The winter blues ... 2024
Ksam1234 reply :
The winter blues are starting to set in. Everyone up north knows what I mean . In about a month all this open water becomes hard water and we just have to say dream about spring ! anyone else going threw this yet?
Koz reply :
I know what you mean. It was chilly here today. The temperature only got up to 75 degrees. ????
Ksam1234 reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 5:54 AM, Koz said:I know what you mean. It was chilly here today. The temperature only got up to 75 degrees. ????
I’m not laughing 
.. it was 35 this morning here today .. high of 43 though !!
Gundog reply :
I've been starting to feel the depression set in for that last 2 weeks. I've pulled out some of my tackle trays and have been scanning the web for tackle deals. Yup, its over for this year.
Ksam1234 reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 6:09 AM, Gundog said:I've been starting to feel the depression set in for that last 2 weeks. I've pulled out some of my tackle trays and have been scanning the web for tackle deals. Yup, its over for this year.
I do the same! I’ll make a cart checkout like 6 times of things I’m just looking for. Go over and over of all my tackle and clean stuff
Harold Scoggins reply :
I hibernate (take a lot of naps) and dream about fishing.
N Florida Mike reply :
Dang. Im just glad summer's finally over .
papajoe222 reply :
I have five days left before the lakes here close, so I’m not there yet. Talk to me in a couple of weeks when i have to deal with no fishing AND no baseball. Better yet, talk to my wife
She’s the one that gets ghe brunt if it.
MassYak85 reply :
Look at the bright side, ice fishing season is just around the corner ????
I usually take the few weekends between open water and ice season to clean my gear anyways so there's always something at least fishing-related that I can do.
Ksam1234 reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 7:13 AM, MassYak85 said:Look at the bright side, ice fishing season is just around the corner ????
I usually take the few weekends between open water and ice season to clean my gear anyways so there's always something at least fishing-related that I can do.
I don’t do ice fishing.. not a fan of the - degree temps and the ice just scares me !
Russ E reply :
was on a local army corps reservoir today and the surface temp was 58 degrees.
we have open water most of the year. The 2 local power plant lakes always have open water.
in my area deer bow season lasts from the end of September through January.
January is doe only, but it is a good time to fill the freezer.
I honestly don't even start deer hunting until mid November.
after checking my camera tonight I may have to start hunting a little earlier.
if I get the fishing itch in January or February, I will head to one of the power plant lakes. By the end of February the cold water lakes are usually fishable.
Edited by Russ Eadd photo
MassYak85 reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 7:26 AM, Ksam1234 said:I don’t do ice fishing.. not a fan of the - degree temps and the ice just scares me !
You mean you don't like your heart jumping out of your chest when a stress crack shoots across the entire lake ????
It's definitely not for everyone, for whatever reason I just get a totally different thrill seeing a flag on an ice trap go up than I do open water fishing.
slonezp reply :
Still have soft water. Going crappie fishing in the morning
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
In South Ga I thought high 50's was getting ridiculously cold. Now I feel guilty
Ksam1234 reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 8:05 AM, NittyGrittyBoy said:In South Ga I thought high 50's was getting ridiculously cold. Now I feel guilty
Oh yeah I wish that was our cold. We will get into the negatives sometimes with wind chill factor, and @MassYak85 that would give me a heart attack !!
Koz reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 7:01 AM, papajoe222 said:I have five days left before the lakes here close, so I’m not there yet. Talk to me in a couple of weeks when i have to deal with no fishing AND no baseball.
Sorry to hear all of that. Other than restrictions on a few rivers, fishing season doesn't end here. But in a few weeks the weather will take a turn and we will rarely see the sun between December and the end of February. Our winters are gray, windy, and damp or rainy. Temperatures are between the mid 30's and mid 50's although we get some days in the 20's and mid 60's. Fishing is hit and miss in December and January, but we usually manage to get out there a few times.
While the MLB season will be over, I coach travel ball and my son plays so we'll have a few tournaments and be working out over the winter. My son is only in the 7th grade, but he has a good shot at playing for the high school JV team next spring if he can transition from pitching from 54 feet to 60 feet. I don't think he's ready for that big a jump but he wants to give it a try.
