It is important to note from the beginning that ice fishing is a whole different subject than cold water fishing. What we are discussing here is the different strategies for fishing for bass in water anywhere from about 35 to 52 degrees. These simple tips should help you catch bass in cold water conditions. First, fish more slowly than you do during the warmer months of the year. As the water temperature drops, the metabolism of the bass plummets as well. They take a little while to react, and a fast moving bait can be past them well before they notice it. So, just slow down your presentation enough for them to see it, get to moving, and take your bait. In cold water conditions, you will most often find bass moving vertically in short distances, so when you are fishing, stick to banks that have steep inclines. A 45% drop is great, but even a 30% drop will show good results. If you know some good bluff banks, cold water fishing will be the perfect time to take advantage of them if you are looking to catch bass. Be choosy about your bait. You really need to use a bait that is easy to keep in place on or near the bottom of the water. Slow moving crank bait, a jig and pig (probably the most commonly used cold water bait, which works best if you just keep it slow, twitching and bumping when you hit cover) jigging spoons (move them up and down in one place) and spinners that you either crawl on the bottom or slow roll on the bottom will all work well in cold water conditions. Try to adjust your fishing technique, so that you are fishing a little bit deeper than you normally do in warmer weather. Concentrate your efforts on the steep bluff banks, tips of long points, and channels of creeks. As soon as you have several warm days in a row, look to the shallows, because that is where they will be headed. Don't be discouraged if you don't get lots of nibbles. Chances are the bites you do get are going to be from some big lunker bass. The reason you don't get as many as you do during the warmer months, is because the smaller fish just don't bite well at this time, but the bites you do get will be worth the wait, since they are likely to be big, big bass. Just be patient. Be sure to be prepared for sudden, inclement weather, and not only should you dress accordingly, you should have extra layers in a waterproof container in case you get wet or the weather takes a sudden turn for the worse. A good rain suit is always a good idea as well. Cold water is always going to require that you adapt your fishing strategies, but you can adapt and have successful fishing even in the most extreme conditions, as tournament anglers can tell you. It is important to remember that in later winter, though water can be at its coldest, the female bass are going to have to feed more because they have developing eggs, and will need extra nutrition as a result.
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