It's now Mid-Winter and my small waters are icing over. Where are the bass? What are they doing down there? Support for The Nature of Fishing: The Nature of Fishing Patreon Page: / the_nature_of_fishing PayPal: www.youtube.co...
I fished a whole winter without a single fish, but once i finally caught one it was the best feeling of my life, Matt Allen & Tim Little designed a DD crank for burning in winter and they say it will make them react regardless of water temp...
Hi, Michael. I've actually videoed bass bolting to chase prey under ice cover. But it's darn rare. Most of the time those fish look like they are swimming through molasses, which they nearly are. "...make them react, regardless..." sounds like an advertisement. I didn't see the episode but suspect a DD crank is likely fished shallow an ground into the bottom, effectively slowing it. Always worth trying some faster retrieves. If anything, you know pretty quick whether it'll do the trick. But those times are pretty darn limited in the dead of winter. There are times and places when the probabilities are higher. Some examples: During shad die-offs during cold spells (easy prey). In waters with large numbers of bass in high competition. But in most times and places, slow retrieves rule in really cold water, slower than most people could stand to do, or maybe have ever tried. I once developed a jig/spinnerbait that turned groups of cold water bass on like a light switch (ok and dimmer lol). The only magic was its ability to fish swim at almost nil forward speed. It consisted of a flat Slider head, a thick brush of deer hair, a buoyant trailer, and a clip-on overhead Colorado spinner. Most winter bass I've fished over are simply unwilling to chase. My 2cents. -Paul
Hi, Dan. Great! Another fisherman out there who wants to know whaat the heck goes on down there. :) Feel free to share with like-minded friends. Cheers, Paul.
Thanks blk. Yeah, this was always the kind of info I wanted to know. Sometimes you just have to do stuff yourself. :) I was a NE angler too, from upstate NY originally. Where do you hail from?
Im in new hampshire and fish mostly small bodies of water like yourself, so your videos are so helpfull especially all the underwater shots. It would be very interesting to see some underwater shots of the bass all clumped together during this time of year.If the weather allows for it im going to put your info to good use this weekend.
@@blkgsxr04able Yes, I'd love to get some shots like that. Watching the weather here for a break. We often get thaws, so I'm watching. Bass aren't always grouped up in winter though. Seems grouping is densest in waters where winter habitat is limited, such as in rivers (current), or big productive waters with very large populations of bass. My under ice vids so far have been in low fertility dishpan waters with very clear water, for video quality. In these waters I see bass cruising in pairs and small groups, like they do other times of year. But they are entirely bottom oriented, and much slower, like they are swimming through molasses, which they pretty much are! Your waters may or may not have big groups. But there will be places they prefer and are the places to spend your time. Tough thing about winter though, and I mention this in this VFJ11, is that many bass are non-biters so divining such spots by rod-n-reel alone can be tough -time consuming and require a tolerance for fishless periods. Being able to read habitat is really helpful. Prime advice for winter bass fishing is to look deeper (main mass, or near it), look for steep gradients, look for hard cover. In contourless waters, “prominant objects” are the things to look for. And they may be subtle. See VFJ10 too if you haven’t. VFJ12 takes place in a pond where bass consolidate, and at ice-out before the bass have begun to distribute. And, I’m editing the first Winter video for this year now. I see my VFJ’s as archives, that can be referred back to every year, like any good fishing journal, because things really do cycle around again every year. What’s different are the water body types and the conditions & circumstances on each given day. Hope this helps. Let me know what you discover. I can’t be everywhere, even though I’d love to be! :) Paul
I really appreciate them. You videos are very thorough which is great. I was excited to seem them I still have several I have not seen, I have a reservoirs where it is only shore fishing. Maybe 8 feet deep at best (drinking water). No bait fish but blue gill and trout for the big girls. It seems to me the biggies here like to eat early in the am. We do have craws and I got my PB small mouth the 1st day I got my new license for the year, she was in the grass 3lber! 3 cast lol
Nice start to the year! Gosh they are beautiful fish. Your water sounds like some of mine. I love fishing from the shoreline. It's just nice being out hoofn around lakes, ponds, and streams. And its always great to be able to survey shoreline areas as I hoof around. Some of my waters have high banks too, which give me a good view into the water. Years ago I would climb trees to look in. Such looking has saved me a lot of fruitless casting. Although, I actually enjoy the fruitless casting time too. :) Cheers, Paul
@@thenatureoffishing7591 i get to go from shore but then I do get to fish deep clear lakes out here in cali......drop shot is best in winter from the bass boat. I get to practice all forms boat and kayak and shore. Pretty cool. I will keep checking out your stuff and put in a cent or two of mine own LOL
Excellent video. I enjoyed how you applied the science of water density to the temperature of the water and how and where we should be looking for these beautiful fish. And it was all done with calm, cool analysis and no hubris. The video does not stray from the subject - how to read the water in mid-winter and where to find the fish. Well done!
