l live in NE Ohio, and I am new to lake fishing (for bass, pike, walleye, trout). It is been cold, but not freezing yet. Most people l mention it to say I am wasting my time trying to catch something this time of the year. But people in some places ice-fish, and I've heard about people heading up to Canada to catch Northern Pike. Am l wasting my time, or are there some fish active even when it is cold?

Never, eskimos fish in sub-degree weather and get the best fishing done.
(Well, unless the water is frozen of course)

probably never since you asked ''to try to fish''- l see 'em out here driving their trucks on the frozen lake and i'm sure they enjoy what they're trying to do, because otherwise why in the world would you?

When the water is frozen all the way to the bottom.

if ur having fun its never a waste of time!!! if ur fishing from shore thou u might have a tough time. if u have a boat find the deep holes or places with green vegetation & u should be able to catch something. best advice l can give is to talk to some ''old timers'' & see what they say, or go to ur local bait shop & see what they say. l live in MN & l fish right up to ice up so do not get bummed or discouraged. right now is one of the best times to fish anyway. the fish r trying to put on as much weight as they can now so they have a better chance of making through the winter.
good luck!

no, u can fish in the cold, actually ive heard it was better to fish in the cold for walleye & pike. l dont think u can catch bass, they r more march when they r breeding. fish for bass in march & use shiners, bass go f*ckin crazy because they dont want any fish by their eggs, & they will attack it & ull catch a huge bass. & u can ice fish. u have to dig in down in the ice though, & the ice has to be l think 3 feet thick. just dig a hole in the ice, put a worm on a hook, & let the worm down in the whole & u might catch a sunny or something else., good luck

The answer to your question would be
''when is it too cold for you to fish?''

l have caught bass while ice is freezing my line up.

l also live in N.E. Ohio & right now is a GREAT time to get out there & pick up some big, er, l mean BIG Steelhead in the rivers. It is never too cold if u can find some open water on the rivers. Just use smaller offerings. