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Entering into winter this time of year ,many times our thoughts are far from fishing while really this is a very productive time if your up for braving the cold. I fish a lot in the upper Osage river above Osceola Mo and do very well in the winter months. One reason this is a good winter spot is that this river is fed by several rivers to the west and when it rains or snows to the west it all comes down river and helps keep the river free of ice and makes it rise also (hence more fish activity). I usually head up river and look for the deepest holes on my depth finder and then go over them slow looking for big congregating fish on or near the bottom. Once I find some significant fish I anchor up river at the top of the hole. I cast towards the back of the hole and try it for a bit . If I get no bites I slowly work my way back towards the top of the hole (or the lip). I will usually give it about 15 minutes per spot then I recast to my next position. Every time I recast ,I also rebait. Fresh bait is always the key to more fish ,winter or summer. This time of year I will look for at least 35 ft of water in the holes I fish. 40 to 50 is even better. When you find a really deep hole this time of year,it will probably have at least some fish holding there. Just look for the most fish in the holes. I prefer fresh bait any time of year. If you can't come up with any fresh shad ,I suggest jarred shad guts. They work well on cold water cats as does chicken or turkey livers. When I'm using fresh cut shad I also put a peice of gut on with it. It seems to help. I cut my filet off of the tail end of the shad after scaling it first. (the tail of the shad holds the most oil in the fish). I rig up Texas style (or slip sinker) with the octopus hooks or kahles when I want to set the hook with a jerk. My rig is set up like this: I tie about 18 to 24 inches of 90lb braided green dot snagging line to a 8/0 blood red Austrailian octopus hook. then ,tie that to a #3 or #4 barrel swivel. Then I slide a 4 or 5 ounce(depending on current) No-roll sinker on my main line. Below that, (above the swivel) I slide a small plastic bead (just big enough to cover the knot and hold the sinker off of it). then tie to your swivel. With the 8/0 Gamakatsu circle hooks I rig three way with a three way swivel and a 90 lb braided green dot leader about 1 foot long tied to the hook. then a lighter 20 lb mono leader about 2 ft going to a 5 ounce bank sinker. I am now using either 50 lb flouresant green Eagle Claw mono or 80lb Power-Pro braided line as my main line . (With the Octopus hooks or kahles I use The Power Pro because it has very low stretch resulting in stronger hook sets and with the Gamakatsu circles I use the mono as you don't have to jerk with it so when letting them run it tightens up and makes for a more elastic hook set. My poles are Berkley Glo-sticks in the 8ft baitcast models. My reels vary from Catmaxx bait casters to ABU Garcia Bait casters to Eagle Claw Bait casters. I cast out and then set my clickers and release my reel spool into neutral. When using the mono and circle hooks and you get a bite, let him run a ways on the clicker setting on your reel and then engage your spool ,wait for the line to tighten and your pole load up and then Start cranking... FAST. This technique is hard to get used to for you folks that are used to jerking your rod but with these hooks jerking is NOT the way to land fish , BUT it will land you more fish and have a better hookset in their mouths most of the time. For those of you who don't like change , I would recommend the 8/0 stainless Kahle hook or the 8/0 octopus hook or a ss90 model Eagle claw hook and the Power Pro braided line. Then jerk away when the pole loads ! Anyway, your on your way to some cold weather cat action and some good eating on a cold winter day. Always remember when fishing this time of year, This water is extremely cold and you should be double careful when on the water. Even if your not used to wearing your lifevest while out in the boat ,it is a very good idea to keep it on this time of year. Also another good idea is to keep some matches or a lighter handy in your boat just in case you would fall in , you can get to shore and get a fire going and dry out and rewarm your body. You won't regret it ! Have fun fishing and be safe. Earl