Winter Fishing

[FishinJack]

Winter Time

Right now is really a nice time to get on the water. I love getting out there in the winter for a couple reasons: you have the lake to yourself (almost) and it's a unique challenge to locate and catch a bunch of fish this time of the year more than any other time. The difficulties and then the lessons you learn now tend to help you in the future more than most times of the year. Water temps are just about as cold as they are going to get and I know most people are just going to wait till spring, but not me. I know it's cold but if you can pick the nice days and dress warm it's not that bad. Here in Missouri our average high right now is 42 degrees in the month of January, now it gets colder than that plenty of days but that's the average. I generally don't fish too much below 32 degrees (anymore) and there are plenty of days during the week when you can look at the 7 day forecast and choose the warmest days that are above the average. Make sure you pay attention to the fore-casted wind when deciding what clothes you are going to wear. North winds compared to south with make a big difference along with the strength. Wind is a major factor in comfort all year but even more important in the extreme months. Strong winds can go right through some inferior clothing and make even the short boat drives unbearable. Layers are always important factor in addition the expensive, high quality rain suits for your outer layer are worth it when they keep you warm. Brands like Bass Pro Shops 100mph suit, Pro Qualifier, Cabela's Guide Wear and others have recently become on the market that do a good job. Skin left exposed is going to make you uncomfortable and eventually wear you down. When it comes to my hands I prefer not to wear gloves unless my hands become too uncomfortable then I like the cheap brown cotton (Jersey's) gloves. They can absorb moisture and you'll have to keep several pairs handy to exchange them for any rainy days on the water. They are cheap so buy a big pack for 10 bucks and you'll be set for several years. You can also easily modify them to be fingerless, or thumb-less with a simple pair of scissors. Now for driving the boat on the coldest days I keep a pair of extra thick ski gloves near by. To fish with these would be a joke but for driving, they are perfect. The extra thick insulation and warmth is nice because they allow my hands to almost catch up to normal temperature during runs to our next spot. As far as keeping your feet warm I actually like just regular tennis shoes. I have found that boots actually make my feet colder and they are very cumbersome in the boat. It has something to do with having enough air movement so your feet don't sweat. I do look for shoes that have just the right amount of ventilation, not too much or too little. I'll buy a pair the next size up from normal to have room for larger socks plus room for warm air to pool up inside your shoe. One of the things I need to utilize more is those heat packs. I usually find them on clearance or on sale after Wal-Mart is getting rid of their fall hunting inventory. I try to buy them in the large bags or bigger quantity so I have a few in the boat and house. It's best if you start to get them warmed up early, like before you leave the house, so the are warm as soon as your hands start to get cold. The larger heat packs work better and get hotter. The exposed skin on your face can be covered up with a baklava or some type of covering just to keep the wind off your face will make a big difference. Another winter time must is the motorcycle helmet for those really fast or long boat drives. Keeping that wind off your face and head is essential to maintaining body heat. Now normally I like to drive about 30 mile per hour and only a few minutes at a time but there are times when you have really move and that’s when you need to get the helmet out and arrive at your fishing spot comfortable and not frozen. You'll fish better by making better casts, better decision making, and stay out there longer. For those short drives a sweatshirt with a hoodie and drawstring is a must. I add a toggle to the two ends of the drawstring for fast tightening keeping your head warmer and out of the wind. It’s a small and easy tip but that's what works. It has to be easy and quick so you do it every time even when you think you don’t really need it because it’ll make a difference by keeping you comfortable for longer.

Winter time fishing can be frustrating at times and one of the main problems is simply locating fish. Whether we are talking about crappie, bass, or catfish they all group up together in the winter. Since they are so grouped up that means it's much harder to simply stumble upon an active fish here or there like we all do most of the year. This is why you hear all these stories about great winter time successes because if you get onto one of these schools you can load the boat with quality fish in a short period of time. Now the fish are more sluggish and often times a little deeper than normal so you have to work your baits a little slower and more deliberately. Fish finders like the Humminbird Side Imaging units make a big difference by helping you easily see fish and schools of shad. Baitfish are always important but I would say right now they are more important than any other time of the year. The reason this is because they will lead you to the most active fish in the area. If you find those fish right by baitfish that means they are in the right mood to feed. There is a lot of dead water in the winter. So I do a lot of idling around looking on the fish finder this time of the year, it's part of the game in the winter. You need to be a lot choosier in the winter and don't just fish average spots. I bring plenty of snacks too for a couple reasons 1) it gets boring just slowly driving around looking for the sweet spots to fish 2) your body will burn more fuel in the cold so it keeps you running more alert.. Use those electronics you have, that's why you have them! There are times when the fish are going to be shallow even in January and times when they're going to be deep; your electronics will tell you what's going on or when to simply keep moving. In the future I'll discuss in detail of how to locate bass, blue cat and crappie in the winter time. I look for certain things for each of these fish species in the winter year in and year out.

Safety Concerns for winter- Okay guys listen, every year someone (a fisherman) dies here in the Ozarks this time of the year. Cold water grabs a hold of your body and you cannot do what you normally would be able to do like swim. Your families rely on you and do not let something you love turn into something that could hurt you. I fish by myself all the time in the winter and it is simply not a good idea. I have to, I work on the water, it's my job but I strongly encourage everyone to take a friend fishing. Fishing with a buddy is always more fun and this time of year he can save your life. Wearing a life jacket is important and nowadays with the inflatable PFD's you hardly know they're on. I use the ones that look like a belt going around your waste that you pull a cord if you fall in the water. I make my customers wear one as a wintertime rule. I understand that the inflatable PFD's that expand when in water can often times prematurely expand in storage. I believe there are some new style brands that only expand after being submerged under water for so long and under so many inches. I believe those are probably the best now but haven't heard how they are really lasting. Take extra time at the boat ramps. They often times have a thin layer of ice from a previous boater. Also with all the extra layers of clothing it is more difficult to get in and out of the boat at the ramp so be careful. Wet feet at the end of the day is one thing, at the beginning of the day can make for a big mistake or at the very least you'll likely catch a cold. The fact is mistakes happen eventually and you can’t let a small misstep become a life changing mistake.

Good luck, good fishing, and let me know if you found this informative. Check my website out for my guide service details and pricing. www.FishingLakeoftheOzarks.com

Jack Uxa

Jack's Guide Service

[ozarkgunner]

Nice article. The save face (phace?) masks make a huge difference and are cheaper than helmets. I would add everyone needs a spare pair of clothes for the fall in or stray wave. Don't forget to warm your boat up and charge the batteries as you are the only guy at the ramp many times. Slowing down will save a lot of problems. Prerigging your rods in your warm house helps. I also bring a blanket for the guy who doesn't have a console.

[ozarkgunner]

I forgot to mention the PIG bass I catch in the winter! Biggest bags of the year on the jerkbait!

[ozarkgunner]

Lake O is a great place to throw a megabass 110 in the winter. Hire a quality guide once and you will be on the fish all winter long.

[DChance]

good artilce.

looking forward to your article on locating bass in the winter.