Heading into the 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series season that is about to kick off this week at Lake Guntersville in Alabama, we’re gearing up to fish in conditions that we don’t see very often — extremely cold weather in the south.
Starting my 15th season of professional bass fishing, I have been in the boat during plenty of cold days in the past, but not a prolonged stretch of cold like we’re dealing with right now. Having been down south for the past week getting my boat and gear ready to go, we have had below-freezing temperatures every night and quite a few days have not even got above freezing.
Arriving at Guntersville the day before practice starts and driving around different parts of the lake, there was even ice formed in the backs of some bays. While the weather is going to warm up some during the week, it’s going to be a different event than we’re used to with regards to dealing with the cold weather.
Coming from Canada, I’ve fished in plenty of cold weather, and the key to staying focused and having fun out there is going to be staying warm. If you get cold, it makes being on the water miserable, and you’re going to lose focus on doing your job. We only get three days to practice before the event so it’s important to spend every minute wisely while we’re out there.
The first parts of the body to get cold are going to be your feet and hands. Ditch the shoes and wear some sort of boot with insulation. I’ll avoid wearing gloves if I don’t need them, but I will have a couple pairs of SIMMS gloves in the boat if I’m having a hard time keeping my hands warm. The little heating packets that are air activated work great if you keep a pair in your pockets for a quick warm up if needed. It’s a little more challenging bass fishing because we’re casting all day so you’re always getting a little bit of water on your hands from the line.
Layering up is the key for the rest of your attire. A warm base layer is mandatory, then layer up from there. My outer layer is going to be an insulated SIMMS suit. With wearing multiple layers, you can always remove something if you find it warms up in the afternoon sun. I like to have a comfortable hood to wear as well, because we lose a lot of body heat through our head.
If you can stay warm, the next battle is going to be with your equipment. Line will freeze, making casting more difficult, especially if you lay up a rod on the deck for an extended period after using it. Fishing rod guides can quickly get covered in ice as well. Spraying some deicer on your rods and reels helps a lot.
Most anglers are running lithium batteries in the boats because they offer a bunch of advantages but many of the lithium batteries can have difficulty charging in below-freezing temperatures, which we’re going to be faced with at night all week.
Some anglers will be staying at places where they can put their boats inside for the night, but most boats will be outside at rental homes or hotels. I’ve heard some anglers will put heated blankets around their batteries to keep them warm. It’s something we all have to keep an eye on for sure.
As for the fishing, it’s probably going to be a little more difficult to generate bites at Guntersville than it might have been if it was warmer this week. This lake is a big bass factory so it’s still going to take some weight to do well in this event.
It’s so nice to start the season off with a strong start so you can bet everybody will be out there battling hard in the cold weather. I can’t wait to catch some bass this week!