Thanks, Ed. It can be tough to listen to a talking head. Not sure how better to break things up than relevant b-roll. And I can't keep em short: There's just too much going on out there. I'm guessing... actually we know... there are a whole lot simpler planets out there in our galaxy. Guess I should be happy I'm on this one. :) Keep on keepin' on!
Awesome. Thanks, shltplease. Yeah, I am a bit "clinical". That's bc its not easy to figure stuff out. I've taken my fishing seriously for quite some time now. And enjoyed the heck out of it all too. :)
Your videos are the best! They are detailed, scientific and well-researched. I have learned so much about bass behavior, spawns, types of lines and why bass do what they do. BTW, your videos are excellent. Always look forward to your videos. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, tonylou! Wish I could do more of them. Working on it! Right now I'm finishing up my next documentary, on the development of behavior from egg to adult in LMB. Hoping to release... soon. Glad you're able to be patient.
That's what I think! :) Wasn't sure starting out how many people want that much info. But that's what I've always felt is missing in so many articles and vids about fishing. "What conditions!!! And why??!! I'd practically shout.
You always have great videos with a ton of information, and I appreciate that. Do you have any tips for cold muddy water (45 degree and below, with less than 2 ft. visibility) ? I fish the Potomac River (Washington DC and below) with tide changes and very few contour changes.
Thanks, SMD. I appreciate the opportunities for discussion. I can't be everywhere, although I wish I could! :) Man... cold muddy water, in my exp, is the toughest combination of conditions. A couple potential saving graces, if they set up: -If bass are used to muddy water, they can adapt to feeding in it at some level. If not, you might want to put your time in elsewhere. That said, I've been known to "beat dead horses" just to see if I could get their hearts to make one or two more beats. :)) And sometimes, you learn something new that was even worth the pain. -One thing that can egg them on, on any water body or nearly any conditions, is the availability of vulnerable prey (And I'm not talking about your lure. One prey item isn't often a green light.) This kind of thing doesn't happen every year in every water body, although some water types, and prey types, are more apt to offer this more consistently than others. A common one is shad die-offs during winter, which can get bass actually chasing. But, mud can hinder visibility and strike distance, sometimes enough to shut it down, food or no food. -Tidal bass tend to be fairly predictable in terms of wintering locations, bc current (the general avoidance of it) can make lots of water (often main channel) inhospitable. Good wintering areas (depth, eddies, steep contours, wood cover -often side channels), can really collect up fish too. But, as you probably already know, their movements around the tides can keep you on your toes. All fish are highly aware of water level changes, and quick to react, probably due to the threat of stranding in shallow areas, and buoyancy stability issues. -Tactics? Bass may not expect to feed much, so they may hole up and be fairly inactive. I've found, in both bass, and stream trout (I think for similar reasons) that they really appreciate dense hard cover, and they'll crowd in and sit tight in it. I learned to catch stream trout, and steelhead, by literally dropping nymphs down into gaps in wood cover piled up in deep slow eddies (Discovered on one of my dead-horse adventures). I've seen this in river bass too. Lures? First, it has to be close. Don't expect them to come to you. So, flippin' bulky (not necessarily large) jigs that move water (finesse with trailer, or hair jigs) is a good plan. For horizontal retrieves, I've always gone with noisy (wake more important than sound, I think), visible (black against background lighting, white or fluorescents against dark backgrounds), slow (so they can realize they cold actually catch the thing), and steady (bc they won't likely bother with evasive prey). My thoughts. If you find a few heartbeats, lemme know! Cheers, SMD.
