"winter" Weather 2024
MidwestBassin reply :
I want to pick your guys' brains here real quick, here in the Midwest, we haven't hit "Winter" yet. We have had some nights into the 40's but days have been mid 50's to even 65-70 degrees. I guess my question is, how do I pattern these fish? Do I start looking for a fall pattern or a winter pattern? I know you have to let the fish tell you what they want, but a starting point is nice. I had a guy tell me that bass react more to the amount of daylight and longer nights to determine their staging. What's your guys' input?
Bluebasser86 reply :
Our water in NE Kansas is mainly in the low 40's, so it's a pretty solid winter bite. Those warmer days they'll venture out a little further, but it's mostly been the areas near deeper water or fast dropoffs that have been most productive.
Catt reply :
What's your water temperatures?
WIGuide reply :
Try finding a flat near deeper water. At least up by me, in the fall they'll hang in the deeper water and come up on the flats to feed. With the weather being warmer, you might be able to find a concentration of them up feeding but still being close to the deeper water.
Raul reply :
Bass don't live on air so they don't care about air temperatures like you do, what are the WATER temperatures ? You can't "pattern" the fish if you don't pay attention to their environment.
senile1 reply :
Your favorite lake, Stockton, had a surface temperature of 49 according to last week's report that I read. I don't know your exact location, but the fish in Stockton shouldn't be too lethargic just yet. That would be a mid-Fall bite north of Kansas City because our larger waters tend to go down to around the mid 30s at their coldest in a warm winter to hard water in a regular winter.
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 12/15/2015 at 9:55 PM, WIGuide said:Try finding a flat near deeper water. At least up by me, in the fall they'll hang in the deeper water and come up on the flats to feed. With the weather being warmer, you might be able to find a concentration of them up feeding but still being close to the deeper water.
Honestly, if you are having trouble catching fish, I would have one of these that you could go to at anytime of year. Bass love to feed shallow with a quick escape to deep water and these are the ticket.
Jake the Cake reply :
On 12/15/2015 at 11:32 AM, MidwestBassin said:I want to pick your guys' brains here real quick, here in the Midwest, we haven't hit "Winter" yet. We have had some nights into the 40's but days have been mid 50's to even 65-70 degrees. I guess my question is, how do I pattern these fish? Do I start looking for a fall pattern or a winter pattern? I know you have to let the fish tell you what they want, but a starting point is nice. I had a guy tell me that bass react more to the amount of daylight and longer nights to determine their staging. What's your guys' input?
I've been having trouble patterning fish this year as well in the Midwest (Missouri/mostly Table Rock). The shad are still jumping but it doesn't seem to affect the bass, seems like they're still on the bottom and in the vegetation. Crappie fishing on the other hand has been great this winter/fall. They've been small, but when you catch 60 a day you're still coming out with a gallon bag of meat.
WRB reply :
Bass are cold blooded animals, thier body temp is the same as the water at the depth they are at. Bass don't live on the surface, surface temps don't indicate the temps where the bass are located.
The weather changes quickly, the water temps change slowly, unless lots of it is flowing into the ecosystem that changes the water temp.
Tom
Raul reply :
Some winter fishing:
https://www.huddbaits.com/videos
Can´t be more Winter than Jan 28 
senile1 reply :
On 12/16/2015 at 12:47 AM, WRB said:Bass are cold blooded animals, thier body temp is the same as the water at the depth they are at. Bass don't live on the surface, surface temps don't indicate the temps where the bass are located.
The weather changes quickly, the water temps change slowly, unless lots of it is flowing into the ecosystem that changes the water temp.
Tom
Surface temperature doesn't necessarily indicate the temperature where bass live. However, after the fall turnover, temperatures in the water column should be similar throughout and surface water temperature will give you a good ball park figure to determine what seasonal patterns to start with. A large inflow from a heavy rain will alter this dynamic in specific creeks and lake arms that receive the rain.
lo n slo reply :
On 12/16/2015 at 4:28 AM, senile1 said:Surface temperature doesn't necessarily indicate the temperature where bass live. However, after the fall turnover, temperatures in the water column should be similar throughout and surface water temperature will give you a good ball park figure to determine what seasonal patterns to start with. A large inflow from a heavy rain will alter this dynamic in specific creeks and lake arms that receive the rain.
