Stupid Question for you all

[Exodus]

This is a dumb question...and I know someone is going to say "theres no such thing as a dumb question" but this really is....can I fish in the winter time down here in TN and get bites? Or do the fish hibernate or something? Just wondering, i'm having such a ball but I love cold weather and I can be out in jeans and short sleeves in 35-40 degree weather (as long as there is no wind) and not have it bother me. So i'm looking forward to still keeping my outdoor activity/hobby alive this winter. I usually hibernate and play video games and watch a gazillion movies but i'm just having too much fun on the TN river!!

 

[fishinvol]

Fish eat all year long. So yes you can fish in the winter.

 

[Auburnwes]

I have always slowed things way down in the winter time, my thoughts have been that the fish are moving slower so there not eating as much, so you have to make them bite, but maybe someone can chime in with some info, cause I'm like you I love cold weather, and I need to step up my winter game. later

 

[puddle jumper]

Hey Exodus,,
Go to the Hall of fame and look at some of the dates on the fish,,,Yes,, if you can stand the temp some of the best fishing is in the winter..
Puddle...

 

[honkytonker26]

Suspended jerkebaits fished slower than you can stand.

 

[fishinvol]

One of the best months to fish Chickamauga is December.

 

[Gray Bomber]

The absolute best fishing for bass around here is jan.-mar. esspecialy if you take the drive down to guntersville

 

[fishmedic]

My favorite time of year for crappie

 

[Nickajack Angler]

You are right there are NO stupid questions.... Answer to your question is YES! And lordy the fishing is fine in the winter time. I had some of the best fishing days of my life from Nov-Mar. Dec was a HOT month. I fished on Jan 1 and that entire week. It was COLD, just ask Bent Rod how many times I said "MY hands are FREEZING!" It won't get anywhere near as cold as you and I have fished up there. No hardwater fishing at all.... but the dew point is much higher and it can chill you to the bone. Get your bibs on, a good Gortex coat and some handwarmers for the gloves and you'll be fine. You are gonna have your mind blown all over again. And best is that the tail waters are some of the best fishing areas. Fish really stack up then...

 

[sprestwood]

Fish dont hibernate, but the cold water will slow their metabolism down to a fifth of summer time levels. Deep waters stay productive in winter. Any good fisher has A) Waited out alot of unproductive fishing times and B) asked alot of questions that appeared dumb.

 

[drumking]

The best months of the year for crappie fishing if that is what you like to do is Dec-Feb. The crappie are schooled up in huge numbers and are easy to catch once you have them located. Once March gets here, they begin to scatter and move toward the shallows to spawn and that is when most folks think that crappie fishing is best, but it isn't even close to as good as Dec through Feb. emoBigsmile emoGeezer I've got records to prove it too. emoUpsmile emoTeacher eg. Dec 07 644 crappie in 15 trips (43/trip), Mar 08 163 crappie in 10 trips (16.3/trip).