by Dr. Todd A. Kuhn
In the big scheme of things, kayakers are hamstrung by their limited range. The extent of that limitation, of course, is dictated by the occupant’s peddling or paddling resolve — or, alternatively, the number of reserve amps juicing the troller.
Undeniably, if the fish aren’t biting in one cove, they simply can’t “stow and go” like their bass-rig brethren. Making a big move is a labor-intensive undertaking. As such, it’s critical kayakers establish an analytical game plan prior to venturing out onto winter waters.
We asked kayak angler Eric Siddiqi, the 2022 Bassmaster Kayak Series national champion, to share his winter-water game plan with us. With several hundred tournaments under his belt, Siddiqi knows how to find and catch fish — no matter the venue or season.
Know before you go
Haphazardly hitting your favorite bass haunt and hoping you paddle or drift over a school of fish is a prescription for wintertime misery. Preparation is critical to maximizing your chances of finding fish willing to cooperate.
Siddiqi often spends almost as much time pre-scouting (i.e., doing his “homework”) as he does fishing.
“Prior to heading out, you’ll find me poring over topographical maps, studying the body of water on Google Earth. Both are vital as they reveal general areas where fish are likely to be when the weather and water temperatures have turned frigid.”
Siddiqi says fish concentrate more in winter, making them a tough find on occasion. However, when you do find them, there is a rich bounty to be had.
“Putting yourself in the right area is always important, but in the winter, it is even more important as most of the fish will stack in very specific areas. When kayaking, you have a limited ability to make major navigational adjustments once you [have] committed to an area. I use as many map and contour resources as I can find. And, when using Google Earth, I depend heavily on the ‘history’ feature. I can look at the water during past winter months and more accurately predict where to start my search.”
Being weather-wise
According to Siddiqi, being able to find and catch kayak fish in winter depends on several variables. Of course, water temperature, one of the basic tenets of bass behavior, plays a critical role this time of year.
As with other seasons, the weather also plays a prominent role in when and where bass will congregate. Understanding its effect on fish behavior, and, just as importantly, your safety, should factor into your trip planning.
“I am constantly checking the weather conditions prior to planning any trip out. Knowing how long it’s been cold or, alternatively, warm gives me a much better idea of where to start my search for bass. If the current water temperature is available to me, that helps narrow my search further. And, it helps me make a mental list of baits I want to start with also.”
Siddiqi, who recently won the 2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series event on Lake Guntersville, also keeps an eye on the wind and its direction.
“I am always checking wind speed and direction, regardless of the time of year. However, it is especially important in wintertime. You want to make sure you don’t put yourself in a bad situation wind-wise or [with] other bad weather, as exposure to cold water in wintertime can be deadly (see EDITOR’S NOTE). One last thing: Winter storms can form quickly. I use the best gear I can find, like my Dakota Lithium batteries. They offer the dependability I need to get me back in, no matter how rough it gets.”
Zooming in
Siddiqi firmly believes the majority of fish congregate in and around the main lake in winter. He admits that there are always fish up shallow, and these will almost always be near deep water. However, it’s been his experience the most predictable fish are out deep — so he focuses his attention there.
“The majority of lakes we tournament fish are man-made, which naturally have a main-river channel with creek channels branching off from there. These areas are the natural pathways that fish follow — not unlike interstates.
“As the water gets colder, bass are going to follow those creek channels out toward the main-lake or main-river channel,” he continued. “But they aren’t wandering willy-nilly, however.”
Siddiqi focuses on finding those spots where fish will linger and stage. “There are going to be obvious stopping points, especially where creek channels intersect. Any feature that stands out — those that offer shelter or a point from which to ambush prey — most often hold fish, often large concentrations of them. Pay attention to these, as they can be gold mines.”
The 10-year professional kayak tournament veteran never leaves any rock unturned (or unfished) as oftentimes the smallest area may hold a winning group of fish.