Sam reply :
Ksam, winter is a great time to organize, clean up, repair and service all of your fishing tackle and baits; change out treble hooks; take inventory; and make plans for next year.
Great way to spend a winter day organizing baits and taking the line off of your spools as you release the drag and spool tension on each reel and watch the Giants or Islanders on TV.
You have time to check all rod guides; wash off the rods in the shower; take inventory of what you need when the after Christmas sales hit us; look over your maps and make notes as to what you remember about the waters you fish; and have all reels serviced by a professional, etc.
So we can't be on the water but we can have some fun with our tackle when it is cold and gloomy outside. Its fun and you may be surprised at what you can find that you forgot you had.
Topwaterdude reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 6:50 AM, N Florida Mike said:Dang. Im just glad summer's finally over .
It was a brutal summer here in Florida as always but now it's nice and cool in the 80's
Oregon Native reply :
Many times I hear .... What am I thankful for.....
I'm thankful I don't live up North....although it is pretty to visit.
Catt reply :
Ice belongs in your tea not on the ground. ????
Ksam1234 reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 6:59 PM, Catt said:Ice belongs in your tea not on the ground. ????
Lol I like this one and I agree ! And thanks @Sam that’s what I try and do. I stay on here and help others out. Go over tackle boxes and re arrange things to get ready for Next year. Stocking up on soft plastics etc. I just can’t wait for spring now! Favorite time of the year
Sam reply :
lonnie g reply :
not that bad yet here in Indiana, but is starting to get a little chilly, I don't think the weather is the probable any more as much as me, the older I get the whimpier, I don't like cold any more. I think its the old thing
LuffDaddy reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 5:47 AM, Ksam1234 said:The winter blues are starting to set in. Everyone up north knows what I mean . In about a month all this open water becomes hard water and we just have to say dream about spring ! anyone else going threw this yet?
Move down here to Florida!
soflabasser reply :
I thought I was going to read about fishing for blue catfish in the winter and instead it is about the northern winter.
On 10/27/2018 at 7:13 AM, MassYak85 said:Look at the bright side, ice fishing season is just around the corner ????
I usually take the few weekends between open water and ice season to clean my gear anyways so there's always something at least fishing-related that I can do.
Ice fishing sounds fun and it is on my bucketlist of things to try.
Ksam1234 reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 10:38 PM, LuffDaddy said:Move down here to Florida!
My buddy is moving down to Florida keys this weekend! So now I have a friend to visit .. and area to fish most of all haha
soflabasser reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 11:30 PM, Ksam1234 said:My buddy is moving down to Florida keys this weekend! So now I have a friend to visit .. and area to fish most of all haha
There is very good fishing in the keys and the best part is you can catch very nice fish from the shore.
Gundog reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 11:48 PM, soflabasser said:There is very good fishing in the keys and the best part is you can catch very nice fish from the shore.
Last time I was in the keys I saw people fishing on the defuncted Seven Mile railroad bridge. I was tempted to try it myself but decided just to get to Key West for some drinking and carousing.
Paul Roberts reply :
Came early this year. Really early. It'll bounce back a little bit, but it'll be more like a prolonged "late-fall/winter" kind of October here.
Working on a video about it, since we don't often get weather changes so drastic. My question was: Will the October crankbait bite hold, or will it tank. Heck, it IS October... isn't it? I fish the first day fishing history -"October"; I fish the next fishing "conditions". The fact that I had to adjust the second day says a lot about what "Fall" and "Winter" actually are to the fish. Yeah, I'm a curious sort. And willing to be a pig for punishment just to settle that curiosity. 
MassYak85 reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 10:41 PM, soflabasser said:I thought I was going to read about fishing for blue catfish in the winter and instead it is about the northern winter.
Ice fishing sounds fun and it is on my bucketlist of things to try.
It's a different kind of fun (at least to me) but I enjoy it. I make the switch to live bait for ice fishing though, 95% of the time it's with ice tilts when I go.
Catt reply :
Catt waiting on winter to end ????
soflabasser reply :
On 10/28/2018 at 8:34 AM, MassYak85 said:It's a different kind of fun (at least to me) but I enjoy it. I make the switch to live bait for ice fishing though, 95% of the time it's with ice tilts when I go.
