Typically live bait is king when the water is cold. Limit handling of bass and bluegills in cold water, as their immune systems are below optimum in cold water. They are more likely to develop fungus in cold water, if grab the entire fish by the hand, and compromise the mucous layer. If you have to, wet your hands or use rubber gloves.

Pull your fish out of the water by the hook or lip. Barbless hooks (crimp down the barb with needle nose pliers) make it easier and quicker to remove hooks.

Many bass anglers don't believe the propensity of bass to develop fungus from handling in cold water, but you will find most fish farmers will not seine their bass ponds in water colder than 50 F. I know one just one that does with his feed trained bass, but he urges his customers to get them on feed asap as they are in a weakened state after a long winter.

Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 03/21/14 03:59 PM.
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