The Migration to Winter Fishing
As we start to move toward winter you can follow the bass just by understanding their migration patterns. Bass have some traditional changes in their movement; and it shows as the water cools and the bass get ready for the winter cold and climate change. The first and most decisive movement we see is the bass start once again spreading the lake, you'll find them shallow, deep and all depths in-between. The reason for this is the water temperature, as it cools over time not all areas cool as quickly as others. Shallow water generally cools quicker than the deeper water. Having said that, cover like grass can often protect the shallow water and some areas won't cool as quickly as areas without grass; hence the bass spread the lake looking for warmer temperature and food.
Once the bass are obviously at all different depths and areas their patterns become more obvious as it's like a light switch, all of a sudden they are not in the real shallow water and the migration begins. The movement is generally led by the bait fish, the smaller bodied bait seek warm water and are first to sense the cooling of the water temperature. The bass follow the bait and as they migrate out the bass will move with them. The only thing that makes this confusing is warm sunny days; as migration to winter moves the sun warms the shallow water during the warm sunny days so you see mid day movement back and forth as we move more toward winter. This is the time I like to get to the midday fishing in the flats as the flats hold grass, warm up and down daily and become feeding areas for migrating bass.
Lastly the bass start to move away from the flats and more toward the ledges, they can move off and on the ledges, follow the bait and become active at all times of the day! This is generally when the last of the fall bite is at its best, because the daily movement creates feeding competition, the bass know their days of feeding are limited and they are trying to get ready for the colder days and the suspending it takes for them to survive thru winter! You can follow the fish easily if you just understand what is moving them and generally it is one of two things; either bait or cold water.
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishkakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email: bassguide@comcast.net
Call: 256 759 2270
Captain Mike Gerry