The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Gabby’s Fishing Fever

Big fish can be caught at any time


It is looking and feeling more like winter as we move toward the end of January 2021.

After having nice warm temperatures night and day, a lot of snow and cold wind has certainly changed all that. But it is midwinter, so I guess we should expect the snow and ice.

When it was milder and warmer, bass and crappie were staying around the banks and more shallow areas close to deeper water. The big drop in temperatures and the cold winds have caused many fish, especially largemouth bass, to move some deeper to cover and around and under boat docks. These types of areas offer protection from the colder temperatures and a good area to hide and wait for food like shad minnows to come along.

This depth where fish gather in cold weather will change a lot from lake to lake and by the type of fish. Trout, smallmouth bass, and crappie are not nearly as affected by the colder water as are largemouth bass, which will move deeper after the water reaches into the low 50-degree range.

Even on the coldest day of the year, smallmouth bass will be active on lakes in Tennessee and Kentucky, especially on Dale Hollow Lake, which lies between the two states and is home to the world record smallmouth bass. Caught on July 9, 1955, it weighed 11 pounds and 15 ounces. It was caught by David Hayes, who was using pearl color bomber lure.

So, as you can see, big fish can be caught at any time.

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