Here in southern Maryland water temps are now in the mid to low 50s but I see some are still catching largemouth. Last one I caught (pictured) was in mid October. Since then I’ve been having a tough time. How do yall decide between switching up lure presentation or just the possibility that it’s too cold for a bite? And yes, of course I’m looking for any excuse to go fishing.
Posted by No_Habit_4966
9 Comments
Caught a couple through the ice last year.
I have had some of my best days in later winter with only the far north bay by the feeder creek free of ice, the rest of the lake still solid ice. Depends on time of year, body of water, and where the bait is.
It aint too cold, im in northeast ohio and guys are still catching tons of bass here and the water is in the mid 40s we have had one snow storm already this year
You can catch them year round with water at least into the low 40s, it just takes more patience. They won’t be spread out, they will be in tight schools and a fish may only open its mouth to eat once or twice a day.
I find small plastics (baby brush hogs, 3” senkos, small 3″ skinny profile tubes) fished on a dropshot rig consistently produce. If there is heavy cover on the bottom, you can always use a small texas rigged hook and still dropshot.
Suspending jerkbaits that match forage size work really well too. Experiment with the length of the pause until you get bit then stick with that for the rest of the day.
If they are deep, I like tubes on an exposed jig head. They work really well if you can fish them.
My one rule for winter fishing though – cold and clear to stained water, I fish. Cold and muddy, I leave the Triton parked and go coyote hunt. Those conditions are an exercise in frustration for me.
I live in mid coast Maine. Last week I caught 15 in a few hours. Air temp 38, water temp 41. I was killing it while it was snowing. You can catch them until it’s iced over and then you can catch them through the ice. The only time you can’t is when the ice is to dangerous but to solid to get anything floating through. I’m fishing weightless super flukes and 3/8 bladed swim jig. Same places and techniques as I do in June. Going tomorrow high of 41, it’ll be 31 when I start. I imagine I’ll catch a few. It’s never to cold to fish. Biggest fish of the year is always late Fall early Spring.
After the ice freezes but before you take out the tip ups
Never. I caught some ice fishing, so basically it’s more of a question of when is it too cold for you?
I caught a good sized one from the bank after I cast past about 10 feet of ice sliver’s undulating in the waves of the lake a few years ago. Had a couple of nice days in the middle of winter and one was a Saturday.
Never. I’ve caught them on teardrops with wax worms through the ice.