FLW Tour pros weigh in on the optimal techniques to take advantage of the transition from fall to winter

 Lake Texoma winter weather is typically a cycle between cold, cold, cold with respites of 60 & 70 degree weather, even during January and February.  How does this fluctuation in temperature affect the fish and how do anglers compensate.  The FLW tour pros weigh in on the best techniques to use when the weather is transitioning from fall to winter.

(Editor's note: This article originally appeared in the 2013 Winter issue of Bass Fishing magazine).

The buzz

Q: If a brief window of unusually warm weather interrupts an extended period of cold weather, how drastic of an effect will the warm weather have on fishing patterns? What kinds of movements should I watch for from bass?

Bryan Thrift Angler Spotlight A:
One of my best days with a buzzbait on Lake Wiley came in that situation. We’d had cold wintertime conditions, and the water was in the mid- to upper 40s. Then we had a week of 70-degree weather, and the water actually climbed back up into the upper 50s. I crushed them on a buzzbait.

When it warms up like that, the fish will move up shallow and get more aggressive. That time of year, especially, bass are going to be keying on baitfish. You’re looking for shad – it’s going to be a pure shad bite. If it gets warm enough, the bass will hit topwater baits; a crankbait or spinnerbait is also really good. Fish something that’s moving and that you can use to cover a lot of water.

---- Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.

Tactical transition

Q: What kind of conditions or bass movements signal to you the transition from traditional “fall” or “late-fall” tactics into “winter” tactics?

FLW Tour pro Robbie Dodson of Harrison, Ark .A:
he water temperature. When the water temperature drops down lower than 47 degrees it starts getting pretty cold on bass. Usually from 47 degrees up, I like fishing shallow and fast with spinnerbaits and (Storm) Wiggle Warts. You can also still catch bass up shallow on a crawfish pattern on rocky banks. Once it goes below that temperature, it turns into a grub, jerkbait or umbrella rig bite. It seems like bass turn to more of a shad bite, and they start suspending a little more. They start hanging around cedar trees and standing timber.

---- Robbie Dodson, Harrison, Ark.

For more Lake Texoma fishing reports, visit www.texomaconnect.com.  Along with a directory of fishing guides, Lake Texoma fishing reports and boating information, you will also find lodging directories, restaurants, local events and entertainment guides.  Come experience Lake Texoma - known for monster striper fishing in the winter.