Winter Patterns

Hi all,

I live in Western North Carolina, where the weather has been anything But
normal. It has been unseasonably warm here, and today I was going to take
the boat out, but wouldn't you know, woke up to high winds overcast skies
and a bitter cold snap in the air. Was wondering if any of you could tell
me what works best in winter. I have never really fished in winter as have
had no such luck, I have always thought, winter=Deep, and I hate fishing
deep. Is this true? I like boat docks or other structures, but hate deep,
although my tackle salesman has told me that verticle jigging was the way to
go this time of year, any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in
advance,
Scooter

Was wondering if any of you could tell
me what works best in winter.

I consider this weather in the south late fall - I like crankbaits shallow
around rocks and wood cover from November thru March. As long as the water
temps stay above 45 I can catch some bass on that pattern. If it is above 50 it
is even better.

Last Sunday the water temps here in middle GA were in the upper 50s - 58 most
places I checked. I landed five bass weighing 11.67 pounds in a club
tournament, all on a Fat Free Shad in 7 feet or less. Guy that won had a 6
pounder and five at 13.42 on crankbaits, too. My partner landed four weighing
5.92 on crankbaits.
Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

Was wondering if any of you could tell
me what works best in winter.

I consider this weather in the south late fall - I like crankbaits shallow
around rocks and wood cover from November thru March. As long as the water
temps stay above 45 I can catch some bass on that pattern. If it is above 50 it
is even better.

Last Sunday the water temps here in middle GA were in the upper 50s - 58 most
places I checked. I landed five bass weighing 11.67 pounds in a club
tournament, all on a Fat Free Shad in 7 feet or less. Guy that won had a 6
pounder and five at 13.42 on crankbaits, too. My partner landed four weighing
5.92 on crankbaits.
Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

I do thank you very much for that info. I know that Bass Times articles
have highly stressed crank baits in the backs of creeks for this time of
year, (following the shad). So sad to hear about the two GA guys who lost
there life on Lake Keowee last weekend in that tournament. I plan on hitting
Hartwell on Monday morning, I will have to tie on a few crank baits. Thanks
again for the info. I do appreciate it.

Scooter




"RGarri7470" wrote in message
...
Was wondering if any of you could tell
me what works best in winter.

I consider this weather in the south late fall - I like crankbaits
shallow
around rocks and wood cover from November thru March. As long as the
water
temps stay above 45 I can catch some bass on that pattern. If it is
above 50 it
is even better.

Last Sunday the water temps here in middle GA were in the upper 50s - 58
most
places I checked. I landed five bass weighing 11.67 pounds in a club
tournament, all on a Fat Free Shad in 7 feet or less. Guy that won had
a 6
pounder and five at 13.42 on crankbaits, too. My partner landed four
weighing
5.92 on crankbaits.
Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

I do thank you very much for that info. I know that Bass Times articles
have highly stressed crank baits in the backs of creeks for this time of
year, (following the shad). So sad to hear about the two GA guys who lost
there life on Lake Keowee last weekend in that tournament. I plan on hitting
Hartwell on Monday morning, I will have to tie on a few crank baits. Thanks
again for the info. I do appreciate it.

Scooter




"RGarri7470" wrote in message
...
Was wondering if any of you could tell
me what works best in winter.

I consider this weather in the south late fall - I like crankbaits
shallow
around rocks and wood cover from November thru March. As long as the
water
temps stay above 45 I can catch some bass on that pattern. If it is
above 50 it
is even better.

Last Sunday the water temps here in middle GA were in the upper 50s - 58
most
places I checked. I landed five bass weighing 11.67 pounds in a club
tournament, all on a Fat Free Shad in 7 feet or less. Guy that won had
a 6
pounder and five at 13.42 on crankbaits, too. My partner landed four
weighing
5.92 on crankbaits.
Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

Scott Brown wrote:
Hi all,

I live in Western North Carolina, where the weather has been anything But
normal. It has been unseasonably warm here, and today I was going to take
the boat out, but wouldn't you know, woke up to high winds overcast skies
and a bitter cold snap in the air. Was wondering if any of you could tell
me what works best in winter. I have never really fished in winter as have
had no such luck, I have always thought, winter=Deep, and I hate fishing
deep. Is this true? I like boat docks or other structures, but hate deep,
although my tackle salesman has told me that verticle jigging was the way to
go this time of year, any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in
advance,
Scooter



Bass in your part of the world don't actually have winter, do they?

