winter fishing

[dieselaw]

Well you guys are always a wealth of knowldege on many subjects. Today I was just curious what kind of tips you guys have on winter fishing. I have read the majority of th articles, but i was curious what strategies you guys use. I live and fish in AZ. This will be my first winter fishing. Thanks in advance.

*modified so this can remain in the general section and not need to be moved to the regional section-LBH

[Jig Man]

There are lots of different ways to fish in the winter.  Technically it is still fall but the water is in the mid 40s and the fish are about 25' deep here.  Yesterday jigs and tubes got my pard and I 10 keepers out of 15 bass.

Vertical fishing with tubes, jigs, drop shot and spoons also work on some days as well as jerk baits but I prefer the jig.

[ejtaylor822]

Lot of plastics and jigs and the occasional spinner - all  very, very slow.

[fishfordollars]

Fish the vertical areas, try to pick your days after a warmup begins, and concentrate on the first and second drops off the ledges. Watch your depthfinder for bait. Fish spoons, jigs, tubes, t-rigs, etc., and fish slowly unless they tell you otherwise.  

[Jeff_NHBA]

Jigging a blade bait like a Silver Buddy near the bottom around a pod of baitfish can be very productive.

[anglerEd]

Here in middle GA we have water temps in the high 40s to 50 deg depending on the weather. Generaly I am finding fish in 16 to 20 ft of water and catching them with football jigs and sometimes a C rig. Deep points, humps, and bluffs describe most of the areas. Vertica fish a spoon under sonar when it looks good down there. At the same time these bites are available, there can be a good crank bait bite in 5 to 10 or even shallower. You have got to fish everything slow, but just because some are in 20', doesn't mean you cant get some good bites shallow. Folks throwing plastic worms or shaky heads will often get more bites and hookups by shortening or downsizing their baits.