Well said
Catt reply :
During the "winter" there are certain conditions one must pay attention to if one wants to be productive.
The first is stability as in stable weather; I don't care what the ambient ttemperature is as long as the weather has been stable for 2 or 3 days. In order to take full advantage of stable conditions it helps to have the abaility to pick & choose the days you can fish.
The second is the bass itself; a bass's metabolism is finely tuned to its circulatory system temperature which is the same as the surrounding water temperature. In cold water their metabolism slows down, their brain slows down, so the bass slows down. In cold water a bass's instincts are less finely tuned, it has less appetite & it mostly stays suspended at or near the bottom.
Winter time bass fishing
Think Vertical
Think Deep
Think Bottom
Think Slow
Does that mean ya can't catch em shallow? No, see above statement about stability!
Does that mean ya can't catch em fast moving lures? No, see Rat-L-Traps (lipless cranks)!
WRB reply :
+1, nailed it!On 12/16/2015 at 10:44 AM, Catt said:During the "winter" there are certain conditions one must pay attention to if one wants to be productive.
The first is stability as in stable weather; I don't care what the ambient ttemperature is as long as the weather has been stable for 2 or 3 days. In order to take full advantage of stable conditions it helps to have the abaility to pick & choose the days you can fish.
The second is the bass itself; a bass's metabolism is finely tuned to its circulatory system temperature which is the same as the surrounding water temperature. In cold water their metabolism slows down, their brain slows down, so the bass slows down. In cold water a bass's instincts are less finely tuned, it has less appetite & it mostly stays suspended at or near the bottom.
Winter time bass fishing
Think Vertical
Think Deep
Think Bottom
Think Slow
Does that mean ya can't catch em shallow? No, see above statement about stability!
Does that mean ya can't catch em fast moving lures? No, see Rat-L-Traps (lipless cranks)!
Tom
Bankbeater reply :
I have been treating the weather we have been having like an extended fall season. I have been doing pretty good in the shallows in the afternoon.
Bassguytom reply :
I've been fishing a winter pattern for the last couple of weeks with water temps in the high 40's deep and painfully slow. When fishing a blade bait letting it sit on the bottom for what seems like forever until I feel a pick up.
Raul reply :
On 12/16/2015 at 10:44 AM, Catt said:During the "winter" there are certain conditions one must pay attention to if one wants to be productive.
The first is stability as in stable weather; I don't care what the ambient ttemperature is as long as the weather has been stable for 2 or 3 days. In order to take full advantage of stable conditions it helps to have the abaility to pick & choose the days you can fish.
The second is the bass itself; a bass's metabolism is finely tuned to its circulatory system temperature which is the same as the surrounding water temperature. In cold water their metabolism slows down, their brain slows down, so the bass slows down. In cold water a bass's instincts are less finely tuned, it has less appetite & it mostly stays suspended at or near the bottom.
Winter time bass fishing
Think Vertical
Think Deep
Think Bottom
Think Slow
Does that mean ya can't catch em shallow? No, see above statement about stability!
Does that mean ya can't catch em fast moving lures? No, see Rat-L-Traps (lipless cranks)!
I like rocks ! Specially those that get sunbathed for hours and hours. In my neck of the woods, in the lakes I fish the boulder covered dam is probably the only place where you can catch fish all year round.
RB 77 reply :
On 12/16/2015 at 10:44 AM, Catt said:During the "winter" there are certain conditions one must pay attention to if one wants to be productive.
The first is stability as in stable weather; I don't care what the ambient ttemperature is as long as the weather has been stable for 2 or 3 days. In order to take full advantage of stable conditions it helps to have the abaility to pick & choose the days you can fish.
The second is the bass itself; a bass's metabolism is finely tuned to its circulatory system temperature which is the same as the surrounding water temperature. In cold water their metabolism slows down, their brain slows down, so the bass slows down. In cold water a bass's instincts are less finely tuned, it has less appetite & it mostly stays suspended at or near the bottom.
