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Posted

I've read a lot  over the years of being a member of O.A.F. about winter smallmouth fishing. I thought I might give it a try this winter. I'm primarily interested in river fishing. Also I thought it might be a good idea to consolidate that information here since there really is no other site that can come close to the amount of experience that our forum members have.

Just a few questions to start:

1) What determines a good wintering location?

2) How do you think smallmouth and largemouth migrate?  Upstream or downstream? When do they start? Will they go through obstacles such as shallow runs to reach their wintering destinations?

3) Locations? Such as; south facing banks, bluff banks, middle of the rivers, etc.

4) Lures?

5) Weather and water conditions considered prime for winter fishing?

6) Prime times of the day?

 

Thanks for your input.

 

 

 

If fishing was easy it would be called catching.

Posted

I think one could write a book on this, with whole chapters for each of your questions.

But biology rules.  River bass have certain needs in the winter, some of which are different than what they need in warm weather.  Need number 1 is security.  They instinctively seem to know they are slower in cold water and more vulnerable to predators, and they also instinctively know that if a flood comes in cold water they need serious shelter from heavy current.  So, to satisfy the need for security, they seek out deep, slow water and/or overhead cover.  How deep is deep?  Not necessarily the deepest part of the river, just deep enough that in normal winter water clarity the bottom isn't clearly visible.  Of course, at times the water gets extremely clear in the winter, and then you might still be able to see the bottom in the deepest part of the river, which is where overhead cover comes in.  Overhead cover can be log tangles or big rocks with space beneath them.  They also like room to move--even if the water is fairly deep, if the pool is very short or the area of deep water very small, it would be like being in a bathtub instead of a swimming pool when some predator like a mink or otter gets after them.

The other often overlooked part of security is somewhere to get out of the current during a flood.  A straight, deep channel will not be as good a wintering pool as a pool with a backwater somewhere along it, or a small creek coming into it, or even just a notch in a bluff or a spot at the downstream end of a bluff that would become an eddy when the water is high.  I look not only at what's in the water in normal water, but also up on the banks to see if there is anywhere they could get out of the current if the river is 6 or 8 feet high.

Most, but far from all, good wintering pools are bluff pools, and it makes a difference which way the bluff faces.  South and west facing bluffs are better than east or north facing bluffs.  The rocks along the edge of south and west facing bluff pools soak up sunshine on winter days and although it might only make a degree or two of difference in water temps, the fish probably soak up sun, too, and are a little more likely to become active.  Maybe there are plenty of fish in the north and east facing bluff pools, but maybe they don't get as active on sunny winter days.

All other needs are secondary to security in the winter.  In the summer you look for good places for them to feed; shallower water areas nearby with water willow weed beds, riffle areas, cover in stronger current that makes good ambush points.  Not so in the winter.  They will move shallower to feed if they get active, but food is not as important to them then as security.

However, on larger streams, with large pools, they will NOT always been in the deepest, most cover laden part of the pool.  Active fish will roam along places like sand and gravel drop-offs on the side of the pool opposite the rocks, or up into big eddies near the riffle if there is some depth.  They just won't leave the pool, and they won't hang out in anything but gentle to very gentle current.

Finally, when it comes to wintering pools, it is never an exact science.  Some that look good seldom produce much, others that look marginal hold lots of fish.  Nothing beats time on the water, trying different places, anywhere that looks like it might hold fish (in other words, anyplace with some depth and very gentle current), until you figure out where you can catch some fish.

I'll stop there for now and let others chime in.

Posted

If you find an area like Al describes I love fishing it with jerk baits and they usual do well until the water gets really cold- like into the 40s.

I also will use the old fashion hair jig with a trailer. And last year I started using a smaller jig (a zig jig actually) under a bobber.

The jig and trailer you can throw out into deeper holes and let it sit. The hair moves in the lightest current and will draw strikes just sitting there. If  you feel a tick set the hook.

With the super clear water I will use nothing heavier than 10 lb fluorocarbon for the jerkbaits and hair jig and with the jig and bobber I will go with 6lb. I throw the jig and bobber around logs and boulders and let it float by and the bass will rise up and grab it. 

If we have some warm spells in December and January, like we usually do, I will throw a spinner bait in the shallower areas near the winter holes and have done well at times. Usually current seams where there is shallow water close to the deeper water especially around logs. I normally work it medium speed close to the cover. 

