Bottom Fishing in the Winter
As the winter progresses and the water continues to stay cold it’s a commonly known fact that bass generally feed on the bottom and not the top of the water column making it imperative that you spend some time during your fishing day working the bottom of the area you are fishing. There are many reasons that the fish stay on the bottom to feed, oxygen levels, photosynthesis, thermocline all contribute to the bass being on the bottom. The key is discovering what depth you can find fish that are active on the bottom.
One key to remember is winter fishing is always tougher than when the water is warm, hence the number of bites you get is down and you have a tendency to fish to fast like it’s summer or fall forcing your bait out of the strike zone. Your concentration levels are skewed by the obstacles and your speed-up your retrieve or don’t have the patience to keep your bait on the bottom and you’re missing the strike zone. Hence you go through a winter day out of the strike zone and have a bad day on the water.
Bumping the bottom can be the difference maker so don’t just get to the bottom and lift your bait off then loose contact rather keep it down by a slow rolling and let the bait dig the bottom, kick up dirt, shells and grass until it gets back to your boat. One key to this is understanding when you bait rises above the bottom; don’t be fooled by a tight line stop it your bait let it drop and remain persistent at keeping your rod tip down and bait ticking the bottom. It’s also a fact that many times bass strike when you pause your bait or let it drop from up and down action. Doing this multiple times during your retrieve can be the difference in getting a bite, develop an action on your retrieve that becomes second nature that your not having to think about pauses and stopping is the best way to insure constant contact with the bottom. Repetition is the best way to achieve this action, practice this until its second nature and you will learn to keep your bait in the strike zone.
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
www.facebook.com/FishGuntersville
Email: bassguide@comcast.net
Call: 256 759 2270
Capt. Mike Gerry