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By Dave Pelachik
Snow, ice, cold winter days.... Really cold water fishing? Not a great combination for the fair weather fisherman, but for us die-hard anglers it can mean a good day of fishing in those cold winter months. Huh? Really? Sure! Fish around warm-water discharges like sewer plants, power generation stations, and factories that have effluent discharges from manufacturing processes.
Why?
Because at these places along a river bank or larger stream, one can find stacked-up fish that love the difference in degrees.
Why?
These places discharge warm water effluent. This effluent is usually 10-50 degrees warmer than the water in the river. When mixed into the frigid temp's of our beloved Suskie they create mini-ecosystems. For example, in one regional tributary of the Susquehanna, from the discharge pipes to roughly 100 yards downstream you will find a large "school" of brown trout that bask in this warm water delight. I have taken temperature readings at the pipes of 48F degrees with it cooling to 39F 100 yards downstream.
Now this doesn't sound like a big difference to us... That's still cold as hell! But to our fishy friends who are cold-blooded, this is the "sauna" that they have been looking for. The trout living in this micro-ecosystem of warm water will feed a touch more than their brethren located upstream and downstream from them. (They are still picky and need a perfect cast, perfect, drift, perfect bait, etc., etc, but they will respond to fisherman a bit better than fishing in 32F and lower temps)
A micro-ecosystem you say?
Well, yes! It just doesn't benefit the trout... With the warmer water effluent it creates a buffer and other organisms present in the water rely on this higher temp as well. In the previously mentioned location you actually can find very early season mayflies hatching in February when normally they would hatch in April. Not a lot.... Just the flies that found comfort living in the "heated zone" (as I call it). Just enough mayflies to give the trout some ample nutrition when they get a little hungry. Baitfish will congregate in these areas as well.
Why are you telling me about trout, Dave? And what does it have to do with the Suskie and all the feisty smallmouth bass?
Excellent question! Smallies will congregate in the same areas and same manner as the trout do. Therefore you can find some open water near these effluent pipes and the water will be at a higher temp. With the warmer water, the bass will be in that "heated zone".
Sometimes you may have to let your line/lure drift under some ice. That's okay, it doesn't mean that the water isn't warmer. Remember the temperate zones of the water. An inch or two of ice just means the outside air is colder than the water and through convection loss of heat from the air, the water will freeze. The underneath water still may be 5 to 10 degrees warmer. With that, better odds of fishing and catching fish.
So look for those sewer plants, electric generator plants, and any factories that use water to cool machinery that are found around waterways. I forgot to mention this as well, spring holes will pump up 40-50F degree water as well. Some types of mine discharge (if not polluted with AMD and iron oxides) will do the same. Just look for a little wisp of steam or fog over a section of water when it's really cold out (like now). These are the good places to fish. You may be surprised at how good the fishing is!
Dave Pelachik and JJ's Jigs of Towanda, PA can be found online at www.jjsjigs.com (570-265-2947).