I also know some guys will keep right on fishing soft plastics and catch fish.

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Posted

Great info and insight.

Al you never disappoint. I think that info will help me find some fish. I have a couple of spots that I can get to in my kayak easily enough and a lot of the things you described are there.

Blazerman, I like your lure selection. Some of my favorites. The jig under a float would be a new rig for me, but I'm always game.

If fishing was easy it would be called catching.

Posted

To add to Blazerman's discussion of lures, one of the most important pieces of "tackle" you can have in cold weather is a water temp gauge of some kind.  Water temps will tell you which types of lures are most likely to produce well.  Here's my list of lures based upon water temps:

55-60 degrees

Almost anything...this is still spring and fall water temps.

50-55 degrees

Deep diving crankbaits, but don't reel them very fast

Suspending jerkbaits...different anglers have different preferences on jerkbaits, but my usual is a Lucky Craft Pointer 78.  I have a few others I like, and if the water has some color I'll go with a bigger one of a couple different brands, but in clear water I usually stick with the Pointer.

Slow rolling spinnerbaits

Various jigs and bottom bumping soft plastics

A Superfluke fished with a big split shot a foot or so up the line 

45-50 degrees

deep diving cranks but reeled VERY slowly once they get down

jerkbaits

the jigs and soft plastics

40-45 degrees

jerkbaits, but only in very clear water and fished with much longer pauses between jerks.  I'm an impatient angler and can't stand to let them sit for 20 seconds or more like a lot of guys do, but I'll let them sit as long as I can stand it.

Hair jigs

35-40 degrees

Hair jigs, not much else unless it's a very bright, sunny day.

Under 35 degrees, forget it.

 

Posted

Winter migration...we know from recent studies that a lot of smallmouth migrate surprisingly long distances to wintering pools.  One tagged fish was tagged in the late spring 10 miles up Courtois Creek, and caught the next winter 30 miles below the mouth of the Huzzah, meaning that it moved more than 40 miles.  And at least one was tagged in Courtois and caught UPSTREAM from the mouth of the Huzzah the next winter, meaning that fish headed downstream to the Meramec and then turned upstream.

But they don't all migrate long distances.  Some stay in the tributaries.  On the other other hand, the smaller the stream is, the less likely it is to be good winter fishing unless there is a good sized spring or two feeding it.  Personally, I believe that a lot of fish, especially small to medium size ones, don't go far, but find small, out of the way places where they can get FAR back under heavy cover, and basically go dormant for much of the winter.  They seldom come out unless there is a major warming trend or a warm rain heavy enough to raise the stream level.

As for weather and water conditions, cold muddy water it REALLY tough; cold, very clear water isn't easy.  Water with 3 or 4 feet of visibility is good, but not typical of winter conditions.  Rising water temps are better than falling or stable ones.  Sunny days are better than cloudy days, unless the water is extremely clear.  9 AM to 3 PM is prime time...though if you want a chance at a walleye or two along with your bass, go earlier and stay later.

Posted
13 hours ago, Buzz said:

Great info and insight.

Al you never disappoint. I think that info will help me find some fish. I have a couple of spots that I can get to in my kayak easily enough and a lot of the things you described are there.

Blazerman, I like your lure selection. Some of my favorites. The jig under a float would be a new rig for me, but I'm always game.

I have been using the LC Slender Pointer 112s for my jerkbaits and I also just bought some shadow Raps that I am looking forward to trying soon. 

The float and fly has been used for years by many people for lake and river bass in winter. And I have used it before for crappie and trout but just started using it last winter for stream bass. I was amazed at how a little jig like a zig jig would entice nice size bass. I have bought some different multi colored jigs for this year and I am looking forward to trying them too. 

Only problem is the way things are going we may not have cold water or winter fishing this year. Supposed to be in the 80s again today and tomorrow here in STL.

Posted

Hair jigs, jerk baits, and even soft plastics work all winter long. The best time for a big fish is after an unseasonably warmer rain. The murkiness helps them to be less spooky. If you can watch the current flow closely and find a spot where patches of foam are not moving, in about 4-6 FOW, thats typically a good big fish spot. I wouldnt worry so much about line diameter or pound test unless its ultra clear...even then, not so much. Just break off on a few giants and that will convince you. :)

"Honor is a man's gift to himself" Rob Roy McGregor

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