I love late fall/winter fishing. By late fall/early winter I mean water
temps under 50 but warm enough that I don't have to cut a damned hole in
the surface to catch a fish. The bass bunch up in predictable areas now.
Some times (most times in many lakes, but much less so in others) those
places they bunch up in are deep. But in others they might only be 8 to
12 feet a lot of the time. Whatever combination of conditions offers
them the most environmental stability in any particular habitat.

Today where I was fishing, the air temp was in the low 50s and it was
cloudy and calm. The water was 39 to 41. I caught 20 bass, all on smoke
grubs fished on 1/8 and 1/4 ounce jigheads on light spinning gear. A
couple came from less than 20 feet, but most came from 28 to 34 feet.
They weren't giants, but it was a fun day. Here's the biggest one...

http://www.richz.com/fishing/images/...h-12-11-04.jpg

Scott Brown wrote:
Hi all,

I live in Western North Carolina, where the weather has been anything But
normal. It has been unseasonably warm here, and today I was going to take
the boat out, but wouldn't you know, woke up to high winds overcast skies
and a bitter cold snap in the air. Was wondering if any of you could tell
me what works best in winter. I have never really fished in winter as have
had no such luck, I have always thought, winter=Deep, and I hate fishing
deep. Is this true? I like boat docks or other structures, but hate deep,
although my tackle salesman has told me that verticle jigging was the way to
go this time of year, any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in
advance,
Scooter



Bass in your part of the world don't actually have winter, do they?

I love late fall/winter fishing. By late fall/early winter I mean water
temps under 50 but warm enough that I don't have to cut a damned hole in
the surface to catch a fish. The bass bunch up in predictable areas now.
Some times (most times in many lakes, but much less so in others) those
places they bunch up in are deep. But in others they might only be 8 to
12 feet a lot of the time. Whatever combination of conditions offers
them the most environmental stability in any particular habitat.

Today where I was fishing, the air temp was in the low 50s and it was
cloudy and calm. The water was 39 to 41. I caught 20 bass, all on smoke
grubs fished on 1/8 and 1/4 ounce jigheads on light spinning gear. A
couple came from less than 20 feet, but most came from 28 to 34 feet.
They weren't giants, but it was a fun day. Here's the biggest one...

http://www.richz.com/fishing/images/...h-12-11-04.jpg

That was a good looking fish,

Now I wished I had gone out on the water today instead of being lazy,
but there is always tomorow or Monday, or Tuesday or... You spoke of
predictable areas that bass bunch up, where is a good place to start
looking? Points, humps, structures? I have a decent Lowrance X-135 that I am
very fond of, but have not learned to use it to it's potential. I am not a
very knowledgable bass fisherman, in the summer, I know that I can catch
them around boat houses or docks, and do fairly well on occasions, it is
more of a hit and miss though, nothin of any consistancy. On the smoke color
jigs, did you locate the fish, and then back off of them, and cast over
them, and reel through the school or did you verticle jig? I surely would
appreciate any information you can provide, and I thank you in advance.

Scooter




"RichZ" wrote in message
...
Scott Brown wrote:
Hi all,

I live in Western North Carolina, where the weather has been
anything But
normal. It has been unseasonably warm here, and today I was going to
take
the boat out, but wouldn't you know, woke up to high winds overcast
skies
and a bitter cold snap in the air. Was wondering if any of you could
tell
me what works best in winter. I have never really fished in winter as
have
had no such luck, I have always thought, winter=Deep, and I hate
fishing
deep. Is this true? I like boat docks or other structures, but hate
deep,
although my tackle salesman has told me that verticle jigging was the
way to
go this time of year, any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in
advance,
Scooter



Bass in your part of the world don't actually have winter, do they?