I have not ice fished yet but it seems like a lot of fun from the YouTube videos I have seen. I will gladly use live bait as well for ice fishing, especially if it means catching a nice muskie, pike, or lake trout. What do you usually fish for when you ice fish?
On 10/28/2018 at 12:44 AM, Gundog said:Last time I was in the keys I saw people fishing on the defuncted Seven Mile railroad bridge. I was tempted to try it myself but decided just to get to Key West for some drinking and carousing.
Be careful in key west, there are some shady people there especially at night.The fishing part of the seven mile bridge is good for snapper, jacks, barracuda, sharks, and other species of fish.
MassYak85 reply :
On 10/28/2018 at 11:48 AM, soflabasser said:I have not ice fished yet but it seems like a lot of fun from the YouTube videos I have seen. I will gladly use live bait as well for ice fishing, especially if it means catching a nice muskie, pike, or lake trout. What do you usually fish for when you ice fish?
Whatever will bite honestly. I usually just get some decent sized shiners and can get some nice bass and pickerel. Some guys, I like to call them the "swimbait fisherman" of the ice fishing world, will take MASSIVE shiners (like 8") and put them under tilts for pike and trophy bass.
soflabasser reply :
On 10/28/2018 at 11:57 AM, MassYak85 said:Whatever will bite honestly. I usually just get some decent sized shiners and can get some nice bass and pickerel. Some guys, I like to call them the "swimbait fisherman" of the ice fishing world, will take MASSIVE shiners (like 8") and put them under tilts for pike and trophy bass.
Sounds like a lot of fun and I would like to try that on one of my fishing vacations up north. You can put me in that same group of ''ice fishing swimbait fisherman'' since I would also use big live bait for a big muskie,northern pike,lake trout,or northern strain largemouth bass.
jbmaine reply :
The winter blues are coming this way for sure. When I was younger I enjoyed ice fishing, but now I'm more like this,LOL
Ksam1234 reply :
On 10/28/2018 at 7:30 PM, jbmaine said:The winter blues are coming this way for sure. When I was younger I enjoyed ice fishing, but now I'm more like this,LOL
Looks like I have to invest into a fish tank haha ! I guess one good thing to is I get to save money during winter since I don’t buy anything fishing related , only day is Black Friday sale but other than that I’m bait monkey free
NorthernBasser reply :
Winter blues definitely setting in here in WI. Our river fishing is open year round, so I'll usually get back out in late March.
I tell myself every year at this time that I'm going to move south a bit. Hasn't happened yet.
Ksam1234 reply :
On 10/28/2018 at 11:00 PM, NorthernBasser said:Winter blues definitely setting in here in WI. Our river fishing is open year round, so I'll usually get back out in late March.
I tell myself every year at this time that I'm going to move south a bit. Hasn't happened yet.
Yeah luckily in Ny you can actually legally fish all year round. I can’t imaginr some places where you have to wait even with open water
scaleface reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 7:26 AM, Ksam1234 said:and the ice just scares me !
Me too . I tried ice fishing once last winter . The ice was popping like a gun and the water in the hole was going up and down . I couldnt do it .
Alan Reed reply :
Stil fishing here and we have another tournament scheduled for the weekend before thanksgiving. Try to hold out as long as we can before we pack it up for the year.
What I think is the toughest time is after the first of the year when all the shows are happening, you are talking fishing, equipment is prepared and ready but the water is completely iced over.
GReb reply :
Spent the last week in the Denver area. Several lakes are closing for the season Wednesday. I actually felt bad for the few guys out there squeezing the last weekend. I couldn’t imagine only being allowed to fish 6 months of the year
Ksam1234 reply :
On 10/29/2018 at 10:06 AM, GReb said:Spent the last week in the Denver area. Several lakes are closing for the season Wednesday. I actually felt bad for the few guys out there squeezing the last weekend. I couldn’t imagine only being allowed to fish 6 months of the year
Yeah that would be horrible .. I feel the pain though as usually by December the lakes are frozen and don’t unfreeze until around April .. so we get about 4-5 months of no fishing
Paul Roberts reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 6:59 PM, Catt said:Ice belongs in your tea not on the ground. ????
