Officially the first day of winter is Dec. 21 but you wouldn’t think this with the weather we’re experiencing.

Late fall cold fronts have dropped water temperatures lower than normal for the season. So we’re off to an early winter. That’s a good thing for those that like cold water fishing.

The best white perch and bass fishing in this area kicks off when water temperatures drop below 60 degrees. We are past that point now. The average surface water temperature today is about 56 degrees and falling. If the forecast holds up we could see air temperatures in the low 20s tonight.

This will slowly drop the water temperatures even more. The bass and perch are making the fall to winter transition faster than most fishermen are. There are still some fish shallow but the deep bite is improving with each passing cold front.

A fast rise came down the Mississippi River over the past week raising water levels of the live oxbow lakes more than 10 feet. That shut the fishing down on the Old Rivers at Vidalia and Deer Park. We are blessed to have so many different type lakes in the immediate area.

When the river rises and floods the Old Rivers, we just move across the levee and fish the lakes protected by the levee system. The fishing on Lakes Bruin, St. John and Concordia is great during the colder months. Maybe I should say it’s great if you are on the water just before and during the passage of a cold front.

Once the cold fronts pass, the fish can be a bit difficult to locate but not impossible to catch. Just slow your lure presentation down and fish deeper. Don’t rule out the shallow bite because we always have fish in the shallows but, as the water gets colder the deep bite will improve.

This is the time of year to fish backwards. Instead of hitting the shallow cover early try deep water structure early with jigs and other bottom lures. Once the sun gets up and warms the shallows a few degrees some fish will move up.

Your success over the next few months rides on the conditions of the day. If you are fortunate enough to be able to pick the days you go fishing you, of course, need to be on the water just before and during the passage of a cold front.

As a bass tournament fisherman, I have to deal with the conditions of the day whatever they may be. Tournament fishing during the winter months keeps you thinking. If it’s a post frontal day you more than likely will be faced with a windy day.

Wind can be your friend if you understand the effects wind has on positioning fish on structure. Wind creates current and fish will always hold on the downwind side of the structure. Just dress warm, fish slow and watch the weather. You can have some great days on the water this winter.

Eddie Roberts writes a weekly fishing column for The Democrat. He can be reached at fishingwitheddie@bellsouth.net.