Structure to look for during the winter months

-Bulkheads: What’s better than one piece of wood sticking out of the water? 100’s of them! Bulkheads are one of the best things you can target in lakes and ponds in the winter. A simple bulkhead can transfer heat enough to change with water temperature by 8 degrees!

-Pilings: Probably the most common wood structure available to us bank fishermen are pilings. The thickness of these wooden poles captures heat and often will continue to transfer heat into dusk which is much needed at that time because the temperatures begin to get colder.  

-Rocks: Mountain sides, dams, and concrete boat launches act as heat magnets! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve caught bass along the concrete ramp of a boat launch!

-Aluminum boats: Here’s a hidden gem. If you find a dock with a floating aluminum flat boat tied up to it - cast all around the boat! Aluminum is a great conductor of heat especially if it’s all aluminum with no wooden floors. 

-Fallen trees: Nearly every pond or lake has a fallen tree that stretches from the bank into the water. This solid wood soaks up the sun and transfers it into the water. Plus, it’s natural making it more attractive to leery bass. 

-Floating vegetation: Lily pads and grass mats are great heat conductors. Think about the thickness of a lily pad. Now think about the sun beating down on it all day. Take advantage of these floating grass types right now before old man winter kills them off!

Execution is Everything

It’s one thing to know what you're looking for as far as targeting sun-soaked objects in the winter. 

But remember, you can’t just walk up on this structure and drop the line down. All of these structures are located in shallow water and fish are typically more skittish. 

Here are a few tips that you can apply when fishing all of the types of structure that I mentioned. 

• Know ahead of time where the structure is located and approach it from a distance.

• Make horizontal casts to the structure. Remember, the farther away you are from the area being fished, the better. You don’t want to spook the fish. 

• The area of water that is being heated from the structure may be as little as one inch wide. Don’t be afraid to cast up against the structure. When fishing slanted structure like concrete back-downs or rock dams, cast onto the structure and slowly reel the lure into the water where the heat transfer is taking place.