Late-season fishing can be bittersweet and also bitter cold
The access area parking lot was refreshingly empty, save for a couple boat trailers courtesy of two groups of duck hunters.
A few hours later in the darkness it was completely devoid of others, as my friend Sid Brown and I stowed our gear at the conclusion of another successful late season fishing trip, one that produced a 23-inch walleye, several yellow perch, and an encounter with a 40-inch-class musky.
The late season is one of my favorite times of year, a bittersweet period during which some of the year's best fish are taken but seasoned with the realization that weather could put an end, at least temporarily, to things soon.
Here are a few observations regarding late season open water fishing, having pushed the limits of such opportunities for over three decades.
FISHING LINE — During outings that include periods of subfreezing weather, the potential for line problems increases. I'm a big fan of braided line like Gamma Torque and Sufix 832. But braided lines can absorb water — not a good thing when the air temperature is on the wrong side of the 32-degree mark. It quickly freezes into a stiff, thick, ropelike mess.
Braided line such as Gamma's new Torque Ice Braid, made specifically for cold weather fishing, can help eliminate many such issues. So will simply respooling with fresh “regular” braid, as it will still sport its original slippery coating which repels water. In time this coating wears off, revealing a line more likely to take in moisture.
Line dressings like Real Magic and Reelsnot, which are mostly silicone based, can add to line's water repellency when sprayed on the reel's spool. Such products also help reduce ice buildup on the rod's tiptop and guides when sprayed directly to these portions of the rod.
WATCH THE WIND — A day's level of wind often has as much or more to do with comfort on the water as the air temperature. I'll gladly take a 34-degree windless day to a 45-degree windy day at this time of year. Steady wind, even if's it only in the 10-mph range, seems to really sink in over the course of the day. It hampers boat control if you're afloat, and hampers making finesse presentations whether on a boat, or shore/bank fishing. So be sure to review the wind forecast when considering a late season outing.
STOCK UP ON HAND WARMERS — The hands are always the weak link when it comes to being comfortable when fishing in cold weather. One can deal with the lack of general mobility that comes from being covered in layers of foul weather clothing. But your hands still need to manipulate a rod and reel, retie baits, and hopefully unhook fish, none of which can be accomplished while wearing bulky gloves.
Fingerless gloves seem to be the best option, at least for me. They provide some level of warmth while allowing one to accomplish the above listed functions. And when your fingers get cold slide your hands in coat (or Personal Flotation Device) pockets that are nice and toasty thanks to chemical hand-warmers. A short reprieve from the cold should return your hands to working order.
Much of the fishing I do this time of year is by way of vertical jigging (as opposed to cast and retrieve) so it's often convenient to leave one hand in a pocket while the other holds the rod, switching off every now and then.
WEAR YOUR PFD — Wearing your PFD during late season outings not only provides a physical layer of warmth, but a mental one as well. Immersion into cold water will quickly sap your extremities of any level of usefulness the body's reaction to supplying blood to vital organs, placing even a strong swimmer in peril. Having such a level of protection is comforting at a time of year when boat decks can be extra slippery, and physical coordination reduced by heavy clothing.
Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.
