February Wintering Holes with Jake Derhake
When February rolls around, I see water temperatures in the 30’s. This is when I start my search for wintering holes near current but not in the heavy current. The fish are more lethargic in the winter and don’t like the heavier current.
To be successful you have to do more than find the holes. You will have to build a pattern. You should try different current types and water depths to find where they are and where they’re feeding.
I always anchor in cold water and I always use fresh shad if I can find it. I also vary my terminal tackle. I like to switch between a Santee Cooper rig with a float and the same rig without a float. This allows me to determine which presentation will produce the best. If I see a difference in the bite, I can concentrate on the best rig for that particular day and set of circumstances.
Note: Jake Derhake shared the 2020 Twisted Cats Outdoors Angler of the Year honors with Anthony Kulis. CatfishNOW asked both of these successful anglers for a fishing tip. Jake’s tip is offered here and Anthony’s can be found in this same issue. Additionally, you can read a history of the Santee Cooper rig that Jake uses in the January 2021 issue of CatfishNOW.
