Common Cold-Water Fish to Catch During the Winter
There is a misconception that freshwater lake fish tend to go dormant for the winter months, making it almost not worthwhile to head out onto the water. While it’s true that fish are less-active in cold water, they are still awake, moving around and hungry. Whether you are ice fishing, or fishing from the shore of a nearly-frozen lake, there are still plenty of species to target who will happily take a bite of the bait you’re offering. Let’s take a look at a few of the species you’re more likely to encounter while you fish during the dead of winter, along with what types of bait they prefer.
Perch
Perch is probably one of the most-common fishes available in lakes across the country, and fillets tend to have the perfect amount of “body” to them while being mild in flavor. Perch tend to prefer live baits, such as maggots or blood-worms, and they generally hunt for food along the bottom during the winter.
Northern Pike
These fish are muscular, sleek and large predators who are just as eager to catch a meal during the winter as they are when waters are warmer. They are also commonly found in lakes and large bodies of water in colder climates, making them an easy choice for fishermen from all over the country. Pike tend to prefer live small fish for bait, such as minnows and fry, but they will also go for artificial baits if they are enticed to pursue them.
Crappie
Crappie are common in northern lakes as well as those in the mid-latitudes. Their adaptability and appetite for a diverse diet make them easy targets in lakes around the country when other species such as bass close down for the winter. It is also thought that crappie are more-likely to chase artificial baits and spinners than some other cold-water species, but they also attack small, live minnows with surprising regularity.
Bluegill
Bluegill are curious by nature, love to chase prey, and remain surprisingly-active during the winter, even in frozen lakes. While they are considered to be some of the easiest fish to catch, their drawback is that they are pretty small. Consequently, expect to catch a few in order to provide enough meat for a decent meal. However, this shouldn’t be a problem once you find the spot where the bluegill are hitting. They seem to prefer baits that also appeal to perch, such as night crawlers, blood-worms and maggots.
Trout
Trout are known for their fight and present a challenge to anglers during the season. However, trout are also spend the winter looking for easy prey even when they are not as active. Trout are also arguably most-adapted to cold weather, which means you’ll find them on the hunt more often than other species in many cases. They are also excellent fish to seek out in creeks, streams and rivers that are flowing and not frozen.
As with other fish during the winter, smaller baits that don’t put up much of a fight present them with a more tempting option. Think minnows, worms, maggots and spinners as opposed to spoons. The trick with trout is to slow down and expect their reaction time to be a little longer than what you’re used to during warmer weather.
These are just a few examples of common fish that you can still catch during the dead of winter. In fact, there’s no reason that you need to stop fishing when water temperatures are at their coldest and ice is at its thickest. The trick is to learn how to adapt along with the fish, and prepare accordingly in order to enjoy the most success.
