What we do is watch the water temp. That's the most important thing, magic temps being 48-60 degrees. Of course, in the winter they will be falling. The fish seem to do the same thing in the fall/winter as they do in the spring but don't stay shallow as long. One difference is that in the winter when we get one of those nice warm weeks, the fish will run back up into shallower water (6-8 feet). Had the best day ever on January 2nd, two years ago when we had 60 degree temps for a week.