Why does the "bite" slow down, stop every winter before the ice starts to melt?

It always happen every year… why?

Lots of factors. Oxygen levels, fish metabolism, food source and availability, habitat changes (weeds deteriorating), and most fishermen never change their presentations.

The last one – fishermen – is probably a major factor in success. Guys continue to pound the same spots, same baits, same presentations….and in a very insane way of thinking, expect the same results as earlier in the season.

Randy has some good points. More pressure, colder water leading to lower fish metabolism, etc. Early ice is clearly the best fishing but its also the least safe.

Early in the season, fish are shallow and aggressive, its generally easier to get them to commit and bite. As weeds die, there is less oxygen in shallow water. Fish move to deeper water and become less aggressive, deep snow speeds the process as weeds cant continue to grow with no sunlight. Once the snow melts and the lakes start to get runoff the fishing picks back up. As stated above pressure is also a factor, not to mention that just like deer hunting, people inevitably keep fish for the table and as the season winds on, there are less fish to be caught.