More of this Feature • Part 1: Fishing in the Snow • Part 2: Freezing Water

Join the Discussion

"I have heard the stories about guys fishing in the snow and everyone of them say the fish bite real good. I am not too crazy about trailering a boat in the snow, so I haven't tried it myself " Spo Roller

Related Resources • Winter Weather Fishing Wear • Cold Water Bass Fishing • Winter Steelhead Fishing Scenes •Cold Water Fishing • Living Proof It Works • Winter Jerkbait Fishing

Past Articles One Year Ago - 01/15/01 - OMC Bankrupt! Two Years Ago - 01/17/00 - Fishing Videos Three Years Ago - 01/11/99 - Cold Water Fishing Four Years Ago - 01/12/98 - Do Fish Scents Make Sense

Weather. Few words carry more meaning for hunters and fishermen. It can mean the difference between a great day and a miserable one outdoors. And it can even mean the difference between life and death in extreme cases.

The weather the past couple of weeks in our area has not been very good for outdoor activities. I went by my pond Tuesday afternoon and made a few casts with snow falling. I just had to try since it is so unusual for us to have snow, especially when the roads were passable and I could go fishing.

It actually was not too bad and kinda pretty - when the wind wasn’t blowing. The snow fell straight down to disappear silently into the water. The flakes falling on the bank would hit and stay there on top of leaves and grass. And the peace and quiet was unbelievable, bringing thoughts of "not a creature was stirring!" The fish certainly were not stirring, I never got a bite.

It was nice until the wind blew. I kept casting for a few minutes after the wind started blowing but the pretty snow falling straight down did not look nearly as nice when it started blowing sideways across the pond! And my hands started burning from the cold, making the rod feel like an icicle in my hand. I did not stay long after that.

Memories from this time of year seem to all be of unusual weather. I remember one year standing on a deer stand when the fog was so thick I could not have seen a deer 50 yards away. The fog killed every sound and nothing moved in it. And it was cold, adding to the feeling that the woods were another world.

The worst cold weather I remember was in the early 1980’s. I had gone to Clark’s Hill to spend a few days with my folks and for me to go fishing. A bad cold front came through the day I got there but I put the boat in, anyway. The wind was howling and the temperature was in the teens, but I was determined to try!

As soon as I left the little cove where the boat ramp was located a wave hit the boat and splashed water on me. At least part of it was water, some hit and bounced off! The smaller drops froze in the air. The water that hit my snowsuit froze on contact, forming patches of ice immediately.

I turned around and put the boat back on the trailer. The runners were already frozen, making it very slipper loading!

Page 2 > Freezing Water > Page 1, 2, 

Check out Coming Next Week - Next week's column topic, contest prize and new additions to the resources lists.

Previous Features