Saftey
If you are not a seasoned, experienced wade angler, this is not for you. It takes time and lots of experience to be able to walk in the river at this time of year. One mistake could cost you your life. Hypothermia and drowning are very much real possibilities when wading in bigger rivers at this time of year. Here are a few things that you should do if you want to try.
1) Never fish alone
2) Always let someone know where you will be fishing
3) Wear a float device (PFD)
4) Do not go far from your car 1/4 mile? (varies depending on the area and the temperatures)
5) Carry a small Survival Kit (Fire Starting Material,etc.)
6) Extra set of warm clothes and shoes in the car
7) Waterproof Coat
Wade Gear
Winter can be tough in western PA, like the January we just had. The rivers were frozen over, with no fishing on them. Other years have been great, with open water all year. The one thing is the water is always cold, and you need the proper gear to be comfortable.
Here are my choices for wading rivers in winter.
1) Striker Ice floatable Jacket (or PFD)
2) 1200 or more Gram Neoprene Waders (not a big selection to choose from) Look for felt bottoms
3) Light Gloves
4) Layered Clothing light as possible you do not want to sweat
5) A small survival kit
Winter Smallmouth Bass (in rivers)
Sometime around early November or so depending on weather trends is the start of the winter smallmouth season here in western PA. It lasts until sometime in March. During this time smallmouth are in a few different locations that you can target. Water temperature 35-49 Degrees. On sunny days midafternoon is the best time, but cloudy days also produce fish.
Conditions
1) Sunny days
2) Warm cloudy days
3) Few warm days in a row
4) Rising water Temperatures
5) Good water Conditions (Low and Clear)
6) Air temperature over 32 degrees
7) Water temp 35 plus (35 coldest I ever caught a smallmouth) 40 plus best
Water Temperature and Bass
Experienced Smallmouth anglers know the odds of taking a big bass are significantly increased in water temperatures below 60 degrees. In cooler temperatures, the largest bass are most likely shallow.
When Targeting big bass, the experts point to a correlation between smallmouth and water temperature the colder the water the bigger the bass. That is true to a certain point. However, at temperatures below 40 degrees the catch rate goes down.
· 35-45 degrees can be great for Big Bass
I have caught plenty of bigger bass in summer but all my biggest have come in the colder water period. As far as weight goes length as well.
Weather
Winter is the toughest time to fish ice, snow, and of course cold. I try never to go out fish when the daytime high will not go over the freezing mark it just makes for a rough day cleaning ice off of your line nonstop. As far as any other weather I go any time that I can get out. I have been out during snowstorms and caught lots of nice smallmouth. Warming trends three or more days can be great. Cloudy or sunny days don’t really matter I see no correlation been catching fish in winter in High or Low pressure.
Where to find Smallmouth
You do not have to think deep all the time I have had some of my best days in the winter catching smallmouth in 4-6 feet of water. Deep holes on the Allegheny and Youghiogheny hold a large amount of Smallmouth in the winter so start near there and work off those deeper holes. Another good spot is big eddy’s in any pool in the river look at ones that get sun Mid-day and late day.
Location
“During the winter, I fish the smaller, shallow rivers. In these waters in the cold-water period, smallmouth bass may be almost anywhere – except in the fast water. Bass can be shallow or deep, over rocky bottom or soft bottom. The key is very slow-moving water. For example, in the Youghiogheny, I find a lot of fish in 6-10-foot holes. But on the Juniata River, I am catching them in waist deep water. It depends on the characteristics of the particular river, with the only guarantee being the water must be slow,” stresses Cartwright. He describes one of the most consistent spots being a shoreline eddy where a protruding point of land creates a nearly slack water backwash eddy below it. Feeding smallmouth typically sit in the quiet part of the current seam right at the top of the eddy.
Target Locations
1) Deep holes that get lots of sun
2) The slowest water in a section of river current wise
3) Bank eddies in higher water level and flow
4) Areas where rock meet mud bottom
5) Below Tributaries or in them during high water
6) Wash out holes you can find these by looking for soft mud and debris.
Baits and Techniques
I go small and subtle with slow retrieves all the time bottom bouncing the lure in current naturally. Sometimes letting the lure sit on bottom for a minute or so. Feel is critical in the wintertime you must have great feel for your bait noticing a bite is difficult during this period. The smallmouth most days just scoop it up off the bottom it is almost impossible to feel it at times. These are not in order some work better at times. These are what I carry in my vest.
Lures
1) 3.5-inch Tube412ube 1/8 oz inserted head 3/0 hook (Green pumpkin black, Watermelon Red) 10% off Code: 412soty25
2) Zman Bug (Green Pumpkin) on 1/8 oz Weedless Finesse Jig
3) Bucktail Hair Jig 1/8 oz football head 2/0 hook (Black, Brown)
10% off Code: 412soty25
5) Skirted Jig 1/8 0z 3/0 hook with 412Bait company small Jaw craw trailer (SOTY, Green pumpkin purple) 10% off Code: 412soty25
6) 412bait Co Creature bait 2-3-inch 1/8 weighted hook10% off Code: 412soty25
7) Keitech Fat Swing Impact (different sizes at different times) on 1/8,3/16,1/4 Weighted Swimbait Hook
Hair Jigs
Hair jigs are an important part of winter fishing and are very versatile whether you fish in reservoirs or rivers. You can fish them on 6-pound gamma edge line using the “float and fly” technique. However, the way I like to use it is by just letting it sit on the bottom and giving it small, subtle movements. With this technique you can usually get sluggish fish to eat the jig. I use this technique in slack water on rivers, and deep drop-offs in reservoirs.
I use a VMC hair jigs in marabou with 1/16 and 1/8 oz jig heads. I also tie my own Bucktail Hair Jigs. I like dark colors mostly, but white can produce fish for me as well.
Presentation
Basically, how I fish tubes during winter Coldwater is best described as dead sticking. I cast the tube to a target area, allow it glide to the bottom and then let it rest, Depending on the amount of current, the tube might tumble along the bottom for a short distance, or the tube may simply sit on the bottom with tentacles waving gingerly. I do not does hop it or jig it or swim it. It just sits oozing crayfish scent until a smallmouth slowly goes up to it and sucks it in. Sometimes the pick-ups are incredibly soft, but other times smallies slam it. After 15 or 20 seconds of dead sticking, reel the bait in and make another targeted cast. I use 6lb Gamma Edge when the water is low and clear in the winter to toss smaller baits farther. When it is up with a bit of stain I'll goto 8lb Gamma Edge.
Winter can be a great time to catch smallmouth in rivers if conditions allow. Please watch the weather and water conditions, as they change fast in the winter. I watch the weather and water conditions every day. Three days in a row where water temperatures rise can produce results. Sunny days can produce, but there is no magic formula—just go out and fish.
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