Fall/winter

[Godrew1972]

This is my first year trying to bass fish in colder months. Is the fall bite pretty much over? Should I start to target bass much different now? Hopefully heading out this weekend to Mercer or Carnegie
Thanks

[AndyS]

We catch bass ice fishing.

[bigfishy]

Just try to fish fer the warmest few hrs of the day

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by bigfishy

Just try to fish fer the warmest few hrs of the day

They will hit live bait in cold water, but if you aren't going to eat them, mash the barb down.. If using lures, go slow.. I like jigs of some type in deeper water, and vertical jig.. A calm sunny day that warms the water a bit is better than a cloudy one very often... bob

[AndrewT]

Originally Posted by bigfishy

Just try to fish fer the warmest few hrs of the day

Agreed. Usually there is like a 2-3 window. Sunny, windless days are best now. Less wind=easier slow fishing

[NJ219bands]

I didn’t get a hit in Carnegie Lake Sunday. Also didn’t get a hit in Mercer Lake on my last trip there. Last year my last batch of corn meal bait lasted from October through March of this year with no bites on most days. I did catch a catfish on my last piece of bait. I still have some corn meal bait left from this year’s last batch. Open water winter fishing really sucks.

[acabtp]

the colder water has all the fish running a lower metabolism than the warmer months and the pond/lake fish can hunker down wherever they find water they like and conserve energy, only feeding as needed. plus after the fall turnover there is oxygen throughout most lakes so they can move anywhere in the water column and aren't necessarily in their warm water locations.

try stream and river fishing during the colder months. might have to mix it up from bass but stream fish are always burning energy so they will feed more readily