Winter fishing

[justfishing]

Advise for someone that has not every bass or crappie fished in the winter month's????  In the years pasted after September the boat would go up and not come back out until April or May. 

[Basschomper]

Bass= Jerkbait and a-rig

crappie= jigs in deeper brushpiles 25'- 40'. I have not ever tried it but I hear underneath schools of shad. 

[Walcrabass]

Justfishn,

   Mr. Bass Chomper is correct. I would like to add something from an old man that has done it for years. When the "Winter" truly settles in the Bass will find a place where they can slide up and down the water column and still relate to the bottom. I personally feel that when the water gets below 50 that this is when it takes affect. Not to say that a Jerk Bait won't catch one because it will. But it will be a LONG time between Jerks.

  For me these places are usually long sloping points, maybe even devoid of standing timber ( not devoid of brush piles or logs though) as they don't need much shade that time of year. This is when things that are crawled or scooted on the bottom will still catch fish. This includes..... Chatterbaits, Jigs, Swim Baits, Spoons, Spinnerbaits, A-Rigs, etc. For the Spinnerbaits I just pull them off the bottom to make them flutter and then let them back down. Same for the Chatterbaits and Spoons. For the A-Rigs just try to reel slowly and keep in contact with the bottom occasionally. For the Jigs ( My favorite) use Finesse with short trailers like Craws, Chunks, etc. Make your retrieve erratic but slow. Watch for "Dead Weight" on the line. If you feel it click on something it is probably a fish picking it up. Use colors that are drab like mottled browns, dull green pumpkins, etc. as this time of year most things swimming in the water are not very colorful. You may also need to use lighter weight Jigs to give a "softer" look to the motion of the Jig. There is nothing wrong with 1/4 or 3/8 oz. if the wind will allow. Can't have a bow in your line and feel a fish that barely is "feelable". This doesn't hurt as far as the fish picking it up either. If the water gets too cold you might need to fish with no skirt at all..... just the trailer.

 Finally...... keep you boat back..... the water gets clear and you can boat spook them.

Give it a try.... fish through the winter......keep your life jacket on as the cold water takes it's toll quickly. Make sure you drain all the water out of the boat AND MOTOR PROP TAIL END. Don't want to freeze up your tail end on the motor while it is in storage.

Still got a few "Winter Fishing Years" left in me,

Walcrabass

[justfishing]

Walcrabass, 

Thank you Sir for that input.  That's just what kinda  of info I am looking for. I don't mind working for fish in summer month but thought I would try and get some inside so hopefully I don't get discouraged. Thank for the concerns of a fisherman......

 

Thanks

Justfishing

 

[dan hufferd]

My plan is to fish all winter, at the very least have some experiences for every month of the year. I am really after at least one walleye for every month, either way it will be an adventure !

I will be focused on deep structure. If you are used to fishing the banks in the spring, fishing deep can be tough to get your head around, but once you get an understanding of it is really entertaining and productive.

Keep after it, I have much to learn this winter too.  

[CJFisherman74]

Hey quick question Walcrabass, 

I know you went into it alittle in your post but what exactly do you do to make sure all the water drains out of the motor prop tail end? I am nervous to take my boat out as the freezing temps arrive because I do not want to damage my outboard. I recently bought a boat and sold the kayak. If anyone else also has input it would be appreciated! 

Thanks!

[Skeeter ZX190]

I love jerkbait fishing in the wintertime.   One of my favorite techniques.  I primarily use a G Loomis bronzeback jerkbait rod with a Jonny Morris signature baitcast reel.  Spool it with 8 lb. mono.  I prefer Megabass Vision 110's.  Pro blue, or KGB are good for sunny days.  They are pricey, but I really like the action.  I tried the Rick Clunn knockoff, but I didn't think it had near the darting action.  I've never tried a Spro.  I have several Lucky Craft's but just have more confidence in a Megabass.   The key is location.  I try to find where the channel swings in toward the bank causing a much steeper bank.  45 degree angle or more.  Cast it close to the bank and jerk it 4 or 5 times to get it down, and then pause it for 10, 15, maybe as much as 30 seconds.  Give it 1 or 2 jerks and then let it pause again. Watch your line close.  You want to keep your line tight enough so any bite you can detect, but not so tight that it moves the bait.  

Another issue is water temp.  When the water gets below 39, I struggle to catch bass.  That's when I go looking for schooled up crappie.

Hope this helps.

[Walcrabass]

CJfisherman74,

  When I get  the boat on the trailer on dry land and with the tail end sloping downhill I let the motor all the way down to the ground and give it a 30 seconds for all the water to run out of the prop area. Then after raising the motor back up and arriving at home I repeat the process. I leave the motor down at home so water will not collect in it. Just don't forget to raise it before taking off again !!!

Skeeter,

  For me I have not found a great deal of difference in any of the better name brand Jerk Baits. After all, look how many Bass have fallen to the common Rogues. There is no way possible I could even guess at the number of Bass I have caught on Clown colored Rogues.I have had to mess with all of them to get them to act like I want. My buddies who have purchased the $30 ones have done the same on some of them. I have read where people actually put an extra coat of ..... whatever it is they coat them with.... to get them to suspend correctly. I use extra split rings, bigger split rings, different hooks, lead wire, or whatever it takes. Kind of funny when you look in my Jerk Bait boxes at how many of them have been messed with... they all catch fish. I personally feel that when the water is extremely cold it is better for the Jerk Bait to sink ever so slowly. Sometimes Fluorocarbon line is enough to do the trick. I know... some people say it coils bad when in cold water. Gotta buy the right kind and use it light enough. ( Not a paid advertisement but Seguar ain't bad)

As far as the Jerk sequence I think 15 to 30 seconds at 50 degrees, 30 seconds to a minute at 40 degrees. Remember complete slack in the line after the jerk for the bait do dart correctly. When the water is 50+ I actually use a 2 or 3 foot pull and pause instead of a Jerk a lot of times.

I have literally seen the time when certain fish could not move as the water was too cold. I still caught fish on Jigs that day. They will catch Bass when NOTHING ELSE will work.

The Old Timer,

Walcrabass

[justfishing]

thanks guy for your info. I have got to rebuild my lower unit on motor next couple of weeks and hopefully I do it right and I will get to do some fishing. I will let you all know how it goes. Again thanks 

 

Justfishing

[Walcrabass]

Justfishing,

  Sorry to hear about the lower unit. I am certainly no mechanic but I have been told they are tough to work on. Good Luck to you !!!! When you are back on the water let us know how you do with your Winter Fishing !!!

Walcrabass