It’s this advantage that motives some anglers to drive by a large lake in favor of a farm pond or golf-course water hazard. But in a small pond, choices are far more limited. Look for areas where bait fish are concentrating like creek channels, swings and rock to sand transitions. They’ve gotta accept what’s available, but they will bite if presented the right lure with the correct presentation. Cold water fishing is now the only time I cast this lure. Be patient, fish it with slow twitches, and watch for subtle strikes. But during a period of mild winter weather, a small, murky lake can produce awesome action. Have Food and Drink Always. Patience and slow retrieves are essential for winter bass fishing. When bass go deep in winter, heavy metal — spoons, blades and tailspinners — can out produce other lure styles ten-to-one. Whether you lack the equipment to bass fish in deep water or you simply don’t enjoy it, don’t let the cold, nasty weather discourage you. I fish a lot in ponds that are 10 ft. And fishing slows down in the winter. “It’s a near-perfect crawfish mimic,” he says in Wirth’s article. Employ a twitch-and-pause retrieve to tempt these sluggish bass into biting. Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. The last of our 3 bass fishing tips for early Spring is sometimes a spot just needs to rest. Let’s look first at what bass tend to do as the water temperature starts dropping. In warmer water, in hard-fished ponds, and in places where bass are finicky, a soft-plastic jerkbait can be a top producer. Because dirty water is denser than clear water, the shallows will warm up much quicker during these seemingly brief periods of sunlight. Little guys like this are great representations of small food choices for winter bass. You can get dehydrated in cold weather just as easily as in hot weather. They usually are fat and big at this time. Like I said earlier, bass that live in our larger lakes with deeper water have choices. When these same birds land at another body of water, the eggs come off and hatch. i fish a lot of rather small ponds the largest being 2 acres max and the one pond i fish no more than quater acre has rather large bass and lately we've been having rather weird weather monday was no warmer then 50 and yesterday was 75 i went and fished there yesterday and not a single hit i went through all my baits from worms to cranks shallow water to deep water … I love to crank farm ponds even if they are still 1/2 covered with ice! If the water is open and surface temps are between thirty five and fifty degrees bass can still be caught on regular bass gear. This is also the moment when it makes sense to give a little love to Little George. Two- to three-inch lures are going to catch the most fish. The depth on the ponds varies greatly with max Probably around seven feet. Cold water bass fishing to me means water colder then 45 degrees. If the pond water gets muddy and they want clear water, well, they’ll just have to wait for the water to clear. "Fish the clear lakes when it's frigid, then switch to the murky ones as the weather warms." Many pond owners take this same icy attitude toward their ponds this time of year. A spinnerbait is probably my most favorite cold water bait. What are your best producing pond lures to use during the winter? You need to drop something right in front of their face, make the bass think it’s almost dead, and move it slowly and erratically, so they think they’ve got an easy meal on their hand. Tips for Fishing Small Farm Ponds. If you're looking for certainties in numbers, some guys have been known to steal the in-ground pool thermometer and take it out to the fresh water they're looking to fish. After being a professional, — bass fishing only — freshwater fishing guide for over 50 years (yes, that is over fifty, cold winter season’s !) But it's plenty cold for an Alabama boy who would rather winter even further south if I could. I usually have 4 rods rigged up. Heavy vegetation produces more oxygen in the water. "I've caught some of my biggest bass from small lakes in winter," Charlie Ingram reveals. What’s important is the speed by which these small bodies of water warm. by: Davis Nolan. They didn’t build the pond, nor did they choose these places to live. Bass are focused on shad during the winter, and I prefer a suspending jerkbait for fishing around vertical structure, like main lake bluffs and bridges, this time of year. Within this general winter pattern, Johnston expects certain variances based on meteorological fluctuations. The reason is that most ponds are not deep. However in general, if you change your lures and slow down, you can still tempt bass into strikes. Photo: Strike King, Little George is a tailspinner that's old-school, but has recently surged in popularity once again. Weather is the real key that dictates pond fishing success during the winter, and this alone has a major influence on water temperature! Typically, whether you’re on an 11-acre pond or 2-acre pond, most ponds are shallow and the water warms the same. In the South, you might rock along with temps that average highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s during the winter season. One great cold water bass lure is the jerkbait. 