Winter Lmb Locations

[Muad Dib]

Right now in NY most lakes are in the 50's. I have read that smallies in the fall and winter will locate to long points and deep bluffs. . What about the green fish?

What is the transition and locations in late fall/ early winter and what are your experiences?

t

[Bluebasser86]

I look for the nearest deep water to where I caught them during the late fall. The lakes around here it always seems to be somewhere in the 8-15 foot range with 20+feet of water nearby.

[Big-O]

I look for the nearest deep water to where I caught them during the late fall. The lakes around here it always seems to be somewhere in the 8-15 foot range with 20+feet of water nearby.

Bingo! This is a mainstay as I think you'll find the same water productive year around regardless of your locale Also drains at the head of creeks and adjacent structure where they empty into main river channels will hold plenty of fish too!

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[Professional Overrun]

I was supprised to be catching fish just the other day here in CA in about 10 feet of water. Everyone told me how hard it would be to catch bass right now, and how theyve "gone deep" How i shouldnt waste my time on the shore without electronics and look like a fool in the cold rain. The fish were right where they should be, 10-20 FOW off a rocky point actively looking for crawfish which i saw cruising the shallows..... there seems to be many myths, and misinformation among anglers as well as geographical

[Professional Overrun]

...geographical differences that may or may not apply to your region.

[senile1]

The key when it gets cold is what Bluebasser and Big-O stated about deep water nearby. If you are going to fish shallower water in the Winter, you will increase your probability of success if you fish structure with deep Winter home water nearby. This actually applies to any season and shallow water. The structures you fish should generally provide a path to deep water even if it is Spring, Summer, or Fall. When the weather is unstable deep water provides an environment for bass that is less affected by the weather above the surface of the water. In a new lake, or a lake that has just been stocked you may find fish just about anywhere, but once a lake has matured I believe the Buck Perry axiom that most bass will eliminate structure that does not provide a path to deep water.

[Professional Overrun]

Very good point there, senile. I was wondering, what role, or how much of a role does a food source play in the way bass stage in the winter months? I know that their metabolism slows way down, will they still occupy those main lake points( with deep water nearby) even if theres no baitfish activity to speak of in the colder winter months? Thats the way it seems to be here in CA, but it never actually gets cold here either. Atleast not compared to back east.....

[ww2farmer]

Often it depends on the body of water. In my lake they are in the same place they are all year round..............in the weeds, or holding on hard cover outside the weeds, docks are gone, and the lake is drawn down in late fall/winter or else they they would be on them untill the ice forces them out. I see alot of bass through my hole in the ice in shallow water. It all has to do with the food. Bluegills make up the majority of the forage base on this lake, mixed in with some yellow perch and craws, and since the main basin of the lake is rather featureless and soft bottomed, they tend to hold in the same places reguardless of the season. I change my presentations based on the season, not locations. Even during the spwan, they only move a couple hundred feet towards the bank.

[Colton Neal]

Concentrate your efforts more towards the main-lake, unless the water is extremely Muddy. Fish will be located on sharp drop off and fast sloping contours, channels, bluffs, just mainly vertical structure. Sometimes bass just suspend in the water column. This time of year i like suspending jerk baits because you can pause them in one spot for a long time.