If I can stand the cold, I'm fishing!

[Spoonminnow]

Yesterday was pretty mild compared to the last five days, but the cold nights have dropped the water temperature to 38 degrees making even a 5-10 mph breeze uncomfortable. But as with any cold weather fishing, warm clothes and a bright sun make an outing worth the discomfort (unless ya gotta go!)

When air temperature goes down so does my mental stamina. You can't go into a daze casting like a robot and expect to catch fish. Fish are in a variety of depths and proximity to shorelines and your lure is the true and only fish finder. If my mind was more active, I would have put a buoy marker out after catching fish rather than have to guess after my boat drifted away while taking fish off the hook.

I've found that even a boat's wind-re-position 10 yards away from where fish were caught can affect where casts should have been as in the case of a small tight school or group of fish. But again, the cold made me lazy and the buoy marker wasn't used. But at least general areas were learned and a few patterns evolved.

Granted, 18 fish (crappie, sunfish, mostly y.perch and small bass) are nothing to brag about, but every outing is a, well-I'll-be learning experience and better than just sitting around the house, wondering how the fishing was while sitting in the sun on the back porch.





As usual for cold water, 1/32 oz was my only choice along with just a few lure designs 2" or less in length - including the experimental design below that didn't disappoint- a cut-paddle tail worm:


I've been known to be the only boat on the water the day after Xmas. (Of course that's when I was many years younger.)

[trypman1]

Thanks for the report, I am a winter crappie fisherman also.

[Crestliner08]

Nice report! We're going to have a mini-warm-up this coming week and we're hoping to be able to launch the boat, if the ice isn't formed yet.

[sinkermaker]

Good report thanks

[icejohn]

I went out last week here in upstate ny when air temp was 38-40' the water temp about 47' wind 10-15mph....didn't do much drifting but hit a good spot...anchored and stayed put for 2hrs..caught 35 nice y.perch mostly with 3/8oz jigging spoon...cold day but was great.

[Slabprowler]

Great post as always thanks for sharing!

[Potatoe]

I gave up to soon, was super warm this weekend. Still learning where to find them

Getting ready for ice but could be awhile

[Spoonminnow]

Strange that we both did well with perch in cold water... Seems they were the most aggressive of the species.

[Zman]

Yes, thanks for a good report , and I like hearing about every trip. Cold weather and warm weather


Sent from my iPad using Crappie.com

[Spoonminnow]

Thanks everyone. I'll post more outing results with pictures and details such as tackle and presentation.