By Ronnie Parris
As I write this, the temperature outside has not made it above freezing. Most folks would say a man has to be crazy to bass fish when the temperature is this cold, but actually this is the best time of year for catching really big bass.
True, they probably aren’t going to chase a buzzbait or spinnerbait like they would in warmer times, but present them a slow-moving crankbait, Alabama rig, soft plastic or a live minnow, and you might have your best day of the year.
The key to catching fish this time of year is to find them, and that means finding the bait. I usually pay close attention to the water temperature and look for areas just a few degrees warmer than what I see over the rest of the lake. That’s where the majority of the bait will hold. This might not always be shad. In a lot of our mountain lakes, bass will key on crayfish and aquatic insects this time of year.
In summer, creeks and branches pouring into the lake will usually be colder than the main body. In winter, the opposite may be true. At times, tributaries will run just a little warmer than the main lake, which draws bait to congregate at the creek mouths.
Presentation of whatever lure you prefer should be slow. If you’re fishing a soft plastic and aren’t catching fish, try slowing your retrieve to a crawl. I have often made a cast and then laid my rod on the floor of the boat to pour a cup of coffee. More than a few times, a nice bass has picked up the bait as the drifting boat slowly dragged the lure away from the bank.
One of the most difficult situations is when fish lie right on the bottom and sonar can’t differentiate them from bottom. I am bad to set my sensitivity really high, so I can detect anything abnormal with the bottom. Sure, it makes for a dirty static-filled screen, but it will help you spot fish lying right on the bottom that you wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
The bottom line is: Even though it’s cold, you won’t catch anything at home in the recliner. So put on your warmest clothes, put a good hand warmer in the boat, and hit the water. You might be rewarded with your best trip of the year. Have fun, stay safe, and as always take a kid fishing. Better hooked on fishing than on drugs. Happy New Year to all, and good fishing from Smoky Mountain Outdoors Unlimited.
Ronnie Parris is owner and head guide of Smoky Mountain Outdoors Unlimited-Fontana Lake Fishing Guides, headquartered in Bryson City, N.C., heart of the Great Smoky Mountains (www.smounlimited.com; (828) 488-9711).