Winter Fishing on the Hudson: Smallmouth, Catfish, and More - Artificial Lure's Monday Fishing Report

Good morning, folks! Artificial Lure here with your Hudson River fishing report for Monday, December 1st, 2025. Let's dive right in.

**Tides and Conditions**

We've got low tide at 12:50 AM this morning already behind us, so we're heading into a rising tide situation throughout the day. That's good news for anglers—moving water gets the fish active. The water temp is holding steady in that sweet spot for winter fishing, and we've got decent visibility out there on the river.

**What's Been Biting**

Smallmouth bass have been the star of the show recently. Down on Lake Guntersville—not far from our waters in terms of technique—anglers were absolutely crushing it with 28-pound bags just last week. While the Hudson's a different beast, those same smallmouth principles apply here. We're talking jigs and live minnows working the structure. Catfish have also been cooperative, especially around areas where there's some current and structure. This is prime catfish season, and they're feeding aggressively.

**Best Approaches**

For lures, go with a 1/2-ounce jig in darker colors—blacks and browns work great in winter. Throw some artificial reaction baits too. If you're going the live bait route, fresh shiners and small minnows are your ticket. Cut bait chunks also work incredibly well for catfish right now. Keep your line test around 20-pound minimum—these winter fish can be hefty.

**Where to Focus**

Target the deeper holes and structure along the river. Areas with current breaks and overhanging timber are gold. Look for where the water churns a bit—that's where the baitfish congregate and the predators follow.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI