2018.Fall Cold-Water Period Strategies

[Slip Sinker]

Cold-Water Period is here for many of us… for B.Gill I consider 49° and below till Hard-Water Period. What are your successes for fishing this period? What are your disappointments is there room for improvement? For me it is a frustrating time, a time near ice transition where the B.Gill turns into a different animal altogether. Quality and quantity are down…

[Slip Sinker]

More or less once the water temps gets below that 50° mark I have the tough time with the Lepomis… 20181010 was the last good bite with water temps in the low 60’s… we had a good above normal summer like start to October here in mid-michigan after the 10^th the bottom dropped out with the water temps with the repeated cold fronts and rain. Water temps dropped off quickly and so did the bite. The fall cold water period has always stumped me throughout my fishing history.

I struggled to get out three times in the cold-water period 4 fish on the first trip, 18 crappies on the second and a skunking on the third. It’s not that I couldn't find the fish I was on the them … they were on the flats less than 10’… no fish out deep confirmed by the sonar. Yet my methods could not bring them in the boat in numbers.

During those three cold-water period trips I felt the methods were good with proven history. I made sure the trips were in accordance with the solunar tables. The skunking was on an 11% FAL/Cold-water period day and knew fishing was going to be tough going in. only confirms the Solunar strategy.

With below normal temps racing in at the end of the week I’m calling my season when it comes to boat use… it’s been a successful record breaking season for me just edging out 2017 with the trophy fish. It also felt amazing getting family and friends on the trophy fish and a good bite.  

Once out on the ice I find the bite especially first ice in the magic 10’ contour line… crappies sometimes shallower. Last ice, ice out cold water period brings some nice numbers of quality fish.

 Last ice season I wasn't able to get out once due to ice transition or health issues. Crossing my fingers to get a few trips out there this upcoming season.