Fishing Shallow Water in the WinterFishing Shallow Water in the Winter By Jim Reaneau
This article will cover shallow water fishing in the winter and early
spring. Most people in the winter are still fishing deep. Me included. I am
a deep structure fisherman. It is hard for me to think shallow until the
spring and even then I keep looking out to the deep water. There are many
fish that never move from the shallow water. There are lakes where you
never fish over ten foot of water all year long. The bass are cold blooded
and can take some extreme temperatures. They may not stay on the bank if a
cold snap comes in and drops the water temperature. They will move out to a
better comfort zone and stage till the shallow warms back up. Many
tournaments have been won fishing on the bank in very shallow water in the
winter.
Tackle can vary from lake to lake but suspending baits, soft jerk baits,
jigs, spinner baits, all can produce in the winter months. Look for deep
water close to shallow in the back of creeks. Work lay down logs, stumps,
grass lines. Boat docks with brush can harbor fish. You will have to cover
plenty of water but work it thoroughly. When you come in contact with a
fish look at the structure you caught the fish from and look for more like
it. Work this area good before leaving as there maybe more fish present.
Don't be surprised to find fish stacked on a shore line in some of the
coldest temperatures. The wind blowing into a shore line can warm up that
water a couple of degrees and hold the fish. You may not find them in the
same place two days in a row especially if the weather changes. As the
water warms the fish will get more plentiful but don't over look shallow
bass in the winter. I have been fishing all my life and the one thing that
I have learned is don't under estimate fish. They will do some of the
strangest things at some of the strangest times.