With the Right Baits,ย Gear โ and Perseveranceย
In Alabama, anglers can fish all year long, mostly in relatively good weather, but even the Heart of Dixie experiences some biting cold occasionally, like the Snowpocalypse last winter.
Few people enjoy heading into a winter storm to fish, but all anglers must learn to deal with the worst conditions. Professional anglers regularly face weather extremes from blizzards to blistering hot.
โI fished some really bad days over the years, but one in particular stands out,โ says Denny Brauer, a former Bassmaster Classic champion. โWater coming off the trailers froze on the ramp as boats pulled out. The ramp became so slick that people were almost launching their trucks along with their boats. We ran to the lower end of the lake and pulled into a creek. I told my partner, โWeโre going to stay here all day. Iโm not making another run.โ I actually caught some good fish that day.โ
Hypothermia, the lowering of a bodyโs core temperature, can turn deadly. Wetness, wind or running fast in a boat can accelerate the body chilling dramatically. As hypothermia progresses, people become disoriented, slur their speech and canโt make clear decisions. Affected people need to get to external heat as soon as possible.
Every Gulf Coast angler battles strong winds periodically. A bitter north wind can make people miserable, but breezes create currents that position fish. Generally, fish face into current. Throw lures that generate noise and vibrations to overcome the wind noise and wave action, like a spinnerbait or crankbait.
โCrankbaits are very versatile baits to throw all year long for bass,โ says Gerald Swindle, a professional angler from Guntersville. โWhen water gets below 48 degrees, I usually throw a lipless crankbait. People can slow-roll it along the bottom or yo-yo it. In cold water, the key is adjusting the lure presentation to what the fish want.โ
On the Gulf Coast, anglers must contend with lightning more than ice and snow. More likely to occur during the summer, lightning can strike anywhere at any time. If caught in a boat during lightning storm, seek shelter. If thatโs not likely, lower all tall objects and get as low in the boat as possible. Donโt touch anything metal.
โOne of the scariest days Iโve ever fished was on the Alabama River,โ recalls legendary bass angler Shaw Grigsby. โAn electrical storm was so bad that I thought we were in the middle of a war with so much thunder cracking around us. I could just barely see another competitor standing up in his boat. When I looked again, he was not standing so I sat down. I tucked my back to the wind and just sat there. Later, I found out that the other angler went down because lightning struck his rod and folded him up. On bad days, donโt take chances.โ
Growing up, I wore hand-me-down military surplus field jackets and bulky โlong johns.โ Fortunately, technology has made tremendous improvements in foul-weather gear in recent years. Now, people can buy quality light gear that keeps them warm and dry during the worst weather so they can fish in comfort.
Severe weather affects fishermen more than fish, but wintry water reduces a fishโs metabolism. This makes cold-blooded creatures lethargic. They move less and eat less. Bass might not chase fast prey far from their lairs, but they could slurp something passing temptingly close and easy to catch. A jerkbait looks like a long minnow. People can work jerkbaits as rapidly or slowly as they want or let them hover in the water.
โJerkbaits are extremely versatile lures that can be fished in many different situations,โ says Randy Howell, a former Bassmaster Classic Champion from Guntersville. โThey are very good winter baits when fish are really slow and lethargic, but are effective all year long.โ
In cold water, bass often hold very close to cover. Pilings, tree trunks and other hard objects absorb some heat from the sun and radiate that warmth into the water. On a chilly day, just one or two degrees warmer could make a huge difference to cold-blooded bass. Put lures as close to cover as possible. Bass could suck in a worm and spit it out before the angler even detects the strike. If in doubt, set the hook!
Remember the old maxim: โA bad day fishing still beats a good day at work!โ Even on the worst days, anglers can still catch fish with proven techniques, quality gear and great perseverance.
John N. Felsher is a professional freelance writer who lives in Semmes, Ala. He also hosts an outdoors tips show for WAVH FM Talk 106.5 radio station in Mobile, Ala. Contact him atย [email protected]ย or through Facebook.
