THE ACTIVITY CYCLE

"Seems to be a definite cycle to the activity pattern of bass in winter," says Doug Stange, Editor In Chief at In-Fisherman. "Largemouths certainly are concentrated and cooperative at both early-ice and late-ice. They become unpredictable in many environments during midwinter, but so do other species of fish.

"For fast action, target bass at first-ice, as soon as you can safely get to them. Largemouths are aggressive then. Unfortunately, once they feed, they may not eat again for a week. Even then though, all bass don't feed at once. Because they're so concentrated, you need maybe 10 percent of 'em to be on a bite when you're fishing. Ten percent of a lot of fish is a good bite"

The next definable feeding spree occurs at late-ice. Bass become active in the areas they've used all winter, but slowly begin to drift toward bays and backwater areas they'll use just before or after ice-out.