Cold means different things to different people. Competitors in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, which was held on Lake Hartwell near Greenville, South Carolina, defined it as single-digit wind chills at the first-day takeoff, spots that froze over the night before, and so many layers of clothing that moving about a boat, let alone fishing, was difficult. But the show went on.
Bass anglers — professional or weekend warriors — are a passionate bunch. Some push their fishing season right until ice locks up their favorite spot and start immediately after it disappears in spring. Many more keep going, fishing through the coldest days of the year. While it can be tough sledding either way, there are ways to make it easier.
Catching bass and remaining comfortable while fishing in the coldest conditions requires preparation and intelligent choices. Following these five tips will go a long way toward accomplishing both.
Choose Your Days
Any day is a good day to go fishing. But when the weather and water temperature turn cold, some are definitely better than others. That’s true for the bass bite and your safety. No bass is worth your life. So, before you head to your favorite fishing hole from late fall to early spring, consider the current conditions.
- Watch the weather: Clouds and rain quickly make cold days more miserable. The temperature feels colder than it is, sometimes more than if it was snowing. Sunny days are better for you and the bass. Plan to fish then if you can.
- Watch the wind: Wind compounds the harsh feel of cold air. It also makes fishing with light line and little lures, which are often productive in cold water, more difficult. So, sit out windy days, or choose spots protected from whichever direction it blows.
- Watch the water: This is especially important for river anglers. Dam releases and precipitation increase flows, making boating more dangerous. And while your rig most likely can handle it, the chances of an emergency grow, especially being thrown into the cold moving water.
Monitor Your Gear
Cold weather is tough on anglers. It’s tough on gear, too. Your outboard may need a few more minutes at the launch, warming up enough to run right. Compartments — especially on boats left uncovered the night prior — can freeze shut. Boats can freeze to wet trailer bunks, requiring a soak to free them. And some batteries need more time to recharge.
Your tackle faces similar challenges. Mitigating them quickly improves your day and ensures you land more of the bass that bite. Here's three things to watch:
- Reels: Keep an eye on your baitcasting reel’s level wind, especially the portion that carries the line. Water will freeze here, stopping line movement and causing backlashes. A similar situation can occur on a spinning reel’s line roller, though less often. A puff or two of warm breath will melt either situation.
- Rods: Ice will lock up line guides, especially the smaller ones toward the tip. It’s worse with micro guides, so leave those rods at home this time of year. Ice here can cut line, especially when it’s under pressure from a battling bass. While some anglers use silicone spray in a water-repelling preventive effort, guides can be quickly reopened by plunging your rod into the water and swishing it around.
- Line: Besides your boat and lure, no other piece of gear gets wetter than your line. It picks up water from each cast, leaving it on the rod and reel, causing the aforementioned problems. Some lines hold less water, so use fluorocarbon or monofilament instead of braid if cover and conditions allow.
Choose Your Spots
Water temperature plays an essential role in the actions of cold-blooded bass. For example, their metabolism revs up in warm water, pushing them to move and eat more. Cold water does the opposite. That and other environmental changes, such as falling water levels, push them into specific spots.
The best cold-water spots depend on where you’re fishing. It could be a backwater on a river or a hump on an expansive reservoir. Regardless, they all share specific characteristics, including these:
- Plenty of food: Spots that harbor many baitfish are more attractive to bass, which aren’t in the mood to chase a meal. Keep an eye on the water, if it’s clear, and your electronics for baitfish schools. Spend more time fishing spots where you find them.
- Relatively deep water: Most bass retreat to deep water when conditions turn tough. What they consider deep is relative to where they swim. In a coastal tidal river, for example, it may be 8 or 10 feet. You will likely find them in 30 to 50 feet on a highland reservoir.
- A vertical element: Without much inspiration to move long distances, bass gravitate to vertical structure and cover during the coldest months. It allows them to move vertically, seeking shelter or taking advantage of warming water without moving horizontally. Ledges, bluffs, bridge pilings, and standing timber are good options.
Warm-water discharges from industry and power plants — hot holes — are one cold-water spot that isn’t available to all anglers but always produces bass. It should be part of your cold-water fishing plan if you're lucky enough to have one nearby. Often offering water temperatures pushing 70 degrees, you can use fast-moving lures and approaches better suited for June than January elsewhere.
