These man-made structures are located all up and down the Mississippi River, and during low and normal water periods, can at times offer some fast and furious fishing. Focus on these areas on the warmer, brighter days as the lack of flowing water allows the area to warm up quickly. But even though it’s not the easiest task in the world, it’s also not impossible! Numbers of smallmouth can also be caught on the river during the winter. In fact, no matter what the season, there are many bass that can be found in deep pockets in a lake, but during the winter especially. Knowing their location and the proper presentation is more than half of that battle. The bass will hole up in inconsistent areas and are very lethargic when it comes to pursuing food. If the temperature is dramatically falling, start shallow and quick along warm banks in the morning and by evening you’ll be fishing slowly in deep pockets, following the bass as they transition through the water column. Catfish are desperately seeking out the warmest possible water they can find. The first step in a successful fishing trip, no matter what species is being … Look hard for smaller fish that bass are still feeding on in the St. Johns River, and that’s where you will find places to cast your line. We all know this is because of the environmental changes happening in their habitat, but what does all of this ‘change’ mean for anglers? Another one of the best fall fishing tips is to consider the impact that a cold front will have on the activity level of bass during this time of year. This particular forum is not about politics, or religion, or status. But luckily, you have the advantage of being above, so you can easily sneak up on them and watch them prod at your bait. You will not catch large numbers of bass most of the time in winter, but... you can catch some of the biggest bass you will catch all year, especially in late winter to early spring, in the northeast, when … In lakes and ponds, when the weather takes a frigid turn, many bass will make their way to the deepest part of the body of water. These waters warm quicker, especially rivers lined with rocks and gravel banks. If the current on the main river is too strong, concentrate on … In true educator fashion, I tried to push him to realizing the answer without me giving it away. Jigs, soft plastics and spoons are top choices for winter anglers. It means you need to change your techniques because rarely will your favorite summertime lure keep landing bass year round. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. Most of us stash gear, snacks and lures in our PFDs, so wearing them under other layers is impractical. Don’t be afraid to try a stationary lure if the super slow presentation isn’t working. In winter most of the fishing can rest because of the cold icy waters in the rivers. When fishing these small farm ponds in the cold, use a plastic worm with a small split shot above the hook. Hybrid stripers and striped bass are a great example of this with a technique called “deadsticking”. Some anglers also like to use a lead of fluorocarbon when doing their fishing. I bet you can’t. We talked a little bit about bait in the previous section, but we’ll … Bass like to warm up in these depths and will try to find cover near the current (but just outside of it) to ambush prey as it flows by in the swifter water. Bass fishing in the winter can be fun but hard at the same time. So, as I tend to do, solicited or not, I chime in with why I thought I was fishing more effectively than he was. As a whole, the population of bass in your local lake or river will probably be less active, but in some bass, there is little noticeable change from summer to winter. Largemouth Bass in particular are huge fans of these sheltered locations! I began to do the slow reel up and would never let my craw lose contact with the rocks, except when I could feel it was beginning to ‘crawl’ up a rock and over into a pocket. Don’t let the cold weather discourage you. Removing your PFD to shed layers (and potentially turtle) is a dangerous proposition when hypothermia is a real threat. The plans were set and we hit the river at sunup. Winter Bass Fishing Tips – Everything You Need to Know 1. On some rivers it’s practical to paddle to a bank and do this all on solid ground. When you’re fishing the bottom, a drop shot rig or a shaky head rig can work really well. A grub can be one of the most effective bass lures for cold water. “You might not get as many bites, but you’ll get those quality bites.”. But often overlooked is some outstanding bass fishing, and the places to go are the Santee Cooper lakes and the Cooper River. Pick the Perfect Spot. As the industry’s leading bass magazine we simply provide you fresh new features every season. Share on Pinterest. More than likely during the summer and early fall this area is choked with slop such as cattails, reeds or lily pads. Slow Your Bait’s Movement. winter bass fishing tips Winter bass fishing is not for everybody. If I am bass fishing in the winter time around my area lakes, chances are I am fishing rubber worms or deep diving a crankbait. If, on the other hand, you’ve had great sunlight, warmer water and higher temps for a few days and you see that a storm system is rolling in tomorrow evening- you better grab your poles. You should also focus on shallow inlets or flat pockets out of the main channel, like where creeks and draws dump in, specially if that creek holds water. There are some years, however, when the weather is unreasonably warm and the river is fishable. Take the time to get geared up and layered up. "Fishing (in December) is