Fishing a Cold Front

[cfwalleye]

I was wondering how you guys handle fishing the first couple days of a cold front. Out in WA, we're looking at a significant temp drop for this weekend and some snow moving in.

In the past, my gameplan has been slow down, size down, and hope I bonk em on the head. Any other advice?

[fishguy]

do the exact opposite, go fast and furious--it's more fun
Something is fishy around here.

[stevefellegy]

Hey Chris,

I think the cold front syndrome is more in the fishermen's head than in the fishes. I have had to guide/tournament fish in and through cold fronts without choice in about every walleye nook on the continent. That said....I think the fish will eat plenty , but in shorter periods of time, in most cold front conditions. The deeper fish seem to be less negatively affected. There are normally deep and shallow fish in each walleye world. (standard belief is that fish move up and down...I think, in most cases, fish live shallow all the time and deep all the time. One group is easier to catch than the other some days depending on conditions) anyway....I target the deeper fish, even if there are way less of them, in cold fronts. Deep fish allow one to hover directly over them. Stealth is key....livebait rigs (Lindy type rigs)#10 aberdeen hooks, thin, very clear line or green shaded line( not high vis), long leaders (8-10ft. or more), and the best, liveliest livebait money can buy. (hand picked if possible) Shad/minnows hooked in the tail... big, hard, black leeches...clean iced night crawlers....all presented without an obvious human presence.

So...find'em first(cruise until they are on the screen, even one fish at a time)hold it, not jig it, in their face, and also.... fish early and late in the day the first day of the front, mid-day on the second or third day of the front. (11AM to 2PM)

It'll happen...always does.

Good luck!!

[cfwalleye]

Thanks Steve...great info. I'll give it a shot.

Chris