Now that summer and fall are in the rear view mirror, many anglers might be tempted to put their rods and reels in storage for the winter. But, this is a terrible mistake! Fish still bite in the wintertime, it just takes a little know-how to coax them out of their cozy hidey-holes.
 
If you want to enjoy a winter season filled with excellent fishing, then here are some winter fishing tips from Intracoastal Angler, your favorite tackle shop in Wilmington NC.
 
When and Where to Fish in the Wintertime
 
Since the days are shorter in the winter, your fishing window is likewise reduced. The weather conditions can also have an impact on your results, so you should always pay close attention to the forecast this time of year. Ideally, you should limit your winter fishing to the hours between 10am and 4pm as this is when the fish are going to be at their most active.
 
In terms of the weather, you should plan your fishing trips just prior to when a cold front is expected to roll through. Fish can sense the coming shift in the weather and as a result, they’ll be feeding at their highest level right before the cold front arrives.
 
After the cold front arrives, the barometric pressure is going to be high, so you’ll want to avoid fishing in lakes or rivers with high currents. Your best fishing will be found along the northern bank lines.
 
Preparing Your Fishing Tackle for Winter Fishing
 
Winter fishing puts more strain on your tackle than fishing in the summer. Therefore, before heading out, you should thoroughly clean and lubricate your reels so it won’t fail in the cold. You’ll also want to apply line conditioner to your fishing line as cold weather can make monofilament and fluorocarbon lines more of a challenge to manage. Applying line conditioner to your rod’s guides will help prevent water from freezing on them.
 
Winter Bait Options
 
Many anglers think that live bait is a poor choice for winter fishing, but in fact, live bait is the best thing you can use in the winter. The reason is because live bait reacts naturally to the cold water.
 
In the winter, a fish’s metabolism naturally slows, so it’s not going to be moving as quickly as it does in the summer. If you use artificial baits and lures, there’s a chance that you may be reeling it in too quick. This will appear unnatural to the fish and as a result, your lures will scare fish away rather than attract them. When the water temperature dips below 50 degrees and you want to use artificial baits you should stick with ones that have hair or feathers. This will give them more movement in the water because the hair and/or feathers will move naturally with the currents, even when being reeled in slowly.
 
Another tip for successful fishing in winter is using smaller lures. Due to their slower metabolisms, fish don’t eat as much or as often, so they’ll be more inclined to eat smaller prey over larger prey. Fishing slowly with live bait or smaller lures presents the best chance for a successful winter’s day fishing.
 
Staying Warm When Fishing in Winter
 
Staying warm is your first step to safe winter fishing. Your gear should include insulated and waterproof boots, insulated overalls, insulated moisture-wicking long underwear, insulated and breathable socks, a stocking hat, a parka, and gloves. Ideally, you should wear fingerless gloves with heavier thicker insulated gloves over top. A handmuff is another good option for keeping your hands and fingers warm.
 
Need More Winter fishing Tips? Visit Intracoastal Angler’s Tackle Shop in Wilmington NC
 
Intracoastal Angler is your one-stop tackle shop in Wilmington NC. We carry everything you need for winter fishing in the coastal Carolinas. Stop by for a visit and we’ll let you know what’s biting and where. Before heading out, visit our website for offer up-to-the-minute weather reports and even more free fishing tips and advice. For more information just give us a call today at 910-392-3500.

The Wilmington area might not get cold, blustery weather like our northern neighbors every fall, but it does get chilly for anglers out there on the waterways. And, when it comes to enjoying a fun and safe day fishing, wearing the right apparel plays a large part.
 
With fall upon us, now is the best time to review your fall fishing apparel options so you can stay nice and warm and well-protected from the elements while you’re out there casting your lines.
 
Wear Layers
 
In the Wilmington area, the mornings can start off cold, but by the time noon rolls around, things can start heating up. Therefore, wearing layers of fishing apparel will allow you to shed layers as the day gets warmer. This will allow you to be comfortable throughout the day’s shifting temperatures. And, don’t think that you don’t need that extra layer because it’s warm where you’re staying – the temperature will usually be much colder once you’re out on the water.
 
A great tip is to bring along a second full set of clothes in a dry bag. Should you or someone else fall into the water, having the dry clothes on hand can be a true lifesaver.
 
Gloves
 
If you’re planning on spending the day fishing, then ideally you’ll want to bring three sets of gloves. One pair should be heavy and two should be of the thinner variety. The heavy gloves will provide extra warmth when you need it, such as when you’re traveling between fishing spots. The thinner gloves will be what you wear while fishing and since one pair will eventually get wet, it pays to have that second pair in your bag.   
 
Neck and Head Wear
 
The body loses the majority of its heat through the head, so when you’re fishing out on the water in the fall, it’s important to preserve your heat. Wearing a hat and gaiter will keep your head and neck nice and warm and protected from the wind, or you can opt for a combo piece in a balaclava. 
 
Fishing Footwear
 
While wearing sneakers might be fine in the summer, in the fall you’re going to want the added warmth and protection of insulated boots. For the best protection, the boots should be waterproof. If you’re fishing on a particularly cold day, then foot warmers or boots with heated insoles will be a wise investment.
 
Safety Gear
 
One of the most important things you should be wearing when fishing on the open water is an inflatable life vest. In the fall, the water turns very cold very quickly and should you fall overboard, the cold water can be deadly. Wear an inflatable life vest all day and you’ll be protected should you accidentally find yourself in the water. Another good piece of fall fishing apparel to wear is some sort of floating outerwear like bibbed pants. This garment can also help save you should you fall overboard.
 
Need Fall Fishing Apparel in Wilmington NC? Visit Intracoastal Angler
 
Intracoastal Angler has everything you need to enjoy a safe and successful fishing trip in the coastal Carolinas. Our bait and tackle shop has everything from live bait to rods and reels and we have one of the largest collections of fall fishing apparel Wilmington NC. We even offer up-to-the-minute weather reports and free fishing tips online. Stop by the Intracoastal Angler bait and tackle shop in Wilmington NC today for all of your must-have fishing gear or just give us a call at 910-392-3500.