Winter time bass fishing
Think Vertical
Think Deep
Think Bottom
Think Slow
Does that mean ya can't catch em shallow? No, see above statement about stability!
Does that mean ya can't catch em fast moving lures? No, see Rat-L-Traps (lipless cranks)!
As usual, some of the most solid advice on this board again. Catt and Tom are always on point. I'm a firm believer stable weather can do wonders for a bite. Winter fishing for me is all about the four things mentioned; vertical, deep, bottom and slow. This can mean drop shoting/ dead sticking a bait vertically in 50+ of water. With some stable weather and some fish oriented to some good structure the bite can be lights out even in the dead of winter.
lo n slo reply :
On 12/16/2015 at 7:48 PM, Bankbeater said:I have been treating the weather we have been having like an extended fall season. I have been doing pretty good in the shallows in the afternoon.
Good thread. this what we have been finding recently.
To follow up with what Catt posted, the deeper fish we've been marking are hard to catch. Being retired now, I am able to target those stable periods.
I really enjoy and appreciate reading the posts on this site. I used to read the articles only, before joining the forums. I have the utmost respect for the writers (you know who you are) as well. Thank you all for having this site available for those of us who want to talk bass fishing with like- minded people. Keep doing what you do.
Catt reply :
On 12/16/2015 at 10:56 PM, lo n slo said:Good thread. this what we have been finding recently.
To follow up with what Catt posted, the deeper fish we've been marking are hard to catch. Being retired now, I am able to target those stable periods.
I really enjoy and appreciate reading the posts on this site. I used to read the articles only, before joining the forums. I have the utmost respect for the writers (you know who you are) as well. Thank you all for having this site available for those of us who want to talk bass fishing with like- minded people. Keep doing what you do.
Everyone adds a little something!
Heck I'm still learning 
Josh Smith reply :
In rivers, I'm having luck with late fall patterns.
I haven't concentrated on the lake, so haven't worked it out. It does sort of look it's post-tunover with no fish turning on top, but I was only there once since turnover, too.
Josh
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 12/17/2015 at 12:07 AM, Josh Smith said:In rivers, I'm having luck with late fall patterns.
I haven't concentrated on the lake, so haven't worked it out. It does sort of look it's post-tunover with no fish turning on top, but I was only there once since turnover, too.
Josh
Apparently slowly retrieved shad raps have been working for some of the guys around me. Not sure about the accuracy of that, but that's the Indy Dock Talk right now.
Josh Smith reply :
On 12/17/2015 at 9:41 PM, HoosierHawgs said:Apparently slowly retrieved shad raps have been working for some of the guys around me. Not sure about the accuracy of that, but that's the Indy Dock Talk right now.
Slowly retrieved squarebills are what's working for me for both bass and walleye. I want jerkbaits to work, but so far nothing on those!
Josh
WRB reply :
Dock talk is usually untrustworthy, take for what it is...anglers that can't catch anything.
Tom
Josh Smith reply :
On 12/18/2015 at 3:54 AM, WRB said:Dock talk is usually untrustworthy, take for what it is...anglers that can't catch anything.
Tom
Why do you say this? There are not a heck of a lot of docks around here, but I have this mental image of folks hanging out on a pier chewing the fat and fishing.
I guess, what is dock talk? And why is it unreliable?
Josh
WRB reply :
Dock talk to me happens at the marina where bass anglers converge to discuss the days outing. Dock talk can happen anywhere angler get together and chat. A tackle shop or on a site like this.
Tom
Catt reply :
On 12/18/2015 at 4:52 AM, Josh Smith said:Why do you say this? There are not a heck of a lot of docks around here, but I have this mental image of folks hanging out on a pier chewing the fat and fishing.
I guess, what is dock talk? And why is it unreliable?
Josh
Depends on who's doing the talking
Josh Smith reply :
On 12/18/2015 at 5:17 AM, WRB said:Dock talk to me happens at the marina where bass anglers converge to discuss the days outing. Dock talk can happen anywhere angler get together and chat. A tackle shop or on a site like this.
Tom
OK, so it's like gunshop talk. Gotcha!
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