 Fishing
for bass during the late fall and winter months can be
a daunting task.
During the regular season there is identifiable structure
to fish. Vegetation in bloom and shaded areas offered
by the sun will produce fish during the heat of the day.
Winter, however, does not give you any of those visible
signs. So what do you do? Well, once again, you must turn
to your understanding of bass and its lifestyle during
these "lean months". When I use the word “lean,”
I am referring to the food chain, which can be drastically
reduced by the elements. Exceptionally cold weather can
kill smaller fish and aquatic life leaving bass only a
limited diet for 3 or 4 months. You will often hear bass
fishermen talk about the "big feed" prior to
winter, when bass will eat anything and everything to
carry them through till spring.
Bait selection at this time is critical. When in very
cold water, bass will move only a minimal distance for
food. The bait of choice has to be something that is
equal to or greater than the bass’ energy expenditure.
Compare this to your own lifestyle during the winter months.
You store up food and fuel to avoid unnecessary trips
to the store. Don’t you really hate clearing the driveway
and brushing the snow off your vehicle if its not absolutely
necessary? Well it's the same for a bass. Why should
the fish dash around for small items of food if this will
not compensate for the energy required to chase it down
and catch it?
Large slow moving baits are the key. Don't be afraid to
throw a 10" or 12" worm where you once threw
a 4" offering. Slowly retrieve the larger bait along
the bottom, inching it slowly back to shore. Large jigs
tipped with either plastic or pork trailers moved in a
similar fashion will also produce fish. You just have
to be patient. During summer this same bait should be
in and out of the water in 30 seconds. However with
the winter’s climate changes, you may now have to leave
the same bait in the water for 3 minutes! A good tip here
is to keep your soft plastic baits warm. I place a few
worms or crawfish imitations into a plastic bag and keep
them in my pocket. This keeps the bait flexible enabling
it to work well in frigid water temperatures. The same
practice applies for live bait. I often put mealworms,
night crawlers or maggots in a small container and keep
them in a pocket near my body. This prevents them from
freezing. Remember its small attention to detail that
will separate you from other fishermen when it comes to
catching fish during the winter.
The key to winter bass fishing is patience. That's not
an easy thing for us New Yorkers! But give it a try. Bring
some hot coffee and plenty of food for energy. Remember
to dress in layers. Hypothermia is a very nasty condition
which, from first hand experience, I do not recommend!
Tight Lines!
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