So many people shut it down as far as fishing goes when winter time hits. Winter fishing is one of my favorite times of the year to fish especially in Georgia on Lake Lanier. Fish tend to group up in tight schools in the winter time across the country. Of course different bodies of water and types of Bass do different things. If you are fishing Lake Lanier, Lake Hartwell, Carters Lake or Lake Allatoona or any spotted bass lake for that matter this is is surely going to help you.
WHAT IS A DITCH?
So when the waters start to cool the bass will go on a crazy feeding frenzy to prepare for the winter. Bass still have to eat once winter arrives. Spotted bass are very predictable during the winter months. If you can brave the cold temperatures then you can have an absolute blast and catch lots of numbers and some big bass as well. As the water temps approach the 50’s the bass will start to move deep into the ditches. In lake Lanier and surrounding Spotted Bass Georgia Lakes the timber and the ditches are the key this time of year.
You have to be patient if you are fishing by boat and look for the fish in the ditches. I know a lot of you may be asking what is a ditch. Ditches are back in the creeks and they look like the little fingers breaking off the main creeks. Below are three good examples of ditches. I always feel the sweet depth is anywhere from 35-45 foot deep. Obviously we are still targeting the deep timber and structure down deep.
HOW TO APPROACH A DAY IN THE WINTER TIME
So in the morning time the fish are in the shallow ditches in about 10-20 foot of water. hey are a little more aggressive usually in the early morning so you can target them with a fish head spin or a crank bait that dives to 15 feet. You can also target rock that gets the first bit of sun in the morning.
After the early morning bite is over which is usually the first hour or so of daylight I like to move out to the deeper ditches I spoke about. There are sooo many things that these fish will react to during the winter ditch bite. I find that I have more success with the bottom bumping baits that crawl on the bottom such as a worm, jig, etc… I absolutely love the spotsticker Crawler Head paired with a Hula Grub. But a shaky head with a robe worm in the Oxblood color can be great as well. A tube can be another great option as well as a brown jig.
Side note I love the color brown for winter time fishing. If you see fish right under the boat using your electronics you also may want to drop a vertical presentation to the bass such as a Flex It Spoon. With the spoons the bite can be kind of tricky and you will want to experiment. Remember presentation can change day to day. But in general you will pop the spoon up once it hits the bottom and let it drift back down. Make sure you do not let it drift on slack line. Most of the bites will occur on the way down or once it hits the bottom. A lot of times it is hard to hook them very well so make sure to keep a bend in the rod the entire time while you are reeling the bass up.
On over cast days I generally fish in the ditches all day long as the bite seems to stay consistent. If the sun is out I generally focus on ditches as well but I mix in some deeper docks or marina docks as well. A lot of times I will cast at the dock and let my lure hit the bottom and shake it a little bit. If I do not get bit right away I will cast again at another spot. They usually hit it once the bait hits the bottom. I also like to hit the rock areas on warm days. The water is a little warmer and I have found that you can find big bass catching some rays on these rocky areas. One bait that consistently catches the bigger bass for me this time of year is a deep diving crank bait bounced against the rock.
To trigger these bass into biting this time of year you want to make sure your crank bait is deflecting of those rock piles. If you want to get it down deeper than you may have to use lighter fluorocarbon leader. Also keep in mind when you are bouncing these baits against the bottom you will need to frequently retie your line because it will get beat up. Make sure you take the time to freshen your knots so you won’t be disappointed when you get your bite.
Listen guys I understand it is cold out there!! You will be tempted to just give up and go in. What you have to understand is that you may have to go to several different spots before you find the fish. Keep your eyes open for birds. If you see the birds then they are around the bait. If you find that bait then the fish will be somewhere close by. Also to make sure that you persevere long enough to find the fish you will need to be dressed appropriately. Watch this VIDEO for my Cold temperature fishing gear and clothes.
If you can stay warm you will be a lot happier on the water.
So guys in conclusion give winter time fishing in Georgia a try. You can find fish in large groups and have a great day catching a lot of nice nice fish. If you can catch them deep than look for the warmest water you can find shallow (docks, and rocks) and give that a try. Stay warm and come dressed in layers. I hope this helps someone catch more bass in the Georgia Lakes. Make sure to like us on facebook, follow us on instagram, and subscribe on our website if you haven’t already.
PS. If you set the hook with a bottom style bait and miss the fish do not reel in angrily. Click your bail and let the bait sink back to the bottom and I bet you 5 out of 10 times that bass will bite it again. YOU ARE WELCOME!!!