really, really good if you get a warm spell. Smaller profiles get the tougher bites, but Johnston notes that winter also finds fish plenty willing to bite a bulky jig and trailer package. Bass fishing is one of the most exciting freshwater fishing experiences an angler can find. Don’t hesitate to cast back to that same spot. Bread. Another winter bass fishing technique is to look for any sources of warm water. Bass will also have this instinctual urge to get out of their hole and get back into a warmer spot. A suspending jerkbait is a popular choice among winter anglers, but it comes with a caveat. A 3/0 to 4/0 hook should work well for most white bass fishing situations. Hook Up . The slower, the better. Tubes will also work, if fished, really slow. This notion has to do with the cold-blooded nature of the fish; dropping temperatures can seriously affect their body functions, most notably, a slowing metabolism. December 5, 2018 by admin 0 Comments. As far north as New England, anglers fishing tidal creeks and mud flats find great inshore action on striped bass late into the season. As a rule of thumb, it is best to slow down your presentation during the winter months. Focus on these areas on the warmer, brighter days as the lack of flowing water allows the area to warm up quickly. Switch the 20-pound monofilament over to 8-pound fluorocarbon. It offers a chance to warm up while waiting for a easy pickins. 2. How To Catch Smallmouth Bass Winter Bass Fishing. I can still remember what the old-timers used to say about Fowl River. The experts recommend using these around underwater structures. My buddy couldn’t believe how slow they would take it, commenting that it was if I didn’t have to do anything but give it time to find it. Don’t get all bundled up and plan on a winter fishing trip without practicing this step. The ideal temperature range is below 50 degrees and you should stick to pockets within the 15-30 foot range. Catfish are desperately seeking out the warmest possible water they can find. During spring spawning, fish near vegetation close to shore. If after your few days of cold snap, the sun decides to come out in full force and the mercury climbs 20, 30 or 40? Winter bass. Striped Bass Fishing Tips. During cold water days bass know they shouldn’t expend energy, nor do they really have the energy to expend since their food is more scarce and their metabolism slower. One benefit of fishing in winter is that there is generally very little fishing pressure. On others it isn’t. Winter fishing in cold water means slowing down your approach, taking more time to cover an area and slowing down the presentation of your baits. If the shallow bite isn’t … And that … They say they’re faced with a similar situation in the spring and summer, but they have no problem setting the hook. The process will definitely take more time than you’re probably used to, so for this reason, it’s most important to be patient. How To Catch Smallmouth Bass Winter Bass Fishing. This will give you a fair chance at a catch, even if the fish are a little more sluggish than usual. We’ve all heard of layering up, but there is more to it then throwing a jacket over your hoodie and t-shirt. The consensus among successful smallmouth fishermen is that the optimum winter bass fishing conditions for catching smallmouth are: Air temperature upper 30's to mid 40's; Overcast skies; Threat of rain or snow. If you’ve ever turtled (and let’s face it, who hasn’t) imagine doing that in 40?F water and maintaining your composure. If you never do a practice run prior to hitting the water you won’t realize this until you’re a few hundred yards downstream of your put-in, and by then it’s too late to fix it, because let’s face it, you aren’t gonna just turn around and leave once you’re on the water. In the last few years we’ve seen the birth of the most stable kayaks ever and elevated seats, so it’s less of a problem to squirm around on a yak. By Bruce Ingram. Baits to use are large swim baits, stick baits, crankbaits and flukes. 1. Catfish are good on frozen shrimp, stinkbait, and liver, according to the TPWD fishing report. As … Get into the habit of using it in the winter months, especially as it will save wasted journeys if the rivers are high. It's easier to get fish to strike lures in cold, clear water than it is in cold, dirty water. Both of these are keys to finding bass in winter, and if you find both in one area, you have a prime fishing spot. Find Schools of Baitfish 6. Ensure your PFD and waders are up to the cold season ahead. But, as we shed layers we’ll need to remove our PFDs to remove jackets and hoodies. Winter River Smallmouth With Pete Cartwright Across the southern-most range for smallmouth bass one hears chatter about “winter smallie fishing.” However, upon examination of water temperatures on the lakes and big rivers down south, those readings rarely fall below the mid-40 degree range. Presentation is more than half of that battle and spoons are top choices for winter bass fishing PATIENCE perfect! Most productive stretch of water contain large bass which resist fighting in the bank that... Some anglers also like to use a plastic worm with a similar in... Visible to the TPWD fishing report afternoons with highs in the winter, there s... Slowly over submerged grass their progression towards deeper water in the winter we shed we! It means you have a chance to reiterate that during the winter, locating pockets warmer! Also work, if fished, really good if you get a spell! To notice to have the 7 fall bass fishing grub can be anywhere from cold to dangerously.. 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