“Never overlook the smallest of areas. You want to check bluff ends, any out-of-the-ordinary bottom irregularities, like hard spots, humps, underwater points and ledges. Rock, no matter its size, is always attractive now as it holds heat and draws fish shallower than you would expect in the winter. Bluffs attract those fish who want to move up and down in the water column rather than roam around.”
He continued, “If you are fishing bluff walls and find fish at a specific depth, try to find a bluff wall that bottoms out at that depth. These can really produce when other spots might turn cold.”
Go-to gear
Siddiqi keeps his wintertime bait selection relatively simple. His confidence bait is a jig, as it allows him to fish it in a variety of ways while varying retrieve speeds.
“No matter what time of year it is, I’m going to have a jig tied on. It’s one of my favorite ways to catch them — and it catches big fish, too. I opt for a football jig in the winter. A football jig can be your best weapon now because it gets down deep and you can fish it a lot of different ways.”
Siddiqi additionally favors jigs because they are contact baits. He is able to “feel” the bait as it crawls along the bottom. He can also “feel” the bottom’s composition while monitoring for those subtle cold-water nudges and taps.
“I’m either going to throw a 1/2- or 3/4-ounce football jig, depending on depth. My rule of thumb is the colder the water, the less action you want your jig trailer to display. If the water temperature is under 50 degrees, I select a plastic trailer with little action. If it’s over 50 degrees, I’ll use a trailer with a little more action, but still nothing crazy. The key is to fish it slooooow.”
Siddiqi has won tournaments across the country. Throughout his travels, he has developed a few wintertime baits he leans on in addition to his jigs.
“Jerkbaits are obviously a great way to catch them in the winter. Just make sure you are fishing it slow — that is, with considerably longer-than-usual pauses and smaller, more subtle twitches. When it starts to turn cold and the shad begin to die off, I’ll throw a slow-sinking jerkbait — they can’t stand it.”
When conditions dictate, Siddiqi turns to swimbaits, another confidence bait for him. “I love to throw swimbaits that you can reel extremely slow and still give off good action — like a Keitech Swing Impact FAT swimbait. I love to reel it slow along the bottom, just ticking it. When things are right, you can really do some damage on wintertime bass with that bait.”
As a general bait-selection rule, Siddiqi starts small and upsizes as the bite dictates.
“Sometimes there’s winter days when the fish have lockjaw. While this may discourage many anglers, I say hang in there. When things turn tough, I think of it like I’m fishing a ledge in the summer. The fish are oftentimes there but not fired up. When this happens, I will just keep grinding and trying different baits until they fire off. However, the winter can be as tough [as] or tougher than those dog days of summer, and some days it is even harder to get them to eat. Just remember, slow down.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Rolling a kayak in wintertime can be deadly, as it leads to hyperthermia, which can lead to a quick death. When water temperatures plummet, you are best served by wearing a dry suit. Dry suits are designed to keep you dry should you end up in the water. The good news is these life-saving garments are priced well within any fisherman’s budget.
Get toasty
Layering to stay warm yet remain capable of moving freely to paddle, peddle or maneuver about your kayak is important. Bulky outerwear won’t cut it when attempting to cast and land fish. Those garments you choose to layer are critical to your success. Here are several to consider before your next wintery bass session.
A quality base layer is a prerequisite for winter warmth. AFTCO’s F1 Midweight Baselayer Pants ($65) and F1 Midweight 1/4 Zip Baselayer top ($65) will keep heat in and the chill out. Made of a unique inverse hexatron fleece, the pants and top wick moisture away and dry quickly for all-day comfort.
The AFTCO Crosswind Puffer Jacket ($119) has 80 grams of synthetic fill and is wind resistant and DWR water repellant. Ripstop polyester fabric construction offers exceptional durability and is built to stand up to the most demanding weather.
Add the AFTCO Hydro Bib ($199) to round out your winter wear. The Hydro Bib is waterproof and built for the rough-and-tumble antics of kayakers. A variety of pockets adorn the bib, as well as hand-warmer pockets for those days when the winter weather really bites.
All products mentioned can be purchased at AFTCO.com.
