25/05/2026
Many people believe the fish stop biting as winter arrives. Obviously the water tempretures lower, causing the fishes metabolic rates to decrease.
What this means is that as things cool, the fish behavior changes.
The issue tends to be more pronounced in the fresh water systems in NSW and other southern states where Redfin and Golden Perch tend to become much harder to catch, and in the case of the Redin, many believe they either die off, or go some place else.
They don't, they are still there, you just need to rethink how you approach targetting them.
Soft plastics are probably the most versatile lure platform you will find, and ideally suited to encouraging fish to come out and play.
Redfin Perch are relative easy targets, with pretty much any lure during spring, particuarly small models as the sometimes launch into frenzy attacks on almost anything you throw, making you wonder where they went just 6 months later.
Answer is quite simple really, the fish tend to move slower and feed less, so slow down your presentations.
Soft plastics make this real easy to do, simply by going for a lighter jig head, but you can also change the shape of the lure, and even its inherent buoyancy by using a plastic that has a higher salt content. All of these options make it fall through the water slower, giving the fish more time to jump on.
Sometimes thats not enough, slow down your retrieve, and when you think you have slowed the retrieve down, slow it down again - lighten the lure, use longer leaders or straight through mono or fluro, it can all help.
I usually secure the jig head to the line with a loop knott, this gives the lure more freedom of movement, more action and therefore more enticing.
The colour of the lure also makes a difference, start with 3 or 4 natural colours, nothing wacky or fancy.
I also resort to painting jig heads and keeper shafts, usually red, white or black/charcoal. I find that there are days when the colour makes a difference.
In winter I also tend to break out the 'beetle spins', these are jig heads with small blade and swivel attached. The blades jig heads do two things I like, they sink slower than the same weight jig head with no spinner attached, and the blade creates an action and a vibration through the water.
I can not tell you how many people have said to me over the years, that th
ey have never caught a fish on a soft plastic lure.
Once I show them how, soft plastics quickly become integral to their fishing.
So, instead of packing your gear away over winter, don the warmer clothing, head to the lake or river, slow down and learn to feel for those soft ticks on the line, and watch your line for movement, then strike and hold on.
Cast On. Bill
