Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

[Barn]

Hi, I have never tried fishing in the cold. it is about 39'F here. Illinois! I have been out on the lake trying. Not any bites. I was using jigs, and lewers. Gonna try chicken Liver and Night crawlers tomorrow. want to catch Bass, crawpy, Catfish, pike, <br /> If anyone has any tips, I would be happier than a lark. Nothing like sitting there for 3 hours and not getting a bite Eh?<br /> Thanks: Barn.

 

[Barn]

Re: Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

I forgot to ask about how deep should I be trying in this weather? Should I be working the bottoms, or the top in the cold?<br /> Thanks: Barn

 

[RTDcanuck]

Re: Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

Fishing when it's colder usually doesn't half to be near weeds or cover because theres lots of oxygen in the lake when it's colder therefore fish don't have to stay around the weeds and greenery to find oxygen fish normally when it's cold are less active so use baits that aren't as quick (avoid spinners). You'll wanna use baits that can can get down deeper, you may even need a down rigger. I hope this will help if you need more help just leave another message asking me k. Best of luck

<br /><br />------------------<br />9((~< Canuck friends of fisherman everywhere!!

 

[NotoriusPIG]

Re: Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

I always thought fish liked the weed beds for cover to ambush from. Or does that apply more to pike and large mouth?

 

[MITCH WELCH]

Re: Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

39'F - Ouch! that's cold. You failed to mention the water temp. The water temp. will be the determining factor in what type fish and procedure you should use to catch them. Overall, the colder the water the more sluggish the fish will be. Anytime the water temp. gets below 45 degrees it's going to be tough to catch those critters. During the winter the fish will tend to stack up together. If you can find em', you can catch em'. During the winter months the tough part of fishing is finding them. Without a fish finder you're going to have a tough time finding them. To catch the elusive largemouth you need to fish slow during the winter months s-l-o-w. The bass will be suspended over ledges, on the end of points, around bridges. They'll also be deep this time of year. I would start by looking at the end of points were they drop off from about 20 to 30 ft. If the water temp. is in the 50 to 60 degree range I'd start at the mouth of a big creek and work my way back - concentrating in the 5 to 12 ft. depths (just running from point to point). Your best choice of lures during the winter months is the jigging spoon, jig, and crankbait. You may also want to try slow rolling a spinnerbait on the bottom at the ends of points. The bass are not going to be very active so pay attention to what's happening at the end of your line (most of the time you may only feel a light tic). Now, the pike is going to be a little more aggressive in the colder water than the largemouth and you can usually catch him using the same tactics you would use for largemouth. The key to catching fish is finding the baitfish - that's were a good fish finder will be necessary. The baitfish will appear as clouds on your screen. This time of year they will be suspended. Normally the bass will be under them and in them if they're feeding, but remember they do not feed as often under cold water conditions. If you get a few days of nice weather and the water warms by a few degrees the fish may move up on the humps, points, and ledges and you won't have to go so deep to find them. Just remember, the fish are going to be harder to find during the winter months, but once you find them - you should be able to catch them if you fish s-l-o-w!

 

[ajp]

Re: Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

We don't start fishing until the temp drops. Went out Dec 14, 2001. Caught 46 blue cats on juglines. Largest was 33 lbs. Smallest 4lbs. Dec 27, Rod and reel 18 channel cats from 8pm-12am at night. 5 over 9 lbs. <br />Going this weekend after blues at Keystone lake in Oklahoma, High temps to be in the low 40s. Catfish move to the shallow flats in the winter to feed on shad. We catch them in 10-15' water. <br /><br />Summer is for golf and water skiing, winter is for fishing. <br /><br />Works for me. <br /><br />Arlan<br /><br />PS - You have to be a little crazy. But you don't have to worry about someone beating you to the best fishing spot. We have the whole lake to ourselves.

 

[singerjr]

Re: Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

Yea but Cats are Cool! <br /><br />No better cat fisin than when water is below 40 deg.

 

[katfish]

Re: Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

Flathead catfish don't feed till the water is warm. They do feed at night which helps keep you out of boat traffic and water skiers <br /><br />

<br /><br />I am quite happy to catch one fish a night if I can maintain quality size cats.<br /><br />

<br /><br />Sometimes I get lucky and get more <br /><br />

<br /><br />I catch all my cats on rod and reel and release them after weighing and photos.<br /><br />Katchaser

 

[Newhook]

Re: Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

To the Cat-fisher:<br /><br />How do you have daylight photos of your fish when you catch them at night?<br /><br />How do you keep 4 fish alive for a photo and release them?<br /><br />was your statement that you release tongue in cheek?

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

i'm holding a cold brew in my hand, so forgive me if i get to loud... i absolutely don't wanna step on anyone's toes, just throwin my 2c in...<br />this reply is for the main topic <and> the posts... it looks like katfish has pics of far apart yrs in the photos, but then... hey, does anyone wanna post somthin better? i'd hafta say, he knows the patterns of the cats, and he proves it with those 4 fish. maybe my eyes are bad, but those cats eyes look like they're all alive, and knowing how they can live inna mudhole for 3days, i imagine they could've been released to live for 10 more yrs...<br />as for cold water, you got lotsa info. i'd add that the water has more Oxy, the fish are more sluggish, but don't think of a certain temp for the whole fishing world. remember, fish acclimate to their home, so 39 may = 52 in Georgia. DO pay attn to the specific temps for 'changes' - but only accdg to you local water. if in IL the 39 is a hot topic, then maybe its time to look for pre-spawning fish, as in- going up in the coves, but certainly not on the banks. i guess the hardest thing that it took me to understand was the diff in 1 cove to the next, if you get my drift...

 

[derwood]

Re: Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

those are'nt catfish those are water buffalo. good god man what are you useing for bait, deer?

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

katfish man, i'm killing myself trying to guesstimate those 4 fish... judging by the leaves in the front, heres my est. (pls give the #'s)<br />25(he's skinny)<br />20<br />30-40(fat one)<br />30?- do you remember? (just having fun guessing)

 

[Dman]

Re: Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

Try a jig and minnow. Or a big sucker under a slip bobber for Northern. Slow is the key for crappies. <br />Dman

 

[JEllwanger]

Re: Bait for cold weather? Ideas on areas?

If you're in IL try the Illinois River, Rock River, etc during the winter. Use a good local guide the first few times. One of my favorite places is the Rock just below the Oregon dam. Went the day after Christmas a couple of years ago and did some nice walleye and sauger, even a big drum. The fishing is easy along the back eddies, the river doesn't flow very quickly, and its easy to control the boat. We switch to smallies in the summer. Nice little town, too.