Fishing in December: What's Biting
The species with the strongest bite in December across the lakes in our guide, how to fish each one and where to go.
Yellow Perch
In winter they travel in schools over basins and flats at 15-40 ft. Spoons, jigging raps, and small jigs with minnow heads or wax worms are staples through the ice.
Try: Live minnows, Small jigs with wax worms, Jigging spoons.
Largemouth Bass
Under 50F, bass sit in the deepest nearby water, often 15-30 ft, and barely move. Small jigs, blade baits, drop-shot plastics and suspending jerkbaits worked painfully slowly are your best bets. Midday on a warm, stable day is the window.
Try: Plastic worms (Texas, wacky, Carolina), Jigs with craw trailers, Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits.
Crappie
Under 45F they gather in schools in deeper basins, brush and channel edges at 15-30 ft. Slow-fall jigs, minnows, and tiny spoons are best, and fishing is best on bright, stable afternoons.
Try: 1/32-1/16 oz jigs with soft plastic bodies, Live minnows, Small spinners.
White Bass / Wiper / Striped Bass
They stay deep at 20-50 ft around channels and bait balls. Vertical spoons, slabs and live shad are best, mostly on warm days.
Try: White jigs and curly tails, Spoons and slabs, Inline spinners.
Full White Bass / Wiper / Striped Bass guide →
Rainbow / Brown Trout
Cold-water lakes remain productive. Trout feed at 10-30 ft under ice on small spoons, jigs and bait. Midday is the best time.
Try: Small spoons, Inline spinners, PowerBait.