Hi Paul! I love your videos! Here in Texas I am putting all this information to good use and becoming (albeit slowly but surely) a better angler everyday. Thank you for taking the time to help us understand not just the ‘how’ to fishing but the ‘why’. The initial allure to fishing for me is trying to understand bass behavior and this channel is invaluable. What tool are you using to sharpen your hooks? Funny how most informative videos I see don’t highlight things like that to do on the water and I really feel like it helps not only with hook sets but completely turn my confidence back around.
Hi, Mallory. Thanks for the wonderful comment. We're on the same page! I'm slowly but surely becoming a better angler too. There are lots of details worth sharing; I always had those questions too. Hook sharpening is a biggie in my experience. Esp noticeable as you get really sensitive with your gear. Oh... I'm using small files. The one in the video is a 1.99/set hardware store Chinese made file. Lots ok f things work. Been meaning to do a video on hook-sharpening. Thanks for the encouraging comment. More to come. Lots to cover. Cheers, Paul
Please explain what you mean by "red teeth". I also noticed that you were checking the gills. Are these changes that occur in bass under colder water conditions?
Hi, Dennis. "Red teeth", or turgid (blood-engorged) tooth pads are a phenomenon I noticed years ago, esp in winter caught bass. I have found no research looking into it. I keep track of it out of curiosity. (Little things can sometimes turn into big things.) The best explanation came from an aquaculturist who claimed it was a stress response to very cold water. Although I, and friends who watch for such thing, have seen "red teeth" all year round, it's most common in winter by far, and is most intense, literally brilliant oxygen-packed scarlet red. I check the belly and gills (actually the branchiostegals) for turgid tissue as well, since it shows up there in extreme cold.
Hi, again. I really don't know. And have not been able to find any scientists who have looked into it. The most common explanation amongst fisherman is that they are eating crayfish. But... that's not it. At least what I, and many anglers I've been in contact with, are seeing. What I'm seeing is not damage, but turgidity, blood engorged tooth pads and, to a lesser extent, ventrally located fin bases and just under the skin along the belly. It is most common in winter, the colder the water it seems, the redder, more turgid, it can get. I, and some friends, have seen it during summer now too, but not nearly as commonly, or as brilliant red. A few ideas on possible causes have been batted around. Best info, so far, is from a professional aquaculturist who thinks it is a response to cold stress.
