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Knapp: A winter fishing lesson on when to stay ashore and when to go on Lake Arthur

Jeff Knapp with a Lake Arthur crappie caught and released during a recent trip. Jeff Knapp/Special to the Eagle

Should I stay, or should I go?

The chorus from The Clash’s early 1980s rock song often sticks in my head during fishing trips, an earworm likely generated by a nagging question as to whether to stay on a particular spot or move on.

This can be a particularly taxing question this time of year, when cold water temperatures drive down the activity level of fish. They still eat, but don’t expect them to aggressively pursue lures or baits. Typically it takes a painstakingly slow presentation to get them to bite.

The conditions faced also come into play, which can help determine if it’s wise to continue to fish a certain area or make a move.

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