Winter Trout Fishing

[FishinCricket]

You name the day buddy, and if you put me on a smallie that goes 17" or better, you get a case of beer on me. Oh, that's in January or February by the way.

You're on. Two questions:

1. can I take cash value for the beer? I don't drink much.

2. What's the prize if he goes 20+ inches?

[Buckshotdad1960]

Fishingcricket you monster!

Take it easy on him, he's just a boy! LOL

Well, maybe not!

But at least give him two to one odds and let him make the first cast! LOL

[troutgnat]

Fishin Cricket,

You are absolutely right on the smallmouth and goggle eye in Bennett. I have done this for some time now and have found it a ball hauling 14+" smallies in on 2lb test and a sculpin olive colored marabou jig in the middle of winter. OOPS!, did I just say that??? I just gave away my secret. I have caught smallies all the way up to the darn.

[FishinCricket]

Fishin Cricket,

You are absolutely right on the smallmouth and goggle eye in Bennett. I have done this for some time now and have found it a ball hauling 14+" smallies in on 2lb test and a sculpin olive colored marabou jig in the middle of winter. OOPS!, did I just say that??? I just gave away my secret. I have caught smallies all the way up to the darn.

Is it a darn Dam? lol

Yeah, this subject is the reason for my (now annual) query here: Is it legal to keep these fish? I still say the answer is no, it is not. And I hope it stays that way, they are fun!

But it is kinda odd how literally NO ONE is at my favorite haunts (like the suzy hole and just above the Bluff Hole) during the freezing cold days of winter, the fishing is a blast! (Just remember to keep the fish in the water or their gills could actually freeze and they will die and then I can't catch them!)

Hope to see all of you down there, trust me (the way things have been going with the industry I am in) I will be spending pleeeeeeenty of time down there this winter.. lol

Look for the GEO

[Buzz]

Hey, I thought this was about winter trout fishing????????

Don't forget there are plenty of White Ribbon areas to fish during the winter and C&R at the parks.

I tend to start to get really pumped up about this time of year and trout fishing. Is it cold sometimes? Yes. Is it unbearably cold sometimes? Yes. Do the trout bite during these times? Oh yeah.

My biggest Crane Creek trout was caught one January day with the temps never getting above 35 degrees. It hit a # 14 Hares Ear Nymph. Last year and early this year during C&R at Roaring River I caught several really nice fish on Bunny Bugs and Mohair Leeches. White Ribbon trout are obviously a little easier to catch, they will bite about anything, but still fun.

As far as bass ( Lm and SM's ), I tend to wait for the Indian Summer weeks and float the creeks. Some really big fish can be caught during these days on about anything, cranks, tubes, soft craws, and spinnerbaits. Since we don't have as many springs as some, it's best to wait for that odd warming trend.

[ozark trout fisher]

Is it a darn Dam? lol

Yeah, this subject is the reason for my (now annual) query here: Is it legal to keep these fish? I still say the answer is no, it is not. And I hope it stays that way, they are fun!

But it is kinda odd how literally NO ONE is at my favorite haunts (like the suzy hole and just above the Bluff Hole) during the freezing cold days of winter, the fishing is a blast! (Just remember to keep the fish in the water or their gills could actually freeze and they will die and then I can't catch them!)

Hope to see all of you down there, trust me (the way things have been going with the industry I am in) I will be spending pleeeeeeenty of time down there this winter.. lol

Look for the GEO

I hope it isn't legal to keep them... Although, I really don't think we should be allowed to keep smallies anywhere... But that's another subject for another thread.

[ozark trout fisher]

Hey, I thought this was about winter trout fishing????????

Don't forget there are plenty of White Ribbon areas to fish during the winter and C&R at the parks.

I tend to start to get really pumped up about this time of year and trout fishing. Is it cold sometimes? Yes. Is it unbearably cold sometimes? Yes. Do the trout bite during these times? Oh yeah.

My biggest Crane Creek trout was caught one January day with the temps never getting above 35 degrees. It hit a # 14 Hares Ear Nymph. Last year and early this year during C&R at Roaring River I caught several really nice fish on Bunny Bugs and Mohair Leeches. White Ribbon trout are obviously a little easier to catch, they will bite about anything, but still fun.

