Anglers, Bundle Up!

Cold-season fishing adds interesting challenges to the sport.

This story was originally published in the February 2025 issue of Wonderful West Virginia. To subscribe, visit wonderfulwv.com.

Written by Devin Lacy

Photographs Courtesy of West Virginia Department of Commerce

Nestled among West Virginia’s rolling hills of lush land and forests are 121 public fishing lakes and over 20,000 miles of winding streams. Every angler has their favorite—the place they visit time and time again in search of the next great catch. While fishing is typically enjoyed in the warmer months that we most commonly associate with outdoor recreation activities, it is actually a hobby that can be enjoyed all year ’round—if you’re willing to face the cold. 

Growing up, my family spent many summer vacations camping at East Lynn Lake, a wildlife management area in Wayne County. Our favorite site sat right along one of the winding branches of the lake, giving us ample access to the sparkling waters. It was here that I cast many lines with the help of my parents and a Shakespeare kids’ rod. I was too young to really appreciate the intricacies of the activity, and I’m not sure I even do now as an adult—though, truthfully, it has been quite a while since I last baited a hook. 

     But unlike my family and me, warm-weather outdoor recreationists through and through, some avid anglers and sportsmen keep their gear dusted off and well-used throughout those slower, colder months. It’s not uncommon to find anglers out on the water or along the shoreline, bundled up for the weather as they wait patiently for a bite. Cold-season fishing makes good use of the cooler water temperatures to add a unique challenge to the popular sport. “Fish are slowing down, so you have to have a lot of patience and adjust your techniques,” says David Wellman, a fisheries biologist for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). But what are these adjustments? Because, really, how different could it be from fishing in the summer?

Turns out, it’s very different. 

Adaptable Anglers

Cold-season fishing is exactly what it sounds like: fishing in the cooler months of the year. As the temperature of the air drops, so does the temperature of our waters and, subsequently, the body temperature of the creatures in them. “Fish are ectothermic, meaning they are cold-blooded and their temperature is regulated by the surrounding environment—the water,” says Wellman. “When their temperature decreases, their activity decreases.” This decrease is due to a drop in their metabolic rate, or the amount of energy their body uses to function. This leads to less movement and activity, as well as a reduced need for food, which can be scarce in the winter months. 

     This doesn’t mean they won’t go for the occasional tasty meal—anglers just have to change how it’s served. These slippery creatures will often dive to deeper depths where the water is typically warmer, even if they do prefer the cooler temperatures. Because of this, anglers should cast their lines in deeper areas of their favorite lakes, reservoirs, and streams to optimize their chances for a great catch. Due to the lower activity levels and lessened need for sustenance, downsizing your bait to a smaller lure is more likely to entice a slow-moving fish than large bait that a fish would have to spend more energy capturing. Slowing that smaller lure down in the water also makes it a more tempting meal. 

     Wellman says anglers should go into cold-season fishing knowing that they won’t catch as many fish. However, one of the bigger differences anglers will notice is, funnily enough, bigger fish. “If you are fishing for smallmouth bass, you won’t catch the same number of fish you would in the summer, but you will oftentimes catch larger fish.” Fish congregate and “school up” a lot more in the winter months, he says, and the bigger fish in those schools are more likely to have the energy stores needed to chase down your lure. 

On the Other End of the Line

Many anglers use the cooler season to switch up their targeted species. Blue catfish are a popular winter goal, found in the Ohio and Kanawha rivers, and tend to congregate in schools—the perfect set-up for a larger winter catch. Walleye are typically found in larger rivers, like the Ohio, Kanawha, or Monongahela—the tailwater areas just below dams, specifically. “In the fall, they tend to congregate there, and they hold there through the spring, when they spawn,” says Wellman. They are more partial to jigs and minnows. He suggests glide baits and suspended lures for muskellunge, or muskies, commonly found in slack water or near the mouths of creeks that enter into larger rivers. “You can have really good success with them all year ’round.” 

     People often think of smallmouth bass as a spring and summer catch, but Wellman says that, as long as you can get out on the water, you have a pretty decent shot at catching one in the winter. “Downsize your bait. Crayfish imitations work really well. Fish slow along the bottom, near larger boulders.” Smallmouth are the type to move to deeper, warmer waters in the cooler months—hence the need for a boat. 

     Despite lower temperatures and the need for steadier patience, there are many benefits to a winter fishing trip. “There certainly are,” Wellman agrees. “One of which is that you are going to have less competition with other anglers and boaters. People don’t like to get wet and cold at the same time, so people who don’t mind to get out there are going to have less competition.” 

Just like any outdoor adventure, especially those that take place in the winter when temperatures drop and there are fewer people out walking the trails, exploring the forests, or floating on the water, taking precautions and staying safe is vital. “Safety really matters in the winter time, so be very prepared.” Wear warm clothing and layers. While it might be tempting to forgo the mittens in order to more easily cast and reel, the WVDNR reminds winter anglers that lightweight rubber or fingerless gloves can help keep your hands out of the elements while still maintaining your dexterity and solid grip. 

     Tips, advice, and information such as this can be found in the 2025 West Virginia Fishing Regulations Summary, an important resource Wellman is quick to recommend to anyone venturing out. “Everyone should get a regulation booklet and read through it,” he says, citing its coverage of daily creel limits for different species and any areas with specific regulations. “They really need to familiarize themselves with those regulations before going out. Keep a booklet in your tackle bag or at least your vehicle—I do myself.” Find a digital copy of the at WVdnr.gov/fishing-regulations.

     If you have questions or find anything to be confusing, feel free to call any of the district offices for assistance. “We have staff that are familiar with regulations in their area, and everyone is always willing and happy to talk to folks.”

     While it truly has been a while since I last dug out my old tackle box—that most likely still has old, little dried of bits of hot dog somewhere in the bottom of it because I never could stomach attaching the live worms—there is a part of me that would love to pick up my fishing rod again and spend some time out where West Virginia shines. I might even bundle up and do so before the weather starts to warm back up. From what I’ve heard, the chill may be worth it.