Kim City - Feb 6 - Deep fishing in February

[Dock-in-it]

I fished deep this morning and it appears the deep bite is changing. The fish are scattered, constantly on the move and using every part of the water column (5ft to 60ft). When you find winter fish grouped up you can catch a limit in minutes, but when they are scattered it can take multiple hrs. I had 4 keepers this morning in a 3 hr trip.

In February of 2022, from Feb 7 thru Feb 11 (3 hrs per day ) I had 52 keepers because I found them grouped up, then I struggled during the remainder of February because they were scattered. In early Feb 2022, the water level and water temp were about the same as we have today.

Today, the 3/8 Damiki worked best because you can use it vertical or as a swim bait. I mainly used it as a swim bait because the deep vertical fish were moving to fast. I was around trees most of the morning and stayed in 30 to 60 FOW.

The A-Rig guys can do pretty good when the fish are scattered, especially around trees. 

Also, I am trying to find a deep bait that can be fished directly underneath the center of the boat (while the boat is still). 

WT 46

[Quillback]

Nice fish!  It is good to have challenges, fishing would get boring if we caught a 5 lber on every cast.  😃

[crazy4fishin]

Quill - that is a problem I would like to have...along with what I would do with all of the lottery $$$$

C4F

[rps]

On 2/6/2023 at 3:11 PM, Dock-in-it said:

I fished deep this morning and it appears the deep bite is changing. The fish are scattered, constantly on the move and using every part of the water column (5ft to 60ft). When you find winter fish grouped up you can catch a limit in minutes, but when they are scattered it can take multiple hrs. I had 4 keepers this morning in a 3 hr trip.

In February of 2022, from Feb 7 thru Feb 11 (3 hrs per day ) I had 52 keepers because I found them grouped up, then I struggled during the remainder of February because they were scattered. In early Feb 2022, the water level and water temp were about the same as we have today.

Today, the 3/8 Damiki worked best because you can use it vertical or as a swim bait. I mainly used it as a swim bait because the deep vertical fish were moving to fast. I was around trees most of the morning and stayed in 30 to 60 FOW.

The A-Rig guys can do pretty good when the fish are scattered, especially around trees. 

Also, I am trying to find a deep bait that can be fished directly underneath the center of the boat (while the boat is still). 

WT 46

You probably already know this and use one, but a jigging rap moves, when vertically jigged, in a circle large enough to be under the center of the boat when you jig it at the side.