Winter Fishing Isn't Dead Fishing (You're Just Doing It Wrong)

Every November, half the anglers in America put their rods in the garage and say "fish don't bite in winter." Meanwhile, the other half are catching some of the biggest fish of the year in peace and quiet. Guess which half I'm in.

Fish are cold-blooded. Their metabolism slows in cold water. They eat less and move less. But they still eat. And because fewer anglers are on the water, the fish that remain are less pressured than at any other time of year. Winter fishing rewards patience, precision, and the willingness to bundle up.

What Cold Water Does to Fish

• Metabolism drops — fish need fewer calories, so they eat less often. But when they do eat, they want an easy meal.
• Movement decreases — bass might move 10 feet in a day versus 100 feet in summer. They park on structure and wait for food to come to them.
• Grouping increases — cold water fish stack up on the best structure. Find the right spot and you find multiple fish.
• Deep water dominance — most species hold in the deepest available structure where temperature is most stable.

Winter Fishing by Species

Bass (Water 45-55F)

Bass group on deep structure — bluff walls, channel ledges, deep brush piles, and bridge pilings. They won't chase fast-moving lures, so go slow and vertical:

• Jerkbait (suspending) — the number one winter bass lure. Cast it out, twitch-pause-twitch with LONG pauses (5-15 seconds). Let the lure just hang there.
• Blade bait (Silver Buddy style) — vertical jigging on deep structure. Lift and flutter. Deadly on schooling winter bass.
• Hair jig or finesse jig — small, slow, natural. Drag it at a snail's pace near deep cover.

Crappie (Winter Gold)

Winter crappie fishing might be the best-kept secret in the sport. Crappie stack up in deep brush piles and standing timber between 15-25 feet. Vertical jig with 1/16 oz jigs or tiny minnows. Find the school and you can catch dozens.

Panfish

Bluegill and sunfish group in 8-15 feet of water near bottom structure. Small jigs tipped with wax worms or red worms under a slip bobber. Fish slowly — winter panfish won't chase, but they'll sip a bait that's right in front of their face.

Winter Fishing Comfort

You can't fish well if you're miserable. Stay warm with:

• Base layer — moisture-wicking thermals (not cotton)
• Insulating layer — fleece or down
• Outer layer — wind/waterproof jacket and pants
• Extremities — wool socks, waterproof boots, fingerless gloves with flip-over mittens, warm hat
• Hand warmers — cheap chemical warmers in your pockets save your hands between casts

The Winter Advantage

Why bother fishing in winter? Three reasons:

1. Fewer anglers — you'll have the best spots to yourself
2. Bigger average size — cold water fish that bite tend to be quality fish because they're the ones actively feeding
3. Skill development — fishing tough conditions makes you a better angler in every other season

Find the right cold-water presentation with our bait and lure selector, and tie your best knots even with cold fingers using our knot guide.