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39 Degrees and No Bass
#13423962
02/02/20 04:37 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 96
Heron
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 96 |
I'm trying to console myself for my lack of catching today. Is 39 degree water temp a good excuse?
The lake was Lloyd Vincent (NW Oklahoma), and if my sonar was halfway correct, I fished over/through thousands of fish (including bait fish, of course) with nary a bite. No idea what all of the fish were but surely some were bass. Any time I hit 20 feet or deeper, there were sizable fish on my screen. I tried a drop shot, Damiki rig, blade bait, spoon, deep jerk bait and a few others, worked slow but nada.
Any recommendations other than "keep plugging" or "wait for warmer water"? I'm not discouraged, btw, mainly based on the fish images and success last Spring and Summer, but just curious if there's something I haven't considered.
Any suggestions for offshore fishing in cold water other than methods mentioned above?
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Re: 39 Degrees and No Bass
[Re: Heron]
#13423992
02/02/20 05:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,194
rxkid2001
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,194 |
Slooooooooooooowwww doooowwwwwwnnnnnnnnn. That temp is frigid for oklahoma. I'd throw a jerk bait, with super long between twitches.
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Re: 39 Degrees and No Bass
[Re: Heron]
#13424353
02/02/20 05:21 PM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 973
Greg W
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 973 |
If it makes you feel any better, I blanked yesterday in 53 degree water. Once the temp went below 58 it's slowed way down for me. Only thing I've caught a bass on in January is a C-rig with baby brush hog.Threw jerk bait, chatter bait, cranks along rocks. I got one bite on a drop shot but didn't land it.
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Re: 39 Degrees and No Bass
[Re: Heron]
#13424358
02/02/20 05:23 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 26,650
senko9S
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 26,650 |
backlash/deadsticking technique?
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Re: 39 Degrees and No Bass
[Re: Heron]
#13424925
02/03/20 03:33 AM
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 563
texasAUtiger
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 563 |
Well Iโm in Central TX (Lake Waco) the water is 57-59 and I can for sure say there are no fish in 15โ of water or less coming out from the bank. I went all over the lake twice with almost nothing to show for it.
Hopefully the worm will turn soon...
I simply donโt know how to catch them this time of year til they begin to move up.
Last edited by texasAUtiger; 02/03/20 03:34 AM.
Ranger z21 Mercury 250 ProXS
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Re: 39 Degrees and No Bass
[Re: Heron]
#13425426
02/03/20 05:49 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,683
redskeet100
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,683 |
I am fishing Skiatook and the water temps are 45-47. Fishing is super slow. Nothing deep is biting it seems. I have ran a jig, umbrella rig, jigging spoon, ned rig, shaky head and deep diving cranks with a few bites, but no catches. Frustrating to see balls of shad and then heads around it and not get bit. It is driving me crazy, but I am catching a fish here and there on rocky banks with crankbaits. I keep telling myself it is winter fishing, but wondering too if I am not fishing correctly.
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Re: 39 Degrees and No Bass
[Re: Heron]
#13425445
02/03/20 06:01 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 5,874
Bayou Burner
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 5,874 |
Bust out the Ned rig stuff
"Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway."
John Wayne
ADHAERO VIRTUTI
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Re: 39 Degrees and No Bass
[Re: redskeet100]
#13425486
02/03/20 06:25 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,843
rj74955
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,843 |
I am fishing Skiatook and the water temps are 45-47. Fishing is super slow. Nothing deep is biting it seems. I have ran a jig, umbrella rig, jigging spoon, ned rig, shaky head and deep diving cranks with a few bites, but no catches. Frustrating to see balls of shad and then heads around it and not get bit. It is driving me crazy, but I am catching a fish here and there on rocky banks with crankbaits. I keep telling myself it is winter fishing, but wondering too if I am not fishing correctly. Skiatook is your main problem. Pitiful bass lake.
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Re: 39 Degrees and No Bass
[Re: Heron]
#13425536
02/03/20 07:07 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 8,388
Jpurdue
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 8,388 |
This time of year, the shad ball in huge schools on the main lake, which is less prone to temperature shifts which can kill the shad. I think this concentration of bait fish makes it super easy for the fish to feed. Because of this, and their low metabolism this time of year, I think they have ultra short feeding windows. So unless you happen to smack one in the face during one of these short windows, your throwing at suspended fish that just aren't feeding.
At least that's my theory why I only boated one 3lb fish yesterday in 54 degree water!
Last edited by Jpurdue; 02/03/20 07:13 PM.
"Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish goes home through an alley." -A.L. www.LunkerLore.com
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Re: 39 Degrees and No Bass
[Re: Heron]
#13425605
02/03/20 08:05 PM
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 557
Medinalakeguy
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 557 |
Falcon Rods > G.Loomis 2004 Skeeter ZX250 JIMBO WINBO
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Re: 39 Degrees and No Bass
[Re: rj74955]
#13425620
02/03/20 08:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,683
redskeet100
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,683 |
[/quote] Skiatook is your main problem. Pitiful bass lake. [/quote]
This is my 3rd year on the lake and have done pretty well in spring & summer. Fall and winter have been struggles.
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Re: 39 Degrees and No Bass
[Re: Heron]
#13425652
02/03/20 08:41 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 506
Pitdad
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 506 |
I'm convinced water freezes at 32 degrees and bass freeze below 58 degrees.
Wait'll March and you'll be a bass whackin' hero again.
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Re: 39 Degrees and No Bass
[Re: Pitdad]
#13425673
02/03/20 08:59 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 8,388
Jpurdue
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 8,388 |
I'm convinced water freezes at 32 degrees and bass freeze below 58 degrees.
Wait'll March and you'll be a bass whackin' hero again. This is kind of true. In the summer when their metabolic rates are high, bass need to eat everyday. In the winter, that can drop to once every couple days. In real cold water up north, it can drop to as low as once every 5 days. Add to that, highly concentrated bait, and it makes for ultra tough fishing.
"Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish goes home through an alley." -A.L. www.LunkerLore.com
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Re: 39 Degrees and No Bass
[Re: Heron]
#13425853
02/03/20 11:16 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 26,650
senko9S
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 26,650 |
bass are crazy. they can survive being frozen solid in a block of ice.
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