How bout in your rod guides? In case it ever happens to you, know that above about 27F the ice in the guides is still soft enough to fish through. Below that, or with wind chill, you gotta chip that ice out every few casts. I've fished for steelhead in super-cooled rivers in single digit air temps. I had to pop my flies, or bait, in my mouth to thaw them enough to get a few casts in. You make iced tea, we make lemonade up here.
The Bassman reply :
On 10/28/2018 at 11:55 PM, scaleface said:Me too . I tried ice fishing once last winter . The ice was popping like a gun and the water in the hole was going up and down . I couldnt do it .
That's actually when the ice is the safest. Quiet ice can mean trouble.
scaleface reply :
On 10/29/2018 at 5:06 PM, The Bassman said:That's actually when the ice is the safest. Quiet ice can mean trouble.
What about the water moving up and down in the hole ?
GrumpyOlPhartte reply :
This may have been the most depressing fall ever. Started off with a bang, For my 70th birthday my wife had saved up her pin money all year and bought me a Pelican Catch 100. Love the wider, sit-on-top style with slightly elevated seat ... although the Old Geezer Strap will have to be lengthened. She also bought me an automatic/manual PFD because it “matched” the yak color. But ... from there things went downhill in a hurry.
First, I can attest to the performance of an Onyx A/M | 24 PFD! Through a combination of overconfidence, my natural grace, and a slime-coated rock; I performed an inadvertent yak quick dismount and even though the water was less than knee deep, the resultant rather impressive splash lit that puppy up with no problem!! (Side note: the PFD lists for $160.00 but the local DSG was selling them for $109.00. Spare arming kit lists for $29.99 but DSG sells them for $24.95 and since my kit was hanging on the rack meant for the manual kit, they gave it to me for $19.99.)
To sum up, in the only three outings I:
1. Performed my acrobatics (Forgot to mention I managed to break my new TP-1 spinning rod and bend the handle of my Manley baitcaster in the process - although the Manley problem was easily corrected so it adjusts good as new.)
2. Snagged my anchor and lost it along with about 12 feet of anchor line
(Note to self: Don’t use commercial heavy grade tie-wraps to rig the anchor. Those little suckers are TOUGH!)
3. Used an S-Waver for the first time. Three casts, two monster pickerel, the second of which fled the scene with my lure.
So ... I just stowed the kayak for the winter and now am brooding and already planning for spring. Gonna try to hide from the Bait Monkey and focus on good waterproof footwear, new spinning rod, new S-Wavers, and a BIG bottle of KVD Line and Lure. Winter in Massachusetts is not a happy time.
The Bassman reply :
On 10/29/2018 at 6:09 PM, scaleface said:What about the water moving up and down in the hole ?
The noise is from the ice expanding. The water movement is just from the pressure releasing at points of least resistance (like a hole).
jbmaine reply :
So, there is a guy that lives next to a pond. One day there is a knock on the door. There are two less than " bright" looking young men at the door, and they say " we came to ice fish on the pond, but forget to bring anything to cut a hole in the ice with. Do you have anything we could borrow?" The guy says " I have an old axe you could borrow, but I'll need it back."" Of course" the young men said " we'll get it back to you". So off they go with the axe.
The day goes on and it's starting to get dark. The guy is beginning to think his axe is gone for good, when there is a knock on the door. The two young men are there and say" here is your axe back, thank you very much". The guy says " no problem, did you catch anything?"
" Well to tell you the truth, it took us so long to chop a hole in the ice big enough to put the boat in, we never did get to fish"????
Ksam1234 reply :
On 10/29/2018 at 12:42 PM, Paul Roberts said:How bout in your rod guides?
I have had this happen a few times. Usually when this is the case I don’t fish bc it gets annoying having to take the ice off
soflabasser reply :
On 10/29/2018 at 10:06 AM, GReb said:Spent the last week in the Denver area. Several lakes are closing for the season Wednesday. I actually felt bad for the few guys out there squeezing the last weekend. I couldn’t imagine only being allowed to fish 6 months of the year
I would not like living in a place that limits how many months of the year you can bass fish. This subject makes me appreciate South Florida more since I can bass fish whenever I want to.