Love all the details. Does the temp still flip like that with higher temps? Here in CA water temps have been in the high 40s and I’ve been wondering if it’s warmer for them near the bottom of smaller lakes (20-30 ft)
Great! So do I. Cool stuff. Generally, no. If your surface is now in the high 40s, the deeper water is not likely to be warmer. Warmer (and colder) water than 39F water should be on top. At those temps you mention, the lake has "turned over" (destratified from summer stratification) already and the entire water column is very likely all very close to the same temperature. This is called "iso-thermic". However, very cold fronts can drop surface waters temporarily, making them cooler than the water beneath, but only temporarily. Heat has a way of distributing itself in certain predictable ways. Heat gets around in water 3 ways: Radiation, directly from the sun's rays. Conduction by direct contact from heated adjacent water layers or objects. Convection, by mixing with other water layers; Think current, often by wind in natural lakes and ponds. The larger the water body the more apt you are to have different layers or pockets of water each potentially carrying different amounts of heat. How that heat is distributed is a matter of the above three forces. An exception is highly saline water -as might be found in a tidal river, and down close to the saltwater. Highly saline water is more dense than fresh (or "pure" water) and will sink below it and can cause warmer saline water to sink below cooler freshwater. Now... water gains and gives up heat slowly. So it takes quite a bit to change water temps appreciably. Water temperature is generally pretty stable. Wind may be the quickest mover of acquired heat. How important is heat to bass? Biologists call it the "master factor". However, I am still trying to get a bead on when its important enough to be concerned with. So far, I am still making careful observations and it seems to play a strong role in fish activity. But teasing out the reasons for short term changes in catchability is a difficult to pin down. Other things can trump temperature, at times, such as security (cover) and food. Hope this helps.
The Nature of Fishing Awesome response!!! I’m glad to have that question settled mentally now and will have a better idea on the water. Thanks for your time!
I blown away with each video I have learned more from your channel than a year's worth of watching all the other youtubers. However I am more confused. I live in Arizona and all the Fisher men here talk about turn over but the lakes hardly ever get below 50 degrees. We have some deep lakes and I have pulled bass out of 50 feet in the winter. Is it a whole different ball game in the desert.
Hi, NS. Red teeth pads, actually blood engorged tooth pads, is something I first noticed under the coldest conditions in winter. And it can be so noticeable then, that I was curious. I've found no research on the phenomenon, and the frequent angler-explanation is that it comes from their eating crayfish. But this is not what I, and many others who I've talked with about this, are seeing. I believe its a hormonal response and the best explanation I've heard was from an aquaculturist who felt it was stress related. We see "red teeth" here and there throughout the year, but it’s much more common and a much more brilliant scarlet red -like highly oxygenated arterial blood- in the coldest periods in winter. I comment on it as I look over my fish when I catch them. It's the type of observation that might yield something interesting in the future. Thanks for asking. Wish I could tell you more, and what such an observation might be "good for". Cheers, Paul
tonylou, I'm in Colorado. That probably puts me a bit further north, and at much higher altitude. I have a friend in S Indiana, who really knows his stuff so we chat quite a bit. Interestingly, his fish tend to be very close seasonally, with mine. The altitude part weighs in too, but... it's more "local" (direct Conditions & Circumstances -again!) in effects. I'd like to do a video on this, bc I am lucky in some really helpful ways to have the climate and weather patterns I do here. Viewers have asked what the altitude difference might mean, and compare to their fishing. I did respond at some length to a viewer a bit ago on this question. FYI: If you were to spin through the comments on each video, I tend to respond to questions at some depth. I'm just not a sound-byte kind of guy. :) I try to keep in mind people who live all across the LM's range. Interestingly, LM's share a lot in terms of basic physiology and behavior across that range. My guess is that this may have to do with the relatively recent glaciations, making the bass we know, relatively "recent" from an evolutionary perspective. Also, since bass have been introduced to much of their current range, and stockings continue to occur everywhere, there may be less diversity across the range. Add to these the fact that bass are amazingly adaptable critters, allows the "basic model" to be plug-n-play just about everywhere. Fascinating critter.
What flippers would you recommend if I want to wear my wading boots with the flippers? Thanks! P.S. another awesome and very informational video! Keep up the great work.
I'm using Creek Company fins but the foot bed is narrow enough that I use neoprene booties. These are the only ones I've used so I can't say much about other types. Searching "float tube fins" on Google shows several that can be used with wading boots. I'd look at price and reviews and go from there. Outcast makes several models from $30 up.
The Nature of Fishing thanks Paul. Luckily I’m located in the Bay Area so cold isn’t too much of an issue. Glad you are checking though for my safety! Definitely make a vid for safety. I could learn a lot. Thanks!
