Who says?

[Leaky33]

Who says LM bass fishing ain't any good in cold whether? Went to a reservoir in S.E. Id. where the temps. have been below freezing at night and gets up to like the mid 50s on recent warmer days.
Any way, carried the tube to shore, saw water fairly clear so I thought I'd try a little sight/shallow water fishing from shore. Did catch 3 nice ones while covering a good bit of shore line. Never did see any in the shallows so went back to the tube, crossed over to the opposite bank and fished that side heading up res. Didn't catch a thing. This is the cold side (South) so after wasting my time fishing a good distance up res., I crossed over and started heading back to an area that was always good to me a good distance down res. Well, it's getting late, suns behind the mountains and I'm getting cold. Wouldn't you know, I started catching em on about ever 2-3 casts. Here I am shaking like a wind blown leaf and I've hit the the mother load. [] Well, I could only stand catching 8 more in just this one area and had to head in brrrrrrr. [frown] What was amazing was I caught only 1 dink and 11 that ranged from 14-16 in.
I've attached a few pic.s but didn't include them all since they all get to looking the same. Besides I didn't take pics. of everyone anywho. []

P.S. All of em were released to fight another day.

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[davetclown]

I have been eyeballing a toon lately, I went to a fly fishing class at bass pro shop, and they had a toon there that I was druling over... I will have to go back and look when I have more time,

I am thinking toon as aposed to tube because I dont want to get my feet wet in that ice cold water...[:p] and I dont want to invest in to a thermal diving suit.

below freezing in michigan too, night fore last was 20* but we have guys standing on the river side every night fishing for trout and salmon...

this is the best time of year to fish, they seem to put on the feed bags and ungulf everything in site..

congrats on the catch, nice lookin lmb...
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[peter805]

Nice going big Dady !!! Even with pictures this time !
Congrats[]

Peter
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[ParrMark]

Very nice Fred! Thanks for the report.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Way to go young man. Sounds like a good trip.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Largemouths seem to remain active in cold water more than smallies do. A good example is Pelican. Lots of largies through the ice over there. But wherever the smallies are they seem to go deep and get lockjaw in the winter. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Won't be long until you need an auger to launch your tube.[/#0000ff]
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[Leaky33]

That seems to be opposite to popular beliefs??? Smallies being a colder climate fish would seem to refute that? I guess I just learned something new!!! [] I was kind of counting on doing some smallie fishing in rivers, are you saying that LM in the reservoirs might be active longer?? Maybe that's an ufair comparison ofmoving water versus still water?? That's interesting. [shocked] It sounds like if I go back even latter that i could very well have good results? [:/]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]You can't always go by the "warm water vs cold water" fishes classifications. It means nothing. Each species has its own habits regardless of what label is pinned on them. And, they don't all act the same in different areas...or even in the same lake. There will be some days in late fall or early spring when you can catch smallies in shallow water...and also catch them in 60 feet of water. They do not have a standard setting.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have fished both smallies and largies all over the country. I don't claim to have them all figured out. But, in the warm southern states, largemouths get pretty quiet in the cold times. But, down there cold might be 60 degree water. In the northern states you can sometimes catch smallmouths all winter in the shallower lakes and in the rivers. If they can't go deep they stay more active.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Deer Creek reservoir is a good example. It is fairly deep and both largemouths and smallmouths head for the deepest water in the winter. Hardly ever see one of either species caught through the ice on Deer Creek. Ditto for Pineview, although there are a few. Pelican and Utah Lakes are shallow and both of them see a lot of largemouth taken through the ice every winter. Go figure.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Never say never...or always. Each water seems to be different in the way the fish act in cold water. But, if you can find smallies in flowing water in the winter you can sometimes get them on big flies, plastics or slowly fished bait. They won't move far or fast but they will hit.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]I would say to keep going back to your honey hole as long as the ice stays off and the fish are willing to play with you. [/#0000ff]
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[Leaky33]

Thanks bud. []
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[RiverRat77]

Nice job Leaky...way to put a hurt on em!! You know, there is a nice 65 degree pond you can catch LM out of too.... just kidding man. Hey Pat, can I get your # in a PM again please? Tried to call you to get with you about the PVC cart and the number I've got says its disconnected. Thanks sir.... might hit you up this weekend if you've got the time. Leaky, totally stoked about our potential trip on the 18th!!
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[Leaky33]

Another question,
Do LM tend to school up in colder whether or is it a depends on the water answer again? Was wondering if I just happened to hit a school right after crossing over to the warmer side or was it because it is the warmer side (South facing)?
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[TubeDude]

[quote Leaky33] Another question,
Do LM tend to school up in colder whether or is it a depends on the water answer again? Was wondering if I just happened to hit a school right after crossing over to the warmer side or was it because it is the warmer side (South facing)?[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Largies do tend to school more during the winter. Bass pros know this and look for humps or other structure they like to hang out on. Of course they like warm springs too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If the fish are looking for warmth, you will usually find them more on north banks...that face south into the sun. And they will sometimes lay just under the surface or close to the edge to allow the sun's rays to warm the black lateral line along their sides.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You got that one figgered out pretty good. Did Sparky help ya with that one?[/#0000ff]
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[Leaky33]

Yep.[]
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