When to call it quits...?

[NewAngler]

So I went fishing this morning. Horrible idea. I was wading in a small river, freezing I disagree off with no bites. My question is, is there a good time to pick my dignity up an hang up my rods for the winter? Or will I benefit from sticking it out until everything freezes over?

[steezy]

Same sort a luck for me today, fished for 4 hours early this morning and never got a bite and froze my butt off.

Temp warmed up a few degrees late this afternoon so I tried it again and caught a 3 # LMB on my second cast.

I just cant quit.

[JigMe]

man, it is too cold to fish this weekend. I just stayed home and watched my T.V.

[spinnerbaitalways]

Keep fishin!!!

[breakyourrod]

I went today and got nothing. I couldn't feel my hands by the time i was done. I think I'm done for the year.

[SudoomFisher]

If your not enjoying yourself while fishing, that is the time to hang it up. Why torture yourself?

[cart7t]

If your not enjoying yourself while fishing, that is the time to hang it up. Why torture yourself?

Yep.

[BrianinMD]

Now that I found the heated water I fish in Maryland year round. Was out in January when it was 25 degree out getting 15-18 smallmouth's. So far have caught bass every month this year, going to keep that going as long as possible...

[Boogey Man]

I'll be calling it quits soon, probably in 3 to 4 weeks. I find that a few months downtime in the winter keeps me from getting burnt out.

[Crestliner2008]

This "Fall" (more like winter) has been exceptionally cold here in the northeast. We've had snow showers two days running now and our river temp is down to the mid to low 50's already!

However, 2 years ago we were boating on this same river on Jan. 2nd.! So who knows about the weather? I never hang up my rods until the ponds ice over. The fishing at that time can be just plain fantastic. Some days we've had to break through skim ice on the launches in order to get out!

You wading is not a great idea however! Hypothermia can set in fast unless you have foot warmers and good insulation. Take precautions as well.....wading staff and a life vest are cheap insurance. Be safe!

[Chris at Tech]

2 factors here...

1) how much Goretex do you own?

2) do you still have enough dexterity to tie a knot?

Hehe...

[roadwarrior]

Well, we don't have the same issues here in the Mid South,

but it still gets too cold to fish. For me, starting out in the twenties

can work, as long as it's heading to a 40+ high. Wind, of course,

is another huge factor and I don't fish in cold rain.

Still, winter is Prime Time on the Tennessee River. We try to fish

every Saturday, but miss a few weekends, especially in December

and January.

8-)

[Bassnajr]

I go out later in the day and the trips are shorter. Fishing in the Northeast has been tough for the last year or so. The "seasons" are not listening to the weather man at all. Take any fishing book or article you may read about elsewhere in the countey and throw it out the window for the Northwest. It could be next week it's in the 70's...but I doubt it.

ajr

[simplejoe]

You wading is not a great idea however! Hypothermia can set in fast unless you have foot warmers and good insulation. Take precautions as well.....wading staff and a life vest are cheap insurance. Be safe!

x2

I haven't been going first thing in the morning. I've been waiting until after work or on the weekend I'll go around 10 and stay until 2 or3. I have been having better luck going a little later in the day and that's fine with me I'm not freezing my buns off.

;D

[Grey Wolf]

If your not enjoying yourself while fishing, that is the time to hang it up. Why torture yourself?

Yep.

X3 .

[Bobby Uhrig]

What happened here in The "North East" is we just had some major cold weather come through. It was kind of a shocker . The weather this time of year is usually in the mid 60's consistantly. C'mon I remember Halloween around 60-70 degrees. It just had a little spirt of cold. What I find is, that turns them on into feeding. The water is still relativly warm in the low 60' to high 50's. Those are the times I catch my biggest bass of the year.-like Ike says NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!!!! here in New Jersey they were crushing buzzbaits last week before the storm.

[senile1]

I never call it quits completely but I do take each day as it comes.  If I feel like I can handle the cold or it is a warmer day I may go fishing.  Other times, I don't want to deal with the cold and I stay at home.  When it is below 30 degrees at the warmest time in the day I rarely go, but there are occasions.  When highs are in the forties I'll still fish, but usually later in the day.  It all depends on you and what you want to deal with, and, as someone has already stated, if you are still having fun.

[Elite Image Fishing]

I am taking advantage of some "off time," in our tournament schedule. I will be doing a-lot of work on my boat (indoors), carpet, buffing, waxing... the works.

As far as fishing goes. I will be out every chance I get, whether it be a pond, or back-seating with a friend. I just can't stop. Luckily I live where we have cold, but not TOO cold whether. I'm sure if it were colder here, I'd hang em and devote the, "off season," to reading, learning, and modding gear.

[grimlin]

I'm pretty much done too...I'll keep 2 rigs just in case we get a small warm up.Will be 66 on Wednesday,then drops back into the 50's.Once the snow and ice comes I'm done till spring comes again.

[ChiCityBasser]

Pretty much done here but today its in the lower 60's and suppose to be in the mid 60's tomorrow so I might give it a try again. I did take all but one setup out of the car after a 0 yesterday and my favorite Forrest preserve lake being closed for a road repaving.  

Time to order some more DVD's for the long off season here

[Lucky Craft Man]

Well, in a few weeks, the bass gear and boat will be put away for the winter, but I will dust off the fly rod and head to the streams for 6 months of trout and steelhead fishing.  There is nothing like fishing a stream in 20 degree air temperature with snow falling around you, while you watch your line for that tell tale hesitation.  

[Hot Rod]

I fish until thanksgiving.  

Then I set my sights on whitetails (literally) for good for the rest of the year.  Well, I usually take a week or two off the around the first week of nov to bow hunt bucks in the rut too. ;D

[Paul Roberts]

So I went fishing this morning. Horrible idea. I was wading in a small river, freezing I disagree off with no bites. My question is, is there a good time to pick my dignity up an hang up my rods for the winter? Or will I benefit from sticking it out until everything freezes over?

Only if you know where your bass' winter habitat is. And that can be fun just exploring -if you like being outside. Realize smallies, if that's what you're after, have variable responses to winter conditions. In some waters they really shut down, In others, winter fishing can continue under the ice.

You can expect that few places will actually be able to winter fish well, but if you find such a spot(s), you'll have 'em all right there.

[Bassin-Yakin]

I am in Virginia as well.... I went this past saturday morning and it was about 35 degrees or so and only got up to around 45... but the water temp was still around 65(give or take)... and fish were still active....

that being said I only caught 5 fish and they were all together... I hardly got a bite the rest of the day after I left that spot... but we were in the middle of a major cold front as well... I really plan on fishing until the water gets below 60 or so... then I am just going to go out on warm days and cast.... maybe catch but probably not!!!

[Fishing Rhino]

I went out for a few hours today.

Water temps last week in the low 60s. Then we had cold, wind and cold rain. It snowed 30 miles to the north of us in Foxboro.

Water temp today (surface) 46.7 to 47.1. Said that cannot be right, and put my hand in the water. Felt like ice.

Fished the areas that had been thick with bottom vegetation in 6 to 9 feet of water, using a drop shot rig with a flappin hog. Six nice bass, a dink, and a nice pickerel.

The vegetation had thinned considerably and was ideal for casting or drifting a drop shot. The fish were sluggish. Some made a half hearted attempt to jump and managed to break the surface, but did not clear it.

The first hour or two was hunting, and trying different depths and bottom types. Once I settled in on the pattern, they bit pretty good.

The air temp was 37 here this morning.

Tomorrow we'll chase smallmouths on Cape Cod.