Cold Weather Tactis for Big Fish
by Ken Sturdivant
Southern Fishing Schools Inc.
Water temperatures drop during
the winter and while the bass cannot feel the cold water, they do react
to it. Instead of chasing their food as they do in warm weather, bass,
crappie and stripers have to expend only the energy needed to catch
food. Fast moving baits will be all but ignored. This is the time to
get out
the very small or very large crawler baits.
In clear water game fish
can see their food and inspect it easily. Light line and small baits
are the
rule in the dead of winter. Many anglers even go to light to medium
spinning reels for the game fish. This lighter tackle is easier to
use in the winter
and small baits can be fished much deeper. Even 6 pound test line
and lighter can work to get baits to the depths the fish are holding
at.
Baits need
to be small compared to the larger baits of spring and summer.
Depths are critical and missing the fish by only two feet can make the
difference
in success and failure.
In muddy water with temperatures below
50 degrees, stay home. All freshwater game fish do not feed in this
cold muddy
water.
For bass, use small pencil style worms or the small Bass Pro
Shops Squirt tube baits on light line. When the water gets cold, the
bass
will not chase
big baits. Instead, bass will take smaller baits patiently placed
in front of the bass. Even the French fry style worms and the drop
shot
rig with
light weights and small hooks can get soft strikes
For stripers
use small all white buck tail jigs, small grubs, small live baits
and small
spoons.
Stripers still need to eat in the winter and look for these
fish to
take the smaller baits more readily. For crappie, go to the small
mini tube
jigs,
light lead heads to 1/32 of an ounce
and 4 pound test line.