As far as bass ( Lm and SM's ), I tend to wait for the Indian Summer weeks and float the creeks. Some really big fish can be caught during these days on about anything, cranks, tubes, soft craws, and spinnerbaits. Since we don't have as many springs as some, it's best to wait for that odd warming trend.

Thanks for the tips Buzz. I have sometimes hit wild trout streams in winter, and I catch some fish, but they are relatively few and small (as in a ten fish day with a couple ten inchers would be a great day)I have never fished the trout parks in winter. I think this winter I'll hit either Bennett or Montauk. In that case, I think I'll get some practice fly fishing on those stockies. In you guy's experience, do trout hold in fast or slow water when the water temp is low?

[FishinCricket]

Hey, I thought this was about winter trout fishing????????

Don't forget there are plenty of White Ribbon areas to fish during the winter and C&R at the parks.

I tend to start to get really pumped up about this time of year and trout fishing. Is it cold sometimes? Yes. Is it unbearably cold sometimes? Yes. Do the trout bite during these times? Oh yeah.

My biggest Crane Creek trout was caught one January day with the temps never getting above 35 degrees. It hit a # 14 Hares Ear Nymph. Last year and early this year during C&R at Roaring River I caught several really nice fish on Bunny Bugs and Mohair Leeches. White Ribbon trout are obviously a little easier to catch, they will bite about anything, but still fun.

As far as bass ( Lm and SM's ), I tend to wait for the Indian Summer weeks and float the creeks. Some really big fish can be caught during these days on about anything, cranks, tubes, soft craws, and spinnerbaits. Since we don't have as many springs as some, it's best to wait for that odd warming trend.

You are sooooo right, sorry about that... I failed to mention that the best part about chasing these smallies around the park is that you also get to sight fish to all the big lunker trout when the water is low and clear... I have hooked the biggest trout in my life during the winter season, though they usually throw my barbless hook pretty easily..

Mmmmm, yes, I can see that big old fat brown now coming out of that mass of moss in the backswirl at the Suzy Hole.. He was cruising slow when he saw the flash of maribou jig bouncing perilessly close to the edge of the current........ He... Just... Can't... Help... But... EAT IT! BOOOOOYAH! And he jumps, and again, and then he takes off upstream, one last jump.. And he's off... But at least he didn't take the jig (it's my lucky balck and white 1/16th ounce with the edges shaved off the round lead head, touched up with black and white painted eyes)

Did I just say all that outloud?

[Buzz]

Thanks for the tips Buzz. I have sometimes hit wild trout streams in winter, and I catch some fish, but they are relatively few and small (as in a ten fish day with a couple ten inchers would be a great day)I have never fished the trout parks in winter. I think this winter I'll hit either Bennett or Montauk. In that case, I think I'll get some practice fly fishing on those stockies. In you guy's experience, do trout hold in fast or slow water when the water temp is low?

What is highlighted is almost exactly like the day I had at Crane except for the big 15 in. ( my biggest from Crane ) male that I ended my day with. Just saying, you really never know. I also believe, that since most people will stay home and watch a football game, it can be your best chance to catch a really nice wild fish. On the other hand, you might just freeze your tail off.

[Buzz]

You are sooooo right, sorry about that... I failed to mention that the best part about chasing these smallies around the park is that you also get to sight fish to all the big lunker trout when the water is low and clear... I have hooked the biggest trout in my life during the winter season, though they usually throw my barbless hook pretty easily..

Mmmmm, yes, I can see that big old fat brown now coming out of that mass of moss in the backswirl at the Suzy Hole.. He was cruising slow when he saw the flash of maribou jig bouncing perilessly close to the edge of the current........ He... Just... Can't... Help... But... EAT IT! BOOOOOYAH! And he jumps, and again, and then he takes off upstream, one last jump.. And he's off... But at least he didn't take the jig (it's my lucky balck and white 1/16th ounce with the edges shaved off the round lead head, touched up with black and white painted eyes)

Did I just say all that outloud?

Great narrative Cricket. Those are the fish that keep us going back.