Fishing in cold weather can be very productive for those in search of
trophy stripers. However, there are potential problems, or at the very least,
challenges to your personal comfort.
Fishing in cold weather demands the correct kind of clothing. This means
undergarments for warmth and dryness, as well as warm outer clothes
(pants and shirts), and then a warm coat, or even better, a winter suit
(water-proof over water resistant). Water proof will keep you warm and
dry---water resistant will not keep you dry. If you are wet, count on it: you
will be cold.
Of course you will need all of the proper safety gear and a radio or cell
phone. Most important of all, get yourself a fishing buddy. If you are fishing
early (before light)
you will want to carry hand-held lights on board. You will also need a trolling
motor and a good depth finder.
Fishing early in the morning just prior to daylight, find an arm or cove off
the main channel of your choosing to fish. Leave your dock early enough to
allow time to be in the area you are fishing before the fog sets in (usually a
fog will be on the water just prior to sunrise). Trying to get to your fishing
spot is difficult enough in the dark without having to deal with the fog. So
Almanac
Fisherman’s
FISHING
DEEP
STRUCTURES
by Bob King
Discover Smith Mountain Lake
Winter 2015
22
