The spinnerbait had to be slow rolled SO slow it was going backwards .  The jig had to be out away from the visible cover and crawled slowly.  All fish between 2.5 and 4 lbs.  I am only 2 -3 hours south of you, so stay at it.... they gotta eat sometime.

[fish-fighting-illini]

Man dink rub it in! LOL I suspect my fishing skills just are not where I want them to be yet. Oh well it gives me a reason to keep practicing. I'll probably scale back the colder it gets but I'll keep at it.

Daniel my B I knew the night thing was pushing it but it is a lake just as few minutes away and I had the itch so... I scratched it.

I need to learn more about Crappie fishing I'm not picky this time of year I'll take about anything.

The closest power plant lake (Powerton) closes for the winter. I might get ambitious and run down to Clinton lake on a nice day. Then again I'm not sure about how safe it is to check out new lakes in the cold weather.

[senile1]

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.

FB, I used to fish a lot in the winter but over the last few years I've only been out a few times in the coldest months.  I'm getting back to it this year.  The number one prerequisite to fishing when it's really cold is to make sure you are dressed for the occasion.  If you're cold and your hands are getting numb, it's not likely that you'll be making a great finesse presentation.  It's really difficult to fish a lure extremely slow when you are freezing your buns off.  Without excellent protection from the cold, it is nearly impossible to sit for a long length of time, when the bites are few and far between.  

[BD]

I fish until I can't feel my face.

[fish-fighting-illini]

Well I broke the jinx. Went today and bite was slow but caught a 2lb bass and one respectable crappie.  At least the winter jinx is off, now with added confidence who knows what can happen. It did get to 53 deg air temp so that is cheating a little but much better than I've done on mid winter warm days before so I'll take it.

[Floridabassking352]

I never stop bass fishing. It doesn't matter what time of year it is, the way I see it, there's always a chance at catching some fish, even when conditions are tough. I fish in Florida by the way though. The temp rarely gets cold enough for me to stay indoors.

[mudcatwilly]

In Northern California, it can get darn cold in the winter, but water temps stay around 50 degrees.  It gets tougher in the winter, but we can fish all year.  You just have to slow down when it's cold.