The Fishing Offseason

[Dean]

Hey everybody. I fish in New England, mainly NH, and i'm only able to fish from April to Late September, if it wasnt for high school and my busy schedule i would fish until the water freezes lol. Anyway, its getting closer and closer to winter everyday. Since i can't fish anymore, the monkey attacks will probly increase dramatically ;D ;D My point, how bored do you guys get during the offseason? How many trips to the tackle store do you make and how much does the monkey eat from your wallet? How bad do you guys get cabin fever?

[tntitans21399]

Lucky I'm down in Tennessee and the weather allows me to be on the lake longer, I think only Dec-Feb I wasn't on the lake last year.  But during time I'm not on the water I do some upgrade/fixes on the boat or trailer.  This year I'm going to tighten the side guide rails up more, recarpet the bunker rails on the trailer, and replace a couple of rollers on the trailer.  Tighten the front scrap hook on the boat, tighten some bolts here and there, and other little things like that.  I try to write down things I need to do so when i have time, off season, I can then go one by one checking them off.  I usually try to go by the tackle shops during the week so I'm ready for the weekend.  That's what I do.

[Bob Kavanaugh]

I don't plan on leaving the water until the water temp falls below 45 degrees. Then I'll probably spend some time walking the banks looking for artifacts and whatnot.

[bassmaster8100]

This is why im glad I live down south, man I feel bad for you guys when the water freezes and you're not able to go. Im down is South Mississippi and Im on the water all year long , 12 months out of the year. I mean it get tough out there at times but Im there. Lots of days in the low 30s mainly during the winter, think the coldest I can ever remember it being and me out bass fishing was couple of years back it was 17 and yes I was there at the ramp at daylight ready to go, of course I was the only one there. Dont see too many peeps out on the water on the cold days but it dont matter to me how cold or hot it is I have the opportunity to get out and I usually do. The coldest day for me was 17 and I think the hottest was 106. Im loving it.

[ewokmonsta720]

Why can you not go on the weekends until the freeze?

You're missing all the good fishing. And for winter, my drug is skiing. I randomly hit the ice shanty with the "ol' timers" where more whisky drinking and war stories occur than fishing. But its all in good spirits. Most people get fat during the winter, not me. Between working full time (in the elements) and skiing hard, winter is definately the season of slimming down and toning out for me.

[jaystraw]

what ewokmonsta said. The fishing is just getting good, and there is always ice-drinking..I mean fishing.

[bighed]

We fish all our local lakes year round unless it get's really cold.  If it get's down to 40 or so then we are forced to fish the power plant lakes until it warms up a little.  big

[Sam]

Suggestions for the winter months:

1.  Read one or two fishing books.

2.  Watch new DVDs or videos on different baits and techniques.

3.  Organize your tackle.

4.  Clean rods and reels.

5.  Attend a seminar.

Each winter I do at least four of the five.  Attending a seminar is the most difficult if none are in your area.

There are great bass books, DVDs and videos available and I watch my Ike and VanDam productions two or three times.  The Woo Daves series is excellent.  Jimmy Houston, Hank Parker, Zell Roland and Denny Brauer all have excellent books, DVDs and videos on the market.

Bigmouth, Bigmouth Forever and The Feeding Habits of Bass are also three videos you need to view.

And don't forget Bill Dance's bloopers.  He is a riot even though he wears that dumb Tennessee cap.  An LSU cap would give him more dignity and professionalism.

And being from the frozen north, don't forget to watch Slapshot.  One of the greatet films ever made if you like ice hockey.  And Mafia starring Lloyd Bridges which is extremely funny.

So you can do a lot during the winter months, other than shovel snow!

[fishfordollars]

If you get really bored just get down to Texas. Winter is our favorite time.The bites may taper off some but the quality goes way up. Some of our south Texas lakes began the spawn in January(Falcon and Amistad). It's a great time to fish. You have an open invitation if you like. I am not limited on the days I can fish. Normally fish about 80-100 days each year. I have fished two days this week and plan this afternoon and Sunday. It sucks, but someone has to do it. Should have been out a little more.

[Crestliner2008]

I fish in the Bay State (MA) until ice up. Last year a group of "MaAngler's" were fishing during the 2nd. week of January in open water! You get years like that. Now until ice up - whenever that occurs - is the best fishing for all species. We have no closed season here in MA, so ice fishing takes over directly, when a foot of so of ice covers the ponds. The waterways usually open mid-March or so and the new open water season begins again.

[Marty]

During the off season I do a lot of whining and moaning. It's not like Rochester winters are anything new to me, as I've lived here all my life. Every year my wife tells me to get a winter hobby, but that's easier said than done.

