mid winter bite

  • Trevor Schroedl
    Posts: 3
    #1507233

    What is the best thing to do in the middle of the winter for panfish in general? I go out every weekend and Mark a bunch of fish but can not get many to bite.So what does everyone else do to get big fish and many of them in this mid season lull?

    Nate Northup
    Madison, WI area
    Posts: 225
    #1507236

    I feel your pain man. I guess just downsize, downsize, downsize. Was out last weekend and got one fish all day.

    Trevor Schroedl
    Posts: 3
    #1507247

    Yeah I was thinking that and same we only caught one also but marked so many but nothing would commit to bite I’ll try downsizing would plastics work also or even better?

    Yoshi
    Posts: 104
    #1507332

    I literally keep changing presentations until I succeed. There are days I use every color, size and baits

    Nate Northup
    Madison, WI area
    Posts: 225
    #1507565

    Yeah same here. Have you guys tried those through-head tungstens coming out of russia and finland? I just read a piece about em in In-Fisherman. They’re super tiny. I have a bunch of #24 fly hooks that I might try tying something enticing for mid-winter panfish on.

    lundojam
    Posts: 255
    #1507679

    1# line and the tiniest jigs you can find is a place to start. Time of day might be the most important part of the deal, though. When they go, they go, and you need to be there )

    curleytail
    Posts: 674
    #1508026

    I tend to fish basin fish – usually crappies. Normally if I’m able to find a good size school of them, they are pretty agressive biters.

    If you don’t have that option, then I agree that downsizing often works with super finicky panfish. I use live bait 95% of the time, but for very inactive fish I may use live bait to see if that makes a difference.

    If that all fails, sometimes big, flashy, and agressive can trigger strikes. Seems backwards, but sometimes ripping a flashy walleye spoon can flip a switch for panfish – it’s surprising how hard they hit sometimes when ripping a flashy, fluttering spoon.

    Tucker

    Reaperswrenchman
    NULL
    Posts: 2
    #1508093

    I agree on spoons. Last weekend it was cold and windy, Ice limit of crappie. Used blood worms and small slender spoons. Blue gills were in the mix. Tipped with red spikes.

    Doug Wood
    Posts: 13
    #1508123

    Can’t argue with changing things up a bit. I’m a firm believer that fish get conditioned in the winter to see the same thing.

    curleytail
    Posts: 674
    #1508146

    Another important thing I coach many on when I fish with them:
    When the fish aren’t very agressive, make sure the bait is easy to eat. I make it a point to always stop the bait above with fish (close bail with rod tip up), and then use the rod to lower the bait to the fish.

    I see hots of guys let the jig drop through a school, then reel it back up. Then start bouncing it around, sometimes giving it a good hop just as the fish gets to it. Do too much of that and the fish just lose interest.

    I’ve seen a whole active school go cold from too much of this. Relatively consistent movements, whether it be pounding, or gently swimming, is often the key to getting (letting) a neutral mood fish to eat. Making them chase it up is often good, just make sure it’s consistent and they are able to catch up to it.

    Sometimes a couple good hops get get a fish’s attention and get them moving, but then make sure they are able to get the thing in their mouth.

    Tucker

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