I love late fall/winter fishing. By late fall/early winter I mean water
temps under 50 but warm enough that I don't have to cut a damned hole in

the surface to catch a fish. The bass bunch up in predictable areas now.
Some times (most times in many lakes, but much less so in others) those
places they bunch up in are deep. But in others they might only be 8 to
12 feet a lot of the time. Whatever combination of conditions offers
them the most environmental stability in any particular habitat.

Today where I was fishing, the air temp was in the low 50s and it was
cloudy and calm. The water was 39 to 41. I caught 20 bass, all on smoke
grubs fished on 1/8 and 1/4 ounce jigheads on light spinning gear. A
couple came from less than 20 feet, but most came from 28 to 34 feet.
They weren't giants, but it was a fun day. Here's the biggest one...

http://www.richz.com/fishing/images/...h-12-11-04.jpg

That was a good looking fish,

Now I wished I had gone out on the water today instead of being lazy,
but there is always tomorow or Monday, or Tuesday or... You spoke of
predictable areas that bass bunch up, where is a good place to start
looking? Points, humps, structures? I have a decent Lowrance X-135 that I am
very fond of, but have not learned to use it to it's potential. I am not a
very knowledgable bass fisherman, in the summer, I know that I can catch
them around boat houses or docks, and do fairly well on occasions, it is
more of a hit and miss though, nothin of any consistancy. On the smoke color
jigs, did you locate the fish, and then back off of them, and cast over
them, and reel through the school or did you verticle jig? I surely would
appreciate any information you can provide, and I thank you in advance.

Scooter




"RichZ" wrote in message
...
Scott Brown wrote:
Hi all,

I live in Western North Carolina, where the weather has been
anything But
normal. It has been unseasonably warm here, and today I was going to
take
the boat out, but wouldn't you know, woke up to high winds overcast
skies
and a bitter cold snap in the air. Was wondering if any of you could
tell
me what works best in winter. I have never really fished in winter as
have
had no such luck, I have always thought, winter=Deep, and I hate
fishing
deep. Is this true? I like boat docks or other structures, but hate
deep,
although my tackle salesman has told me that verticle jigging was the
way to
go this time of year, any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in
advance,
Scooter



Bass in your part of the world don't actually have winter, do they?

I love late fall/winter fishing. By late fall/early winter I mean water
temps under 50 but warm enough that I don't have to cut a damned hole in

the surface to catch a fish. The bass bunch up in predictable areas now.
Some times (most times in many lakes, but much less so in others) those
places they bunch up in are deep. But in others they might only be 8 to
12 feet a lot of the time. Whatever combination of conditions offers
them the most environmental stability in any particular habitat.

Today where I was fishing, the air temp was in the low 50s and it was
cloudy and calm. The water was 39 to 41. I caught 20 bass, all on smoke
grubs fished on 1/8 and 1/4 ounce jigheads on light spinning gear. A
couple came from less than 20 feet, but most came from 28 to 34 feet.
They weren't giants, but it was a fun day. Here's the biggest one...

http://www.richz.com/fishing/images/...h-12-11-04.jpg

highly stressed crank baits in the backs of creeks for this time of
year, (following the shad). So sad to hear about the two GA guys who lost
there life on Lake Keowee last

Had not heard about the deaths in the tournament on Keowee - have any more
info about it?

The shad have not really moved back yet here, but this cold snap may be what
they need. We were catching most of our fish on main lake points to the first
point in creeks and coves.

I did an article for Georgia Outdoor News about November bass fishing at
Hartwell. That article stressed fishing in the creeks with Shadraps and jig and
pig. The bass should be on that pattern at HArtwell now - we fished the little
creeks around the bridge in Twenty and Six mile (or Twentysix on some maps)
creek. Near Portman Shoals Marina anyway.
Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com