Taking it a step further, Matt offers his favorite baits for each style of fishery. Confused? In southern United States, cast along the shoreline of lakes in flat weed beds with spinnerbaits or plastic worms. Tip: Large bass feed actively in the sun-warmed shallows. Lipless Crankbaits. As March leads into April, keep track of the areas on small ponds that lose ice first and target these locations to fish the pre-spawn bite. As you may have guessed, winter and early springtime are tough for fishermen. A pond built for koi can probably support a few bass for the summer, but to keep them over winter the pond will have greater requirements for size, structure, and depth. That's why we catch them in shallow water sometimes and in much deeper water at other times. So, for example, if you tend to fish 30 feet away from the shoreline during the summer, you’ll want to add 20 feet to that in the winter because bass prefer deeper waters when the temperature is cold. This Winter you should abandon your same old haunts, run some new water, and you might just catch the biggest bass of your life! Definitely don't waste time in the winter. A bass fishing video blog dedicated to teaching and helping bass fisherman grow. Whether you're throwing a ned rig on the deep end of a pond, fishing a football jig through deep rock on a highland reservoir, or cranking on a natural lake, your Winter fishing is about to be a lot more fun! The key to this pattern is to understand that the fish are NOT orienting to cover, its more about depth and the presence of food so don't be afraid to go look in the middle of nowhere. We all know that lakes, rivers and ponds are colder in the winter, hotter in the summer, and somewhere in between in the spring and fall, but do you know bass move as the seasons and temperatures change? Breaks in Winter Weather Means It’s Time to Head for the Pond In the South, you might rock along with temps that average highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s during the winter season. Switch the 20-pound monofilament over to 8-pound fluorocarbon. White Shoal Lighthouse in northern Lake Michigan. pro and host of TV's Fishing University loves fishing the many reclaimed phosphate pits and state park lakes in the Middle Tennessee area. Often times the bass in Winter will pull off shore and lay in the lowest, deepest spot they can find off shore. Rock offers safety to smaller baitfish during the cold water months, attracting bass like a magnet. A large run-off pond with a big dam may have an exceptionally large trough from where dirt was removed to construct the dam. I would love to film more topwater pond bass fishing videos! The corners of a dam are great fish holding locations because there is a change in bottom contour which allows bass to pin forage. Younger bass feed on crust crustaceans, insects, and small fish. Different Seasons and Their Impact on Bass Fishing. Fish all shallow water in a pond. Winter- Winter is a hit and miss time for small pond bass. Once you apply these tips and find the fish, the fun is ready to start. Use lighter line. We filmed this at Clearlake and while it may not apply to every body of water, it will definitely get you in the mindset to target specific locations and patterns rather than grinding through the day on your same old haunts, waiting for the bass to return. The common denominator that attracts bass to these features is the … Tiger Bass in well-managed ponds and lakes throughout the southeastern United States have exhibited growth of up to 2 pounds per year for periods of six years or longer. And these experts tell you how to get the most out of your days on the water. February produces some of the hottest bass action. Winter bass fishing doesn't have to be tough! So many of the productive areas have shut down and the bass seem to have disappeared all together. This, too, is going to be contrasting depending upon the body of water you are fishing. If you're on a small body of water this probably means the middle of the deepest coves. Did your bass disappear? I like to target ponds or lakes that have standing timber near the creek channels. And the warmer the water, the higher your chances are of catching big bass. ← Tackle Storage Buyer's Guide: Which Boxes Work Best??? Bass can be taken from any structure in the shallow creeks from depths of 5 feet or less throughout most of the fall. In the northern parts of the country they can dip down in to the thirties and … Matt explains where the bass are hiding in ponds, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in this in-depth video. Ingram lives in Tennessee and is known to fish … If you're tired of struggling for a bite let Matt show you where to look! Many lake owners have documented growth of Tiger Bass weighing more than 10 pounds in just five years. Let the pond refill during the late winter and spring. Draw down the pond to half its normal surface area