Fishing this time of year?

[SgtSabre]

I live right next to the Grand River near Lansing. I'm contually tempted to go fishing, but have never fished this time of year (except ice fishing)

Is it really very feasible? I wouldn't know where to start with this water tempurature. What kinds of things should I change vs. summer fishing?

[alex-v]

I wouldn't know where to start with this water tempurature. What kinds of things should I change vs. summer fishing?
The first thing to change or do different is to wear winter clothing:) . After that start by fishing with the same gear and techniques and experiment.

Lately I have been seeing guys fishing off the ends of docks using their ice jigs with wax worms instead of large hooks and minnows. Lighter line might be another good change to think about.

[SgtSabre]

Let me write that down......wear......winter.....clothing. :D

Check!

Do I really need to slow things down, so to speak? I mean, will the fish really be a lot slower and demand a slower, sluggish presentation?

Also, I should probably be more specific about my fishing:

In this stretch of river, I targeted walleye this summer. I ended up catching two that were below the limit. I hauled in countless smallmouth and three undersize pike.

I still am casting primarily walleye. I don't know if this stretch of river is the greatest walleye fishery in the grand, but it is close to home, so I fish it.

By the way, for those of you who may know it, it is the stretch directly under the Dimondale Dam (or the former Dimondale Dam, as it has been removed)

[alex-v]

The fish's metabolism slows down so they tend to move slower and prefer smaller pieces of food.

And, yes, dress warm. It is cooler on the water, even if just along the shore, than most people realize. At least until they get out there and start to shiver as they feel the cold.

[RyGuy525]

The fish will be a lot slower but depending on the species you are looking to catch they will be just as willing to bite if not more.

[DaveW731]

Consider slip bobbers and jigs with minnows or crawlers, as opposed to artificials....slower presentation+scent=more fish in colder weather. Another possibility would be to fish below the dam in Lansing (Moore's Park) using the same approach.
Just my 2c...

[Splitshot]

Fish smaller baits in winter and fish the slower deep holes. For walleye fish minnows. For panfish use small minnows or wax worms on tiny jigs.

By tiny I mean 1/64 ounce or smaller. Sometimes a waxworm is to big for the hook so I use a sissors to cut them in half.

Don't expect to catch many small mouths and if you fish downstream of Moores river dam, there are some steelhead.

[SgtSabre]

So, although I'm getting mixed signals here, the bottom line is go fishing , right??? :D

[RyGuy525]

I caught a ton of bluegills yesterday with a perch rig and waxworms.

[Splitshot]

I think it is all good information, not mixed signals, just different prefferences and yes go fishing.

[SgtSabre]

I think it is all good information, not mixed signals, just different prefferences and yes go fishing.

I was trying to be sarcastic with the mixed signals thing :D

[alex-v]

So, although I'm getting mixed signals here, the bottom line is go fishing , right??? :D
Yep. Go fishing!!

Like my dad said, "you never get old while you are fishing" so the idea is to go as often as possible.

[ckort]

Down here in Illinois, we have been wacking the largemouth. I caught over 30 yesterday, 13 last Friday, and 18 a week ago Friday. They have all been running between 16" - 18". We're throwing Bomber Flat "A" crankbaits and fishing them extremely slow. You don't even feel the bite, your line just gets heavy. Caught a few on suspending jerkbaits. Caught several on Bandit Flat Maxes deep divers. What a blast! Water temps down here are around 40 degrees. So at least get out and try it. You know, there are many negative effects of global warming, but being in your boat and catching a lot of fish in January isn't one of them! Good luck.