So, it's winter and you are stuck inside afraid to get out on the lake or river because it's too cold. You're afraid that you'll make a long trip somewhere only to get your line wet. Well, this can be the situation in some cases. That's why they call it fishing and not catching! Today, I'll try to give a few pointers on how to effectively catch fish when it's cold outside.
During the summer months fishing can be challenging, but not as challenging as when it's cold outside. When it's warm, plant life is growing, the water is warmer and the sun produces shaded areas to fish under. During the winter months these signs are minimal, making it much tougher to fish.
When choosing a bait for this time of year, consider using something bigger than usual. Typically, during the summer months, I will throw a lot of crankbaits and do a lot of worm fishing. These types of fishing are pretty effective in the summer, but are more difficult in the winter. There are a few reasons for this. One, during winter, fish are less likely to be as active as they are in the summer. So when you are fishing, throw something that you can work slowly. This will be more appealing to the fish, giving you a greater chance of catching something. Fish are less likely to chase something small that's moving fast in the winter time because they are dispersing more energy for less food. You also might want to try throwing things like flukes and swimbaits. Another helpful tip would be to keep your bait warm. Instead of leaving them in the cold tackle box, throw them in your pocket for a few minutes if you know you'll be using them soon. This will allow them to look more realistic.
I hope these tips have been helpful. Below I've listed (from top to bottom) a fluke, a crankbait and a swimbait. There are numerous types of these baits. These are just a few examples.
