South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Top 10
Tips for Winter Fishing Safety, Success
PIERRE, S.D.—The pleasure boaters are gone from South
Dakota waters, but as long as there’s open water in the fall, some hearty
anglers will have their boats on the lakes and rivers.
“Being on the water at this time of year takes some
special precautions for safety and some special tactics for catching
fish,” according to Curt Robertson, boating safety coordinator for the
S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department.
BoatU.S. Angler, which serves trailer boat anglers,
and GFP have teamed up to offer this list of top 10 tips for winter
fishing:
1. Check the bellies of fish you bring up and if you find silt, that’s an
indication that the fish has been glued to the bottom. So take your time
presenting the bait or lure, stay in one spot for a longer time and use
presentations with smaller baits like drop shot or shaky heads. Find the
deepest water close to shore and fish more vertically than horizontally.
2. With the pleasure boating season over there are fewer potential
rescuers to assist you in an emergency, so never fish alone. Leave a float
plan behind with your spouse, friend or anyone else who is willing to call
authorities if you haven’t checked back in at a predetermined time.
3. A spray-on line conditioner will help keep your lines ice-free. Use a
smaller line size so you can get better hooksets with less line
resistance. Low stretch line is best in the winter as well.
4. Wear layers of clothing – preferably synthetic or wool – but never
cotton. It’s a poor insulator when wet.
5. Use attractants which can be sprayed on soft plastic lures. Fish are
sluggish and attractants encourage them to hold on longer.
6. Bring along high-energy foods such as granola bars and warm drinks.
It’s important to keep hydrated in winter’s dry air. Stay away from
alcohol, which dilates blood vessels and cools your body’s core.
7. Cold water drains energy and body heat rapidly. If you fall overboard,
a life jacket can give you the time you need to pull yourself back in the
boat before the effects of hypothermia set in. Vest styles can provide
warmth both in and out of the water while automatically inflating life
jackets allow great freedom of movement and fit over bulky winter
clothing. Also, make sure you have a method to get back in the boat, such
as a built-in boarding ladder or a short length of rope with loops for
footholds that is firmly attached to a cleat or other fixed object.
8. According to U.S. Coast Guard boating fatality statistics, January’s
and February’s cold weather represent the greatest fatality risk. Always
check the weather before you go. With hypothermia a very real threat,
sudden squalls can be deadly.
9. Now is the time to disconnect water pressure and speed hoses behind the
helm gauges to prevent freeze damage.
10. When you’re done fishing and before you leave the launch ramp, trim
the outboard motor all the way down, remove the kill switch and turn the
engine over for just a second to pump out any water that may still be
inside the motor. Remove any mud or plant debris from the boat or
equipment and thoroughly drain livewells or anywhere else water may have
pooled to stop the spread of invasive species. Storing the boat high and
dry for two days before fishing a different body of water can also help.
Remember, it’s your fishery.
--GFP--
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