Westcoast reply :
I know exactly what you mean. Our best lakes either freeze or stay really cold during the winter. But being in the pnw (although run sizes and opportunities are diminishing) there is steelhead fishing to fill the time and feed the itch to get out there.
Ksam1234 reply :
On 10/30/2018 at 9:22 AM, Westcoast said:I know exactly what you mean. Our best lakes either freeze or stay really cold during the winter. But being in the pnw (although run sizes and opportunities are diminishing) there is steelhead fishing to fill the time and feed the itch to get out there.
I have never done any river or creek fishing and I should. We have amazing chances for steelhead with Lake Erie but I never learned how to fish for them
greentrout reply :
tomorrow morning 8am..62 degrees... fog ... 4 sse wind ... perfect ... on a good lake...
good fishing...
Ksam1234 reply :
On 10/30/2018 at 10:53 AM, greentrout said:tomorrow morning 8am..62 degrees... fog ... 4 sse wind ... perfect ... on a good lake...
good fishing...
I’m going out tomorrow ! We have 53 degrees with 7 mph w winds ! Can’t wsjt
Subaqua Adinterim reply :
Went out yesterday, beautiful day on one of the little NY finger lakes. Had a great day - see my report in the local fishing forum for NY. Hoping to get a few more days like that before the snow flies. I can handle colder temps., it's the wind that makes it hard. As of yesterday, I can attest that the fish are still there and hitting.
Ksam1234 reply :
On 10/31/2018 at 9:35 PM, RichPenNY said:Went out yesterday, beautiful day on one of the little NY finger lakes. Had a great day - see my report in the local fishing forum for NY. Hoping to get a few more days like that before the snow flies. I can handle colder temps., it's the wind that makes it hard. As of yesterday, I can attest that the fish are still there and hitting.
Same , I went out yesterday and they were choking the jerkbait ! I think Sunday is supposed to be nice again
Mr. Aquarium reply :
its coming but where i live its weird, one year cold frozen till march, another no ice, january its frozen, february its wide open. last year we had a cold december, really cold but february came around i was open water fishin.
but 1hr drive north its locked solid. 30 min south where i fish mostly. wide open.
its safe to say that i will be open water fishing all winter. even if small ponds are locked, the bigger spots will be open, especially further south I go. unless it gets super cold. I HOPE NOT. i love blade bait fishin
rtwvumtneer6 reply :
There's a direct correlation between the temperature outside, and my bank account.
When I can't actually fish, I buy. It usually starts out with a small order of plastics, line and terminal tackle (all necessary purchases) with gift cards from the holiday, then by February tubes full of rods start showing up. And then, of course I have to pair them up with a shiny new reel!
scaleface reply :
They are still biting in Northeast Missouri . The surface temps have stalled in the low 50's and bass numbers have been good .
Ksam1234 reply :
On 11/2/2018 at 9:15 PM, scaleface said:They are still biting in Northeast Missouri . The surface temps have stalled in the low 50's and bass numbers have been good .
I would be able to fish but man .. everyday in ny it had been raining hard! And blowing 15-20 mph winds.. that just doesn’t make for a good day. Sunday is supposed to be nice finally followed by 2 more weeks of rain wind
DINK WHISPERER reply :
On 10/27/2018 at 5:47 AM, Ksam1234 said:The winter blues are starting to set in. Everyone up north knows what I mean . In about a month all this open water becomes hard water and we just have to say dream about spring ! anyone else going threw this yet?
Look on the bright side my friend. . . . . . It's in the 70s and perfect here in FL ????
NYWayfarer reply :
I have not been able to get out and fish since October 20th between work and weather. Gonna try Sunday and I took the day off Monday as well to fish. After that the wind, cold and rains return.
I keep at until, a) Hard water or b) I get skunked 3 trips in a row from shore.
Ksam1234 reply :
On 11/3/2018 at 10:19 AM, NYWayfarer said:I have not been able to get out and fish since October 20th between work and weather. Gonna try Sunday and I took the day off Monday as well to fish. After that the wind, cold and rains return.
I keep at until, a) Hard water or b) I get skunked 3 trips in a row from shore.
Yeah Sunday looks perfect ! Monday will be a little windy but still nice
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