How to find bass deep during winter?

[NCthompson]

first off the key to catching winter bass is to look deep right? Now it is 55 degrees here in jacksonville nc so i dont know if that changes anything. So what are the best times to fish during winter?

I recently got a hawkeye portable fish finder, so I can see the depths and where there are fish. What depths are bass usually at during this time?

[Tin]

You can always find more than enough fish shallow.  

[BASS fisherman]

This might help some.

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

[Catt]

Bass located on deep structure are less affected by seasonal weather patterns than bass located on shallow structure.

Outside bends of a river or creek are common hangouts for deep water bass. Because of the water flow in the river or creek a ridge has been formed on the outside of the bend. Find the top of these ridges!

Spots where two creeks intersect or where a feeder creek intersects with the main river are areas experienced deep water anglers seeks. Inside the Y created by the intersection is where you want to.

Techniques: Texas Rigs, Carolina Rigs, Drop Shot Rigs, Deep Cranks & Jigging Spoons

[Crestliner2008]

If 55 deg. is the water temp, I'd have to ask, is that about the lowest it gets? If so, then the bass in your area are probably in their winter period for sure. The biggest problem most fisherman have in winter is bass location. A friend of mine has an Atlantis underwater viewing system (camera) and last winter we checked a lot of spots we fish. The fish were deep; 40' - 55' down. They were stacked like cordwood down there on the edges of channels or shelves (structure). However, you could NOT see them on the sonar, period! This is what most fisherman don't get. You have to "know" they are there; not relying on finding them on your electronics. Winter is probably the best opportunity for an UW camera that was ever called for. It's worth it's weight in gold. Of course, our water temps in winter HERE are hovering just above freezing - a lot colder than 55 degrees! So I don't if your bass will react the same. In any case, put a blade bait down there and just barely twitch it off the bottom.  

[Waterwolves]

If 55 deg. is the water temp, I'd have to ask, is that about the lowest it gets? If so, then the bass in your area are probably in their winter period for sure. The biggest problem most fisherman have in winter is bass location. A friend of mine has an Atlantis underwater viewing system (camera) and last winter we checked a lot of spots we fish. The fish were deep; 40' - 55' down. They were stacked like cordwood down there on the edges of channels or shelves (structure). However, you could NOT see them on the sonar, period! This is what most fisherman don't get. You have to "know" they are there; not relying on finding them on your electronics. Winter is probably the best opportunity for an UW camera that was ever called for. It's worth it's weight in gold. Of course, our water temps in winter HERE are hovering just above freezing - a lot colder than 55 degrees! So I don't if your bass will react the same. In any case, put a blade bait down there and just barely twitch it off the bottom.

After you saw where they were. Were you able to catch them? I have been thinking about buying a underwater camera but I heard that some people spend to much time trying to catch the fish they see without success.

[WRB]

Bass will find the conditions that best suite the survival; prey and comfortable water temperature. During the cold water period bass tend to locate where the warmest water is with baitfsih available.

Find the baitfsih, the bass will be near them. Locations depend on a lot of factors; lake classification and type of bass you are targeting.

Your inexpensive sonar sounder is OK for determining the depth, however will not allow you to separate fish signals from bottom clutter. A high quality unit like a Lowrance X510 color sonar unit can separate bass from bottom clutter, cover or structure. A camera can identify what the arc's are, whereas a sonar unit can only returns signals. With experience it's easy to see fish tight to deep breaks, ledges and channels on sonar.

The key to bass location or depth is the thermocline, if one exisits. The thermocline is the first warmer water layer below the surface colder water. Most reservoirs will have mulitple thermoclines that can be picked up by a good sonar unit as a dark line. If you can't locate the thermocline, then locate the life zone. Life zones are the depth the baitfish are holding throughout the lake. Bass and other predators will be close to the baitfsih, so fish at that depth where structure elements are located at the depth the baitfish are holding.

WRB

[Crestliner2008]

Waterwolves - The answer is yes. And sometimes the biggest smallies of the year. You can't catch bass where they ain't - period. In the cold weather season, they are usually stacked like cordwood on the bottom of these deep holes. Very inactive. But they have to eat - another given, which has been proven through various F&W studies, as well as ice fishermen. They do NOT hibernate - another given. Up here in the northeast, a lot of species stack like this when the water temps are down around the freezing mark; bass, walleye, catfish, etc.. The UW camera merely allows you to see what your sonar may - or may not - be telling you is there. Why spend hours fishing a jig over a bunch of carp or catfish when your goal is bass? The sonar certainly isn't going to tell you that. Yep, even though you see them stacked, you're not likely to fill the boat unless you try various presentations and spend some time over them. But at least try to get the odds on your side by fishing over your target species!  

[Matt Fly]

WRB is correct.    Find the food source .     I have alot of different types of lakes to fish within a short drive.    There are numerous ways to find the depth bait are at quickly.

Tons of crappie fishermen tied to bridges, they'll tell you what depth crappie are that day.   If crappie are at 28 ft, you can bet bait and other species will be located at that depth on ledges, points, humps, suspended of road beds, just as others have mentioned.

Striper or hybrid guides will be on fish, and shad or other food sources will give you the depth of bait also.    Even though they are different species, they have bait fish as the common denominator.    That depth will be common.   Most hybrid, white, and striper guides have radios, lots guides will radio depth to other guides.   It ensures guides find active fish for clients, you can be amazed at some good info that gets shared.   Most bassing guys don't have marine radios on the norm, some of my bait shops do and will monitor the info and share the depths.

Lots of easy ways to find info with out using electronics.   Bait shops that sell minnows will usually know what depth the crappie are at, and that is easy money.     Take that info, wind direction and wind blown points with that depth and you have the basic figured out.      

 

Just remember that the length of daylight will tell the bass time is near, and they'll keep moving closer to spawning flats as the days get longer which is warming trend even with spring fronts continue to pass.

Hookem

matt