As to visiting tackle shops and buying stuff, at my advanced age I've pretty much passed that stage of life. I've got more than I need and generally limit my buying to replacement items or new lures if they do something different than other lures I own.

New York gave us a marvelous gift this year by legalizing catch-and-release bass fishing during the closed season. So now, spring starts 6-8 weeks earlier than before.

[Fishin-Psyantist]

 It seems the worst part of winter doesnt hit here until January to February. I havent fished in about 8 years prior to this year so with a  growing up 6 year old boy in the house I decided this year I would fish every chance I got and start teaching him in the process and so that is exactly whats been happening. I plan on fishing the two small city lakes closest to me as long as I can, weather depending which is something I have never done before. Ive always tappered the fishing off at about october or so untill I discovered the website. Now I feel like I have a PHD in bass fishing. Never knew so much bass fishing information existed. It will be interesting to take note of how the fishing changes take place on these two lakes as winter approaches. Not really sure though how bad the daylight savings times are going to affect fishing time during the week. I get off work at 5, a little earyler sometimes. and that leaves me with about  just less than 2 hours of fishing time before sunset right now. Guess I will find a good use for that remaining vacation time after all. ;D

[Tin]

O come on, I'm from New England too, you dont need to stop fishing  . We can usually fish until January and still catch fish, then dont fish from mid-January till March. As for that month and a half, to two month lay-off, I go crazy, usually watch all old Bassmaster episodes, read all old BASS Times and Bassmaster magazines. It is just horrible,change all treble hooks, I accually waste my time and wait for that ice to go out.  

And as for that high school issue, just go all the time then when May and June come around convince your parents that you can afford to miss a few days because you havent missed one yet and the fish are on beds. Thats what I did anyway. 8-)  Just wait till your in college, I'm doing the winter semester this year and not fall so I could fish and work    Its awsome!!!  

[grimlin]

My season ends in dec.

Baitmonkey is usually the strongest these times....

Resisting the baitmonkey is pretty much impossible.

Now i could go ice fishing,but do i really want to hold on to a 2 foot pole freezing by booty off? Not really.

[Needemp]

I study hardcore during winter. Although I will be fishing a winter circuit this year, I also use the down time to practice casting and flipping accuracy. I almost won a flipping contest this week but lost in the tie breaker :'( But seriously, learn as much as you can with your free time.

[Fish Chris]

Off season ? What's that ? :-)

Bass March through June... sometimes later. Saltwater stuff (Halibut, Leopard Sharks, Bat Rays, etc) June through August. Stripers and Sturgeon August through March. For me these are all subject to shifting around, overlapping, squeezing in other species, etc.... But basically in Nor Cal, there is never a time when you don't have a chance at finding something to yank on your string :-)

Peace,

Fish

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I love winter, can't help it

[Guest muddy]

This off season will be great

Late November: A trip up to RI , to LBH's place . Me and Elaine going to visit and pick up a drum kit!

DECEMBER The Holidays are always wonderful, full of Time with Elaine and my Daughter and freinds up the wazoo

JANUARY AND FEBUARY: Time with Elaine, reading BASS bilogy, Time with Elaine, feed the bait monkey, and time with Elaine

March ICE OUT>>>>>>>BACK ON THE WATER  Trick out new jon boat for bass fishing wiht Zel and RUSS

 Oh and lots of time with Elaine 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

ok folks,....prayers for Elaine requested. ;D :-*

[hayden76]

i'm lucky i live in the fishing capital of the world ( Florida )  we have no offseason. Lakes, ponds, rivers. gulf, atlantic, flats and deep sea too much water, too little time ;D it never stops...

[Ky_Lake_Dude]

Even though the lakes don't freeze in Tennessee, I deer hunt. Next year I will start bowhuntin so bass fishin will be over for the year about the end of September.The TN juvenile hunt is this weekend then muzzleloader the next weekend. Then a couple of weeks later Rifle season, so fishing is about done.

[dman]

like Sam said,  i'll spend time watchin KVD dvd's and some others.   i'll re-org my tackle probably every week and now that i found this place,  i'll read a bunch of articles and read the stories from the guys down south still going at it on the lakes.  I gotta move!

[Matt Fly]

What offseason?    Nobody told us in Texas we had to take the season off!!!!   We carry shotguns and a rod to do a little duck hunting in the mornings and catch a bass or two during the afternoons.

During my military career, I got some first hand experience from being stationed in Illinois and Minnesota.     I learned that you bet on when cars will fall through the ice.    That was a new one on me.

Offseason is for amatuers!!!!  Sorry to my friends in cold places!

Matt

[roadwarrior]

Matt Fly,

The "off season" is that day you open Christmas presents!

8-)

[RAINCLOUD36]

What's an off season? Here in N.C. we fish year around.