| You are an accomplished angler; you have caught | | | | Winter is dull and gray and the food source is as |
| several fish in the spring and summer months, | | | | well. Here is a rundown of what you should do |
| and now you want to try to fish in the winter. | | | | differently in winter: |
| You pick the spot that you know the fish like to | | | | Early winter bass fishing:o They are located at a |
| hang out in. You cast your line, and you wait. And | | | | depth of ten feet in the water.o Use a slow |
| wait. And eventually, cold and upset, you leave | | | | retrieve method.o Use non-neon soft plastic |
| and go home, no Bass for you tonight. Why is | | | | lures.o Use a split shot style of jig head style rig.o |
| this? Big mouth bass commonly have two serious | | | | Fishing on slightly warmer days can help the rate |
| changes in the winter - epilimniom and metabolism. | | | | at which the fish will eat. |
| The epilimniom is the depth at which the bass | | | | Mid to Late Winter:o Largemouth bass are |
| hover at which is roughly five feet deep in the | | | | hovering at ten feet of water, usually near a |
| spring and summer months. The weather | | | | structure.o Use a slow retrieve method.o Use |
| becomes cold and suddenly the bass sink to a | | | | small soft plastic lures in dull colors.o Use split shot |
| depth of ten or more feet deep. The bass will | | | | style or jig head style rig.o Fishing on slightly |
| typically hover at ten feet and near any structure | | | | warmer days will help the rate at which the fish |
| they can find. The fish need a happy medium of | | | | will eat. |
| oxygen and warmth and this is provided at the | | | | Now that you are armed with midwinter fish |
| ten foot depth. | | | | knowledge, it is important to remember the facts |
| The metabolism of largemouth bass also changes. | | | | - they are very different from the spring and |
| The water becomes cold and the fish become | | | | summer catch you enjoyed so thoroughly. These |
| lethargic and slow. This means they will not travel | | | | fish survive near freezing temperatures in a lake |
| far and wide for food, but actually just go for the | | | | all winter. By hovering at that ten foot depth it is |
| small things floating around them. By staying in | | | | much easier to catch the sustenance that they |
| one space for a long period of time the fish | | | | need and it is also imperative to make your lure |
| becomes very accustomed to its surroundings. | | | | appear to be idly floating by. Quick reactions will |
| Therefore, a change in fishing methods is needed; | | | | not suffice, the largemouth bass will simply not |
| you should make sure that your casting | | | | pursue it - it takes far too much energy. It is |
| movements are slow and lethargic like the big | | | | important to mirror their slow reactions - if you |
| mouth bass - anything quick will alarm the fish and | | | | move quickly they will not likely follow. Armed |
| it will not go for the bait. | | | | with these valuable winter bass fishing tips is likely |
| This also means an overall lure change from what | | | | to help you hook a big mouth bass in the elusive |
| you normally use in the spring; use soft plastic | | | | winter months. |
| lures or jig style smoke - but no neon colors. | | | | |