When Is It Time To Put The Boat And Rods In The Garage?

[Captain G]

Fortunately, that time doesn't come down here

[Gatorbassman]

I haven't found that temp yet. Last winter I used my boat as an ice breaker to take the 1/4inch of ice off most of the lake so I could fish it. The fishing was good.

[BassThumb]

I call it quits(for bass) and go crappie fishing for a few trips when the water settles in the 43-45 degree range, without any sign of warm temps in the forecast. That's usually around the very end of October or first week of November in Minnesota. I never have much luck catching bass when the water gets than cold, but the crappies are more than willing. A 50-55 degree water temp in the fall is the perfect time for some memorable fall days of bass fishing, so don't call it quits too soon.

[beerpressure]

Get the ice fishing gear out. I plan on doing some perch fishing once the lake freezes over

[Hamby]

I'm hoping i get to fish a couple times in november but the boats and gear are 3 hours north at the cottage so when the weather gets cold i don't bother. Kinda hard to get up there without a car. Been riding the motorcycle up there all summer and into fall. Been wearing snowpants on the bike lately haha. Never gone ice fishing, but i hope to pick that addiction up soon. I'll be back to bass fishing once the weather is nice again. If i do get up to the lake and it's a bit too cold for the bass, there's always crappie!

[senile1]

I try to fish until the water gets hard. The last three or four years we've had a couple of months of hard water. Our big lakes only get thin sheets of ice but the ice in the coves and near the ramps is thicker and pretty much eliminates any fishing when the ice is on.

[zip pow]

Being from Alabama I never have to stop some times i'll have to wrap an electric blanket around the foot of my boat to keep it from freezing after a trip but I just keep on fishing rain no snow or freezing rain can keep me off the water one time the ramp was frozen couldn't get the boat out of the water till I salted it

[jerryk]

Here in Ky......we fish touraments year round!! Last winter we had one evey other Sat from Nov til Mar!!!

[backwater4]

Never. I've caught in a snowstorm with water temps in the mid to high 30*s. Ice in the guides and all over the boat. It's not fun at times, but why stop when thers open water.

[Nick]

I've noticed a fairly consistent drop off in catching bass when the water temps drop into the high 30's. Not impossible then, but not optimum either. In the mid 40's, it's often the best time of the year for big fish.