early in the fall. Below you'll find a breakdown of the equipment Matt was using in the video (depth finder and mapping software) along with the baits he recommended for each style of fishery. For simplicities sake, we’ll say spots like deep underwater humps, submerged roadbeds, and river channel swings or ledges. We've found that the largest fish hold just off the deepest pilings through the cold months, only moving in to feed or to sun on the warm afternoons. Are you struggling to catch fish this Winter? This technique is similar, but if fish are skittish, a plain jig head with a plastic twister … While it does reduce the amount of fishable water, I believe your time will be best spent methodically dissecting the higher percentage calm water. To be successful, cast towards the middle of the pond. Bass get in water that barely covers their backs this time of year. By far my favorite way to go bass fishing. Do you like these topwater pond fishing videos? Winter bass fishing lures Many small northern ponds with fewer than 10 feet of water contain large bass which resist fighting in the cold water. However, early spring weather is unpredictable, and as the water temperature in the shallows fluctuates from day to day, bass will move back and forth between shallow and deep water. These are the best pond bass fishing tips. In this bass fishing tips video I show you the #1 pond fishing tip for winter bass fishing. It’s no secret that bass feed far less aggressively in the winter, but as long as the water has not iced over, and you have a lot of patience, you can still catch bass during the winter months. In deeper areas, water temperature is more constant, and there are no fluctuations. Fall bass fishing takes a little patience, a little skill, and a willingness to do things differently than what you’re used to. Matt explains where the bass are hiding in ponds, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in this in-depth video. The pilings offer cover, ambush points, and warmth. Bounce a Grub. Knowing where to look is half the battle. If you're on a big body of water this could be the middle of a bay or even the center of the lake, miles offshore. Bass move into shallower water for a longer time on lowland reservoirs in the fall transition. you might just catch the biggest bass of your life. This week we put together some quick tips to help you locate fish more quickly. "In midwinter, it usually takes two weeks of air temperatures above 40 degrees to stimulate a bass bite in a big lake, but a small lake can turn on overnight,” says B.A.S.S. We a… It'll work just fine … There were no shortage of these ponds in the area I lived and they were full of bass. While these are just generalizations, they'll give you a great starting point as you search for Winter bass. Are you struggling to catch fish this Winter? Let me know if you guys like these bass. If you're on a small body of water this probably means the middle of the deepest coves. That is where the water is warmest and the bass are most likely to find food. If you're tired of struggling for a bite let Matt show you where to look! The winter air cools water temperatures dramatically. I love to fish farm ponds for bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish and I quite often have caught bass in the 3 to 8 pound range in small farm ponds and I have many times saw even larger bass that I didn't get a chance to catch. 1) HOLLOWS: If you're fishing a body of water that is featureless, has a flat mud bottom, or is generally shallow, this is for you. Small jigs spoons and finesse worms will catch bass well through the ice. This is the best time of the year to have a crack at the biggest fish in the pond because they are shallow and they will be feeding. There are, of course, differences in pond types that influence where bass will be. Depending on the season, bass fishing can either be tough or relatively easy. That's okay. 3) DEEP DOCKS:  Deep docks or other vertical structure is key in Winter. While the snow is a sight to behold, sitting in your boat may not be as pleasing. Its important to add, the right electronics makes a huge difference when searching for open water bass. If you're on a big body of water this could be the middle of a … On the first warm days in early spring the bass might move into contact with the bank near deeper water at the dam. Like many people, fish tend to be less active in the cold. Either way, this is a key place to look for BIG winter bass. "In midwinter, it usually takes two weeks of air temperatures above 40 degr… Everyone has their favorites but the graph in this video is a Lowrance HDS-10. In the spring we're looking for bigger fish, Summer and Fall we're looking for more fish, but in Winter, it seems like we're just praying to get a bite. As bass fishermen we're always striving to improve. The most important thing in winter is to fish slow right on the