Pro Fishing Tip of the Week: Downsizing can save the day during cold fronts

Anyone who’s fished through a cold front knows the drill: One day the fish are chewing, the next day they act like you’re trying to feed them tax documents. Sunday was exactly that kind of day. The pressure spiked, then temps dropped, and the fish shut down.

It didn’t take long to realize that big presentations were the culprit. Live bait, spoons, rattle baits, or subtle jigging spoons spooked fish.

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Cold fronts push fish into a negative or neutral feeding mood. Their strike window shrinks, their movement slows, and they won’t chase anything with size, flash, or vibration. When that happens, the only way to get bit is to go tiny, natural, and subtle.

But cold fronts don’t mean the bite is over, you need to shrink everything down to the softest most natural presentation and fish with patience.

Bruce Jean

Years of guiding experience: 32

Favorite body of water: Mille Lacs, Gull, Rainy

Favorite fish to catch: Walleyes

Jean is a fishing guide in the Mille Lacs and Twin Cities areas. To schedule a trip, call (763) 238-7507 or visit www.millelacslakeguiding.com or www.rainylakeguiding.com.