Adjust Your Retrieve
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Certain lures catch more bass in cold water. They create plenty of action, regardless of how slow they’re retrieved or the number or duration of pauses added. Photo by Pete M. Anderson Frigid water temperatures suck the ambition from bass. So, if you want to keep catching, your offerings must slow in step. Bass must be able to catch them and have the opportunity to strike. Both can be accomplished in several ways, starting with your retrieve:
- Slow down: This is the most straightforward approach. If you’re fishing a moving lure, crank it slower. If you're fishing a bottom-bouncer, pull it slower or use subtle hops.
- Add pauses: Full stops cause following bass to run into your lure, forcing a strike. Moving your lure after a long one can have a similar effect. Pauses also give bass in clear water time to chase down your lure. They’re especially effective with suspending lures.
A slow retrieve makes almost any lure more productive in cold water. But certain lures are better suited to these retrieves. Try these five first when water is at its coldest:
- Jerkbaits: They welcome long pauses throughout the retrieve. Suspending models are a favorite for the coldest water. Adding heavier hooks or lead tape can turn a floater into a suspender or cause a suspender to slightly sink, a powerful strike trigger.
- Swimbaits: These soft-plastic offerings can be fished at any depth and through any amount of cover. Experiment with the weight of your jig head. While you’ll need enough to get it to the bass, sometimes the faster fall of a heavy one will trigger strikes.
- Crankbaits: A nearly perfect imitator of bass’ favorite wintertime food — baitfish — they can be fished at any speed. Forgo the rounded ones fished in summer and tie on a flat-sided balsa version such as Rapala's Shad Rap. You may need a spinning rod to cast it.
- Jigs: Bass fishing’s most iconic cold-water lure, bounce it around cover and across structure in any depth. Finesse versions poured with tungsten offer the weight needed to reach deep spots and the less intimidating profile that bass want.
- Blade baits: Even with a slow and deliberate retrieve, these hunks of metal throw off tremendous vibrations, stirring bass lulled by cold water. Use short pulls that keep them close to the bottom. They're built for covering deep-water structure quickly, helping you find bass.
Dress Appropriately
Bass school in predictable places in cold water, setting up memorable days of catching one after another. But you won’t last the first hour if you’re not dressed for the conditions.
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Proper dress is as essential to catching bass in cold water as selecting the best lure. Keep your hands warm using two sets of gloves — a fingerless pair while fishing and a full-fingered pair for running between spots. Photo by Pete M. Anderson Dressing for cold weather requires a one-two punch. First, you need one or more layers of insulation. Often consisting of wool, fleece, or flannel, it traps air warmed by your body. Holding onto that heat requires a wind-stopping outer layer, whether a rainsuit, coveralls, or snowmobile suit. While that combination is easily created for your legs and torso, it’s a more difficult proposition for your extremities. Here’s how to keep them warm:
- Hands: Your hands get wet often while fishing. So, carry several pairs of fingerless gloves, switching to a dry pair when needed. Bring a full-fingered pair — or better yet, mittens — to wear over them while running between spots.
- Head: Plenty of body heat escapes here, so keep it covered. A knit cap — sometimes called a toboggan by Southern anglers — works best. If you need the sun-blocking powers of your favorite baseball-style cap's brim, wear it over the top.
- Feet: Insulated boots or uninsulated with several layers of socks will do the trick. Thicker soles keep your feet farther from ice-cold boat decks. And make sure they're waterproof. No number of socks will keep your feet dry and warm if they're not.
All the previously mentioned approaches and clothing may not be enough on some days. Fishing through them may demand more, including these:
- Hand warmers: Stick them in your pockets, where your hands can find some relief. You also can put them inside your jacket or boots.
- Neck gaiter: It covers the gap between your jacket and face, sealing out cold air. Some can be pulled up to your nose, like the sun-protection versions, but with insulation.
- Balaclava: The fancy name for a ski mask, it offers more protection from biting winds, especially on boat rides. So, choose one made from wind-stopping fabric.
Your PFD always needs to be worn when fishing in cold weather. Some states require one during certain months in certain situations. While foam-filled versions are the most reliable, many anglers prefer the comfort of an inflatable one. Bulky clothes and icy decks increase the risk of falling overboard, where cold water brings on hypothermia and drowning quickly. So, wearing a PFD will go a long way toward saving your life.
