Does a hard freeze effect next season's fishing?

[Grumpy]

This has been the first year in about five years that we have had a prolonged period of cold (sub-frezing) temperatures. We are predicted to have more of the same for a while. I haven't been to the lakes, so I am not sure of they have frozen over yet, but I hope that, at least, Nolin, Rough, Barren and Green do freeze-over and stay that way for a month or so.

I have come to the opinion that the longer (more years) our lakes go without a solid freeze-over for at least a month, the worse the fishing gets. Then when we do get a good long freeze-over, the fishing vastly improves the following fishing season.

I think that when we have a good solid freeze-over, it kills off a lot of the weaker things in the Bass's food chain, including small Bass and other small fish that Bass may feed on, all the way down the food chain of bait fish to even the micorscopic vegetation that these other things feed on. When the weaker of these things don't die off in the years without a hard freeze, then there is more in the food chain for the Bass to eat and they get picky about eating the artificials that I am throwing at them. Every year that goes by without a hard freeze just means there is that much for the Bass to eat and fishing gets worse every year. However, when many of these weaker things in the food chain get killed off during a freeze, then the Bass are more likely to eat what I throw at them and the CATCHING improves.

Just curious if anyone else has noticed this and/or what you comments may be.

If nothing else, its something to think about on a cold winter day.

Grumpy

[buzzking]

wont affect fish, only fishing....
prolonged cold snap = BIG shad kills = less gorging = hungry fish

simple fishing arithmatic

[biggw]

Ok i have have been bass fishing for many many and many years wow im getting old lol -But what i have found on those years back when we went down in the deep freeze the bass fishing was a lot better the next spring and summer--because it kills off alot of shad--now them bluegill they can,t be killed ha ha----Just the way i have found it to be--And let me add it has really showed at Herrington Lake-Now i am sitting here thinking about Cedar creek---What will it do there--Maybe catch more hogs thier--yep bbbbbbbbb

[apb]

Yep, definitely think that it helps. Cold water can kill off threadfin shad. Last few years we've had mild winters, so more threadfins in Cumberland. From what I've been hearing, stripers are eating a lot more threadfin this year. Remove a bunch of threadfin and they'll likely go back to their usual patterns.

Andrew

[SecretWeapon]

Grumpy I agree with you here. It does seem to me fishing is better after these kind of winters. I guess time will tell in this upcomimg season.

I sent an email out to Ryan Oster Ky Black Bass Research Biologist to see what he has to say on the subject. Hopefully, when he finds the time; he'll answer this question. If I hear back, I'll post it here for all to see.

Very good topic!

Justin Hires

Director/Moderator USABassin.com

[DJD]

wont affect fish, only fishing....
prolonged cold snap = BIG shad kills = less gorging = hungry fish

simple fishing arithmatic

Buzzking,
That's the absolute best Avatar yet! Caught me off guard with that one.

[riverrat12]

Grumpy, I fish the river below dams and It rarly freezes,So I base my facts on what I see down there where as fish can miagrate north or south to there liking of food, temps,or waterclarity. What sticks out in my mind is yes they might bite better after a year of cold weather but....do I want to catch a bunch of little fish say forinstence in New York where the have long winters or do I go to Fl, Tx,Ca,or Mexico for that hog ...not much winter down there... just my thought on a cold winter day.chuck

[Grumpy]

Riverrat, thanks for the input, but I did not want to get into warm versus cold climates. Each of those present totally different circumstances than what we have here in KY.

[bcoan]

I humbly ask for all your prayers for fellow guide and my close friend Ralph Sandfer who will under go open heart surgery on Thursday Feb 8 at Cookeville
Tn.

Bass Wishes
Bob Coan

[Rowdy]

I know it helps crappie fishing,this time last year I had caught 256 keepers. This year I have not been yet!
Rowdy

[riverrat12]

Sorry grumpy, just dreamin of warm weather and buzzking that is the best avatar yet....chuck

[mhall]

Nice topic. In resorvoirs I believe it helps by killing off huge numbers of shad. Less shad and hungry bass will always be a good combination. It can also give the fish a break from all the fishing pressure for awhile. And it's my belief that fishing pressure is tremendous on most of our lakes.