With the ending of summer, you may have started putting away your rods for the winter. Colder temperatures may seem like the end of bass fishing, but that’s not completely true. While there is less bass to be caught in the winter, the cold temperatures do not affect bass as much as people think.
The cold weather slows the metabolism of fish making them decrease their need for food. However, there still will be fish that bite – just at a lower percentage than during the summer.
All you need to find the bass is a different approach to fishing, and this guide will help you get there.
Finding the Best Location
When the mercury drops, bass go deep. Bass fish tend to be in deeper waters during the winter to keep warm. However, they will move to more shallow waters when they’re searching for food. Therefore, humps and underwater islands are great places to start looking for bass as they have both deep and shallow water close by. If you also know of areas where fish generally are during other seasons, you should head there first and then find deeper water around that area to find a bass hot spot.
Picking the Right Lure
Lures for winter bass fishing directly contrast what you would normally use during the summer months. You will want to opt for bottom-hugging baits and slow-moving lures. Football-head jigs and hair jigs work best in cold waters because they look like crawfish. You should pick a color that looks like the crawfish of the area – generally green or brown hues. Since bass are generally slower in the cold, you will want to move the jigs slowly along the bottom of the water to make the fish think that it’s a prey that is easy to catch.
Staying Safe and Warm
An important thing to remember is to keep warm when you’re fishing in the winter. You should make a plan of where you’re going beforehand and make sure you tell people where you are. If you’re camping, be sure to pick out a winter hunting tent with thicker canvas to keep your warm. Also, be sure to dress in at least three layers of clothing so that you can stay warm throughout the entire day. Put your final layer on when you arrive to the lake to preserve the heat and use hand warmers and gloves.
The end of summer does not have to be the end of bass fishing. As long as you switch up your technique, you can still reel in the big catch during the cold, winter months.
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