bottom. In the winter, calmer water is warmer water. "Their small size makes them prone to rapid heating and cooling," he explains. It's pretty simple: make long casts toward the middle of the pond. Buyer's Guide: Dropshot Gear For Bass Fishing →. A bass fishing video blog dedicated to teaching and helping bass fisherman grow. This trough can hold the largest concentrations of fish during the coldest weather. Please let me know. 2) ROCKS: If you have rock in your lake, this is a key Winter time feature. Early in the fall bass will be along the creek channel but there will also be bass up in thin water because shad are in the shallows. It may work when all others do not. Winter drawdown is also an effective management technique to prevent crappie overcrowding. If you're curious what baits to throw once you find the fish, check out our Top 5 Baits For Cold Water Bass video. However, ice fishing is where I do "downsize" my bait selection. When the temps are ripe for eating, largemouth bass prefer fish, crayfish and frogs. If you can't afford a quality graph don't worry about it, its just going to take a little longer to find the fish. Its time to stop struggling and start catching! Pro Charlie Ingram in an interview with Bassmaster. I’m not saying go to the deepest part of the water but simply add a little depth, and you can increase your chances of catching more bass. Where do Pond Bass Go in the Winter? Fish the trees in deep water and pass on the shallow trees. When the temperature dips down, the bass slow down, and their habits change – it’s important that you know how to respond. Winter bass fishing doesn't have to be tough! Stop any bass harvesting during this time. Most fishermen don’t even dare to go out in such cold weather. Most ponds have a few fallen trees. Catfish and eels have been known to bury themselves in the mud at the bottom of a pond and await the return of spring. Winter bass fishing can be tough! Topwater bass fishing is just so exciting! On natural lakes; or on reservoirs with vegetation and lots of shallow flats – the … Winter bass fishing doesn't have to be tough! Did your bass disappear? For example, points, humps, drop offs, bluffs and creek channels. Most fish slow down and "rest" near the bottom during cold winter months. If the rock is shallow, on the sunny days they'll move right up against the shallowest rocks that protrude above water. After ice-out in late winter or early spring, bass begin moving from deeper areas where they spent the winter toward rapidly warming shallow waters. During winter, bass tend to go deeper in the pond. You will find when winter bass fishing that bass will also bunch up around the same type structure as they do in spring only deeper. During the day, rivers and lakes maintain a temperature of around 7° Celsius or below. Often times the bass in Winter will pull off shore and lay in the lowest, deepest spot they can find off shore. 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However, the fall is their preferred feeding time. "I've caught some of my biggest bass from small lakes in winter," Charlie Ingram reveals. Stick to it and you'll find them! Along with water temperature, spring largemouth location is driven by spawning behavior, so fishin… Tips for Fishing Small Farm Ponds. Gleason begins his search for super deep winter bass in areas near or around their summer hangouts. Its time to break out of the Winter rut and catch some fish! While not everyone can afford high-dollar electronics, if you can it will save you a lot of time. Winter fishing is when the classic Texas rig worm succeeds the most or a shaky head rig. (And How To Catch Them). Have you ever wondered how fish survive in cold winter weather, or where they go when lakes and ponds freeze over? In Winter, for instance, it is a tough time of the year to go fishing. If the rock is deep, the bass will lay along the bottom edge where the water is warmest. Some species that would be found in a typical pond such as catfish, carp, and bass will store as much fat in their body as possible, eating heavily in the summer and autumn so that they have enough reserves to survive the winter. How To Fish Small Ponds – Bass Fishing Tips. Bass cling to them until the water warms in Spring. The draw down makes it easier for bass to find and eat the crappie. When temps drop the fish congregate in the deepest water in the pond usually. Tactical Bassin' - Telling the truth about bass fishing, abandon your same old haunts, run some new water, and. In his spare time, the veteran Santa Fe, Tenn., B.A.S.S. Going Big on Small Ponds. Most people, especially novice fishermen, think that bass fishing season is over once winter sets in. If you're unable to escape the wind, hope isn't entirely lost. On naturally occurring lakes we've found that there are 3 key patterns that consistently produce our biggest bites. 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