This might be off of the topic limit of this sub-forum.  Folks at southern states or other warm areas could fish all year long, but what do northern guys do during winter spare time? The water is not frozen yet but I am already having cabin fever.  Besides cleaning and tinkering with existing fishing tackles, I am thinking about getting some cheap second-handed reels from online and rebuilding them. 

 I'm planning on doing house projects to make my wife (and myself) happy so I can fish even more next season! And maybe convince myself ice fishing is fun enough to go twice this winter. 

7 minutes ago, Pogues2300 said:

 I'm planning on doing house projects to make my wife (and myself) happy so I can fish even more next season! And maybe convince myself ice fishing is fun enough to go twice this winter. 

 

Yeah I hear you; I guess that's a given. Sorry I mean BESIDES that.  I tried ice fishing; it's really not my cup of tea. 

I'll do some tackle & gear maintenance.

Might even repair or re-build a rod or two if I'm feeling froggy.

But I will most certainly take my time with it.

Our hard water season can go a while.

I'll also do what I can to stay in shape for the next open water opportunity.

Although that happens year round.

A-Jay

I can fish year round but work and daylight savings always screw that up so I usually go hiking, cook on a meat smoker, chop wood, clean out gutters, and watch other people fish on the internet 

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I'll also do what I can to stay in shape for the next open water opportunity.

 

Admirable and inspiring, really. 

Also kicking around the idea of learning to hand tie jigs to make some custom colors and see if I like doing it. 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

I'll also do what I can to stay in shape for the next open water opportunity.

 

That's an understatement, you're a BEAST! ?

Lifting a native brook trout out of freezing water makes me forget how numb my hands are

I'll enjoy staying late in bed on weekends. that's my plan for the winter. 

Watch a lot of YouTube fishing videos, clean gear, organize tackle. Repeat.

Back when I lived in NY before moving south I would do RC car racing in the winter. The 1/10th scale is "cheaper" than the summer time 1/8th nirto and electric classes and can keep you quite busy with tuning, testing and racing. Once spring rolled around winter league stopped and fishing kicked in.

 

I also really enjoyed chopping fire wood.

4 hours ago, Pogues2300 said:

Also kicking around the idea of learning to hand tie jigs to make some custom colors and see if I like doing it. 

I think that sounds like a great idea. I wouldn't even know where to start, but my dad used to do this and it would be fun to catch fish with something you've made. 

35 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

I think that sounds like a great idea. I wouldn't even know where to start, but my dad used to do this and it would be fun to catch fish with something you've made. 

I'll have to start with YouTube lol

I fish all winter.  If the lakes freeze, I fish spillways and streams.  If the banks of the streams and spillways ice up too much, I fish tidal water.  

My work keeps me busy fishing for tuna and marlin.  When I do get a chance to bass fish, I fish for big bass with top water lures, and think about how much I miss ice fishing.

I’ve been known to get such cabin fever that I hang fishing line from vaulted ceilings with 8 lb weights... 

During the winter I've decided to pour my own jigs and drop spot weights in bulk so i don't have to worry about it next year; In fact I've already started since Utah gets cold fast. 

Obviously gonna clean my rods and reels and get everything respooled for next season. 

 

Also...i play video games. The new metroid was amazing! 

31 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

I’ve been known to get such cabin fever that I hang fishing line from vaulted ceilings with 8 lb weights... 

And a very informative line-hanging that was...planning on updating that anytime?

 

 

Me - I got the boat-project to work on, a couple new reels, maintenance on the others...Imma gonna be busy.

58 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

I’ve been known to get such cabin fever that I hang fishing line from vaulted ceilings with 8 lb weights... 

is that braid or fluoro?

Drink beer and cry!  What else is there to do in the winter?

Resist the bait monkey however futile that may be.

26 minutes ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

Resist the bait monkey however futile that may be.

 

Same here. They sneak up on you sometimes, silent but deadly. Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in.

I stock up for next year (Bait Monkey Be Damned)....

 

I re-spool, clean, and tinker with my own reels and clean/lube a few reels for some fishing buddies (it's always surprises me what people do to their reels).

 

Clean my kayak

 

Update hooks and terminal tackle on baits

 

Re-organize as much as I can

10 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

watch other people fish on the internet 

Crazy when you think about it... I can go search "how to fish a 3.8" swimbait in gold flash minnow in 63° water" and probably get at least a dozen results that are applicable. ?

 

But really, this does help.  I'll sit and watch someone flip cabbage in Florida for hours and hours while I tie knots just to cut them off and tie them again.