Winter Fishing Tips for Beating the Winter Blues!

Pete Cartwright
Jan 26
3 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

During these winter months, it gets tough out there on the river. The weather is up and down, with long periods of freezing weather. Small warm-ups offer hope but not much else. When the water conditions are frozen, there is no fishing. Then the snow melts, and it rains, and the water is running high and muddy. Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 30s. Some waters are gin clear. What to do?

Well, some of the times that I like to go are during a warm-up, but that might only happen a few times in winter. So when the river isn't frozen, I try to get out. Your luck or chance of catching a fish, to me, is better on a sunny day. Here in Western PA, we do not get many sunny days in January and February. There are a lot of factors to consider when looking for a day to get out. Or you can just go when you get a chance to enjoy a day out; these are great days.

In my free time during winter, I do a ton of prep work for the year. Now, I know I have a guide business, and I do more than the average angler. That being said, everyone can do their prep work for the upcoming fishing season so it goes a little bit smoother.

1) The first thing that I do is inventory for hooks, line, lures, reels, rods, wade gear, and everything else that I use for the upcoming season. Either use a computer, phone, or write it down and fill that list up so you are not doing it during the time you are fishing. They might sell out of a bait or hook that you use, then what?

2) The second thing that I do is get all of the reels and rods ready: clean, grease, oil, or fix any that need it. String with new line if needed. For me, I have a controlled temperature spot where I store all of my equipment, so I will leave some reels with line from last year. It is really only 3-4 months, so not long. For me, this works; other people want to start fresh, whatever you are comfortable with. With the rods, get a reel and rod cleaner solution and clean them both. The rod eyes are important. You can also clean cork if you have it on the rod and then use a cork sealer.

3) The third thing I do, and spend most of the time on, is looking online for new rivers or areas on Google Earth or maps. After I find an area, I dig in and research that area, looking for access and any information on fishing that I can find. I also buy a few fishing books and read about fishing to keep my mind on it. I am a believer that if you stop doing something even for a few weeks, you are off a little to start. Maybe your casting or your presentation of a bait, that matters and can be the difference in catching a fish and not catching one. Not to say that reading is helping with that, but just the mindset is what I am saying.

All of this helps me during the upcoming fishing season. This is what keeps me going when it gets tough to fish out there during these Winter Blues.