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When the temperatures drop, bass becomes more lethargic, and fishing requires patience and different tactics than in other seasons. It doesn’t mean it’s impossible; it simply requires different skills.
You can challenge your skills and attract fish by looking for deeper water and mimicking their smaller, slower-moving prey.
This article explores tips for adjusting your fishing techniques and adapting to winter fishing. Now, let’s dive in and start catching bass.
How Do You Fish for Bass in the Winter?
It’s important to understand that winter changes how you catch bass because colder water makes them more lethargic. Here are some tips to help you bass fish in winter!
1. Look For Deep Water
When winter comes, the bass hang out in deeper water with a more stable and consistent temperature. Look for steep banks and deep channels, where they’ll often be suspended in the water column.
2. Look For Vertical Structures and Large Rocks
Look for vertical structures such as large rocks, dock pilings, or steep banks. The fish tend to move vertically through the water, so vertical structures near deep water are perfect fishing spots.
3. Find the Warmest Water
On windy days, look for calm water; on sunny days, look for shallower areas or dark bottoms. These areas will heat up and retain heat better than others, and fish there will be more active.
4. Downsize Baits and Lures
Cooler temperatures mean lower metabolic rates, so fish are less active and less likely to feed, making lure and bait selection critical. Presenting a realistic and appealing lure is the best way to do this.
You want to mimic their prey, which is smaller and less active in the winter. Choose small lures and use baits with subtle action. If you are fishing in clear water, try choosing more natural colors.
Some great ones to try are suspending jerkbaits, finesse worms, hair jigs, shakyhead jigs, curly tail grubs, and Ned rigs.
While artificial baits are popular, some people swear by using jumbo minnows as live bait. If you use live bait, keeping them at the right temperature without letting them freeze is essential, which you can do using a portable refrigerator. When you reel your catch, you can store it in the freezer side of your EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator.
According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, freezing food to 0°F is the safest way to store it. And if your catch won’t fit? It also makes ice cubes you can use to store your extra fish.
Since the EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator lasts up to 40 hours wirelessly on a full charge, there’s no need to carry a generator to run it. However, on an extended trip, you can recharge it with your EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro + 220W Solar Panel and keep it going for days.
5. Slow and Steady Retrieve
Remember that bass move much slower since their metabolic rate is slower. This means they won’t want to spend energy chasing fast-moving prey. They are likelier to bite opportunistically on slow-moving prey that subtly present themselves.
It means finding where the fish are, making precise casts close to where they are holding, and using a slow and steady retrieve to increase your likelihood of catching a bite.
6. Utilize Electronics
To help you find the fish, you could use your electronic fish finders or GPS to locate them beneath the surface or to find their preferred habitats.
When using electronics, you’ll need a portable solar generator. With so many models, deciding what size you need may be challenging.
However, when fishing, you want compact models over high-capacity models that will be harder to carry and weigh your boat down. The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max + 160W Solar Panel is the perfect choice with its 512Wh capacity and 160W solar panel that you can use to recharge it. It’s also lightweight at only 13.4 lbs (6.07kg).
7. Tactical Fishing Strategies
Since fish are less likely to bite in cold water, we must entice them. In addition to a slow and steady retrieve, try slow vertical jigging with jigging spoons to coax the fish into biting. Position your boat over the fishing target and drop it straight down. The depth can vary, but about 20 feet is recommended.
Another strategy uses finesse tactics like Ned Rigs and hair jigs to help those lethargic bass bite. Their subtle representations can mimic lethargic winter prey well. You can also try slowly crawling and hopping your lures across the bottom.
8. Where to Fish in Low-Light Conditions
If you are fishing at dusk or nighttime, look for permanent light sources, like docks, piers, and bridges with lights on them. Baitfish congregate in these areas, so the bass will linger just outside the light areas.
You’ll want LED lights on your boat, or bring LED lanterns, flashlights, or headlamps so you don’t stumble in the dark. You’ll also want a small portable power station like the EcoFlow RIVER 3 to keep your lights running or recharge your lanterns. It weighs only 7.8lbs so it won’t weigh you down.
9. Dress For the Weather
Dressing appropriately for the weather is crucial for staying warm so you can focus on fishing. Good layers are key. If you get warm, you can remove layers but not put on layers you didn’t bring.
Start with thermal pants and shirts as a base layer, then add warm fleece pants and a long-sleeve shirt. Top that with a fleece vest, and finally, add a layer of rain gear, whether it’s raining or not, since it will block the wind and keep you dry.
10. Practice Patience
Unlike spring or fall, when fish are feisty, fish are slow in the winter. Be patient, and don’t give up on a good spot because you don’t get a bite in the first 5-10 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Suspending jerk baits are especially popular in winter because they imitate distressed shad. Use slower retrieval speeds since the fish are more lethargic and won’t want to waste energy on fast-moving prey.
It will depend on the location and its unique conditions. However, look for bass in deeper water between 10 to 20 feet where the temperature is warmer and more stable.
When it’s cold, bass metabolism slows down, especially when the water is below 47°F. While some say below 40°F is just too cold, they will still bite; it just gets increasingly more difficult to entice them.
Final Thoughts
Winter bass fishing offers a unique opportunity to sharpen your skills and adapt to different fishing tactics. Focusing on deeper, warmer waters, using slower retrieves, and opting for smaller, realistic baits will increase your chances of success. Vertical jigging and finesse tactics can help coax those sluggish winter bass into biting.
Using fishfinders and your EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max + 160W Solar Panel will ensure you can find those fish. Now, embrace the patience and persistence required for winter fishing and enjoy a rewarding catch.