Open Water in Winter?

[Hawnjigs]

Never have never will ice fish, but moving water here provides opportunity to get some tugs during warm window ice melts. Last week walked a mile of river bank with a bit of snow on shady ground and got around 20 mostly 10" rainbow trout + a bonus 15# carp hungry enuf to bite a jig. 1/16 #6 fur ties with red head red tail & gold head white tail being most productive. Fly guys would be throwing #18 - #22 minis to match the skeeter & midge forage but I had no problem getting bit getting adequate casting distance on 4# Power Pro main w/ 4# clear hybrid fluoro-mono leader. First session of the cold season looking forward to longer treks for bigger fish, altho the lake that feeds the river was rotenone killed this year to eliminate carp & suckers.

What are you guys catching with the weather turning cold ?

 

[hookup]

Smallmouth still hitting in the mid-Atlantic Piedmont rivers

 

[reddog]

Spent a couple nice days on the Missouri River in SD last week pitching 1/4 oz lead with Berkley Twitchtail minnows... So happy to be in the boat again..

 

[Hawnjigs]

3" Twitchtails are one of my go-tos for walleye white pearl and opening night colors. What are you catching with what sizes/colors Twitchtails?

 

[reddog]

3" Twitchtails are one of my go-tos for walleye white pearl and opening night colors. What are you catching with what sizes/colors Twitchtails?

Walleyes. 3 inch. Primarily Watermelon Pearl, Smelt,and Pearl white. Color really doesn't matter in 34 degree water. It's more of making a presentation that they don't have to chase.

 

[reddog]

I'm afraid boat fishing is done for a while.. fun while it lasted though