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“ Winter Fishing with Electronics” by Joe Owens Without question, catching bass throughout the winter can be a tough and frustrating experience for allot of fisherman, especially largemouth’s. Not only are bass cold-blooded and temperature sensitive, but as the days become shorter and the water continues to cool, their metabolism and digestive process is also slowed. Add in the fact that after the lakes turnover, the thermoclines dissipate, and the fish can utilize the entire water column from top to bottom. During this period, the cooler surface water will act as a blanket and actually insulate and warm the deeper water, which in turn will draw both the baitfish and the bass. On our deep clear highland reservoirs, the obvious question is what do I look for and where do I start? Electronics are always important but having quality electronics and the knowledge to use them is vital in the winter. I personally prefer to stay on the lower main lake because this is the most stable water and stability is very important during the winter. It’s common for me to spend a half-hour looking for the right spot to fish; actually I’m looking for a combination of things. I specifically look for a small piece for rocky structure, such as a hump, point, or rock pile. I want this spot to have at least a few shad and bass close to the structure. I do not want them suspended over open water. I look hard to find these areas in depths between 25-40’. For reasons I can’t explain I have consistently caught my biggest winter fish in this depth range. When fishing these structures I always use a vertical presentation, alternating between spoons, Westy Worms, tail spinners, and drop shotting 4” worms. As pre-stated, quality electronics are a must for locating these deep fish. When choosing electronics, spend the money to get the best or you will regret it. My personal choice is Bottomline, made by Computrol Inc. in Meridian Idaho. Not only are these graphs user friendly, but also they possess certain features other graphs do not. In addition to having basic features like zoom, bottom track, water temperature, volt reading, grayscale, fish alarms, night-light, split screen, and GPS. These graphs have several unique features that separate them from anything else on the market. Not only do they have an oversized screen with 96,000 pixels to give you the sharpest and clearest picture possible. But unlike other graphs that show you only a vertical image of what is beneath the boat, these graphs also have a built in side finder, which will show you fish on both sides of the boat. But what sold me on these graphs is a flasher, which can be used simultaneously with the LCD screen to deliver instant readouts at high speeds, as well as actually showing your baits working deep structures. These graphs also come with a standard wall plug adapter. This allows you the benefit of practicing at home. Whatever type of electronics you choose, learn everything possible about your graph and you transducers, make certain that you understand exactly what your seeing, and how it’s positioned in respect to the direction of your boat. Some of the most productive year round off shore structures I have found on Canyon and Saguaro, are a direct result of slowly idling around these lakes on a cold winter day, so be patient and look before you fish. If you have fished Arizona lakes, you already know that heavy fishing pressure and constant boating traffic are simply a way of life, not to mention the fact that our state has some of the finest bass fisherman in the country. Now add in the fact that you are on a small body of clear water with very limited shoreline cover, and you have the perfect scenario for a very tough day of fishing. As a simple matter of survival, these fish must relocate and reposition themselves in response to changes in their environment. Typically they do so by moving to deeper isolated structures. When faced with this situation you basically have to options, you can randomly drag something around on the bottom hoping to get a bit or you can use and study your electronics to find deepwater concentrations of unmolested bass. I hope this article helps you catch more winter fish. Joe Owens
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