cold fishing

[fishing in TN]

The whole cabin fever is starting to kick in...my off days are different each week so I don't get to pick when I go fishing..

I am gonna try to fish this friday...it has been raining for the last 12 hours and will continue for the next 12 at least.  So I guess my question is with the fact that I cannot choose when I fish and with all the cold weather and the rain, what kinds of things should I focus on and what techniques should I use in order to have success?  Any Ideas people can offer would be of great interest.

side note-this is my first post on this forum, but I would love to hear some feedback from some people who really know what they are doing

thanks

[roadwarrior]

I'm having a little luck in local ponds with a drop-

shot and Slug-Go. #2, Sworming Hornet with a

LFT 3 1/2" Live Magic Shad.

8-)

[JeepFish]

I caught a decent one today in a pond using a black and blue spinner bait with a gold spinner of all things. The temp was about 40 and the water still had a chunk of ice in the middle ;D This is the first time I have even winter fished. I hope some good advice gets posted on what to use so I know!

[Shane J]

If it were me, I'd try a smaller jig or chatterbait, both with a Rage Tail Baby craw trailer. If that doesn't work Carolina rig or drop shot something small.

[fishing in TN]

can yall give me a little help on dropshot?  how deep? on dropoffs?   what kinda of rod and reel?  I am not real familiar with the technique

[bassinbob54]

hey im in NC and the rains havent hit here yet but i've been doing pretty good useing a jerkbait around points even in the coldest weather..its worth a try

[Hammer 4]

Throw a 8" swimbait out there...they work all year..

[SteveV]

To catch winter bass you will need to approach your fishing from a different angle. Try looking in some spots you have previously neglected, and spend more time with your depth finder and fish a little slower, it's hard, but it can be done. In the Potomac, last year in a tournament, the new state record largemouth bass was caught with ice on the water in the "Spoils" during a tournament on a blade bait. It was over 11 pounds. lol

Start by looking for flats and other locations with deep water nearby as the fish will move off toward deeper water as fall turns into winter. Largemouths won't move any farther than they have to though.If they were feeding on a hump before, I fish alongside that same hump. If they were feeding up on a pointl, follow that same point out into where it drops off into a channel or a breakline.

They get together pretty tight in the winter so you really have to be able to read the electronics to find them and put the bait right on top of them as they won't chase the bait very far.

I use a jig with a pork trailer in winter and never forget that there is sometimes a shallow water pattern, especially if you can find any type of green vegetation at all, as it has oxygen that I think increases their metabolism and turns them on at times.

Once in Delaware in the winter, using a small jig and light line I caught more than 30 bass in a day that were all decent fish and a few hit 5 pounds.

Good luck and tight lines, Steve

[Catt]

Stable weather is paramount this time of the year, stable weather maybe clear bluebird days or it maybe cloudy overcast rainy days which is your case.

Try finding some pre spawn locations; flats with soft bottom at locations that typically have vegetation during summer months. Look for these flats in areas that have direct access to deep water and river channels. Throw rattle traps and suspending jerk baits working them slow up to the edge of the drop.

Deeper primary and secondary points throw a crank bait, jigs or slow roll a spinner bait at 5-10' on points and drops offs that are exposed to any sun. 

[Crestliner2008]

can yall give me a little help on dropshot? how deep? on dropoffs? what kinda of rod and reel? I am not real familiar with the technique

There's a lot of set-ups you can use to drop shot with. And a huge bunch of variations. In a nut shell, I'll try to get you started here.

Get yourself set-up with a Med-Light 6'6" - 7' spinning rod. Load a 1000 size spinning reel with 8# test fluorocarbon. Tie on a Spro #8 Powerswivel. Now you're ready to tie on about a 3' section of 6# test fluorocarbon for your drop shot leader.

In the middle of this leader, tie on #2 drop shot hook, using the palomar knot. Pass the lower end back down through the eye. On this end, tie on a 1/4 oz. bass casting sinker (the lead bell type with the brass swiveling eyelet on top).

All you have to do then is lower it away, with a 4" Roboworm nose hooked. Find bait relating to a structural drop off and target these kinds of areas. You'll get bit!

[J Francho]

can yall give me a little help on dropshot? how deep? on dropoffs? what kinda of rod and reel? I am not real familiar with the technique

This will help: http://www.richz.com/fishing/articles/dropshot.html

[BassNut]

Cold water Bassing can be fun, depending on the water temps.

Between 42 degrees to 55 degrees, cranks baits can be deadly and a great search bait.

Chatter baits also work well, but sometimes they want small baits, so I carry the large chatter baits and the small trout series chatter baits, which can fill the live well.

If you don't find any takers down size.

1/8 oz jig or smaller, with a small 2" to 3" Paddle tail or grub, fished SLOW!!

2" paddle tails have out fished everything in colder waters.

Drop and Pop it, cast out and drop and pop it back to you.

But the pop is just a lift of your rod tip, and follow the lure back to the bottom keeping contact with the bait, so you and feel the tiny tick/bite, then set the hook gently, or

you'll pull the lure right out of their mouths.

Most of my hook sets are a side sweep or lifting my tip till I feel the wait, most all the hook sets will be in the roof of the basses mouth.

Heres a shot of a 4.3lb smallie caught in 45 degree waters

doing my drop and pop 2" paddle on a 1/8 oz ball jig.

Cold water cranking can also give you bonus fish!

This big brown slammed my fat rap.

Good luck

[Eternal Angler]

I know what you mean, I've been itching to go out fishing but I can't.  It's freezing out and the ice isn't frozen over enough.  I think I'm just going to wait for spring time, not sure if I can wait that long though.