552 views. story by Dan O’Sullivan – photos courtesy Seigo Saito Talon Lures and Bandit Lures . The number of pros that have one tied on their deck in coldwater tournaments is staggering and a testament to how much confidence that one crankbait has brought guys fishing for bass in ultra cold clean water. If you want to catch big bass in shallow water, try to apply these tips during your next fishing trip. However, those who know how fish, like the bass, react can have some fantastic fishing during the long, cold winter months. Younger bass feed on crust crustaceans, insects, and small fish. The same thing happens with bass. 2. When the temps are ripe for eating, largemouth bass prefer fish, crayfish and frogs. Can you give me some tips on fishing ponds in winter? Posted: Jan 8, 2021 / 05:59 PM CST / Updated: Jan 8, 2021 / 06:32 PM CST. Let me tell you, when water temperatures drop into the low 40s, all comfort diminishes … food intake is less, feeding times are briefer and less often and they prefer to strike smaller lures than larger ones. Smaller, 10 hp gas motors are allowed provided there are no lake restrictions. "As the water starts to warm just a bit, red clay banks get really good too," Canterbury said. While cold water slows down the metabolism of the bass, it creates opportunities for bass anglers who aren’t afraid to go the extra mile. I love to fish this bait parallel on channel swings close to the bank in major creeks and even along bluffs, riprap and laydowns. During warmer weather low light periods are typically best here, like you might expect, early morning, late evening, cloudy. Tags: bass, Cold, fishing, weather; Categories: Pond Fishing Bass; Related Videos: Hot Weather Bass Fishing by Helen Martin. This is why warm nights are so critical in warming the shallows. At this time of year, most anglers lose their desire and confidence and decide to wait ’til spring. There are jillions of small farm ponds located all across America and the majority receive the heaviest fishin’ pressure from mid-spring to early fall. Two or three degrees will bring small minnows and baitfish floating to the surface and to the shallows to take advantage of the warmer layers of water. 5. 1. You may locate shallow fish one day after several warm nights and days, but let a cold front blow in with strong cold north winds, and the party is over quickly. Cast to the shallow edge of a drop-off and let the grub sink alongside it, raising the rod tip as the bait reaches the bottom. Best Cold Water Bass Lures. Understanding the right lures, techniques, tackle and areas to target are all key in have successfully day out on the water. Remember bass don’t feed if they’re in water colder than 40 degrees. This is because the bass may not be hungry so you have to aggravate him to produce a strike out of anger. During the winter, a farm pond can turn on big time. Pete Ponds Cold Water Tandem. I wrote an article years ago about "The Best Cold Water Crankbait Ever" and most guys worth their salt in bass fishing know I was referring to the Shad Rap. If the water gets too hot or cold, they must acclimate. But never mind the fishing, what do they really eat? Bass Pro Ron Shuffield likes to use a split-tail pork frog. Understanding the relationship of the bass to its tiny ice-water habitat is the first consideration. Cold Water Bass Fishing Lures Overview. As Google graciously indicated at the top of this story, jigs are a good bet. Under these conditions I have three favorite baits. This tactic works best in late winter when bass are suspending along steep channel banks in the backs of creeks. Other Pond Fishing Tips Hair Jig (or bucktail) is another jig that made Wirth’s list for winter bass fishing. Don't think there are but two or three lures that work well for winter bass fishing. 1. They move with the weather, especially when everything warms up under a bright sun. My favorite place is two ponds connected by a shallow swamp area. However in general, if you change your lures and slow down, you can still tempt bass into strikes. Or maybe the wind has picked up or changed directions. "Their small size makes them prone to rapid heating and cooling," he explains. Furthermore, you won’t find deeper water in all areas. In his spare time, the veteran Santa Fe, Tenn., B.A.S.S. Fish in a pond, regardless of size, are by no means at the fisherman’s mercy. Bass fishing with water temperatures in the 40s is cold… like, really cold. Maybe you roared up too quickly in your boat. Largemouth bass caught in the 10+ pound range are not uncommon and numerous have been caught in the 14-16 pound range. Bass fishing with water temperatures in the 40s is cold… like, really cold. The first aspect of bass fishing in winter is all about timing. Naturally, if the pond has a submerged channel or ditch, you’ll find deeper water there than in the surrounding area. Because this pond is small and shallow, I'm sure it has some wild temperature swings and is affected by sunshine or cold nights much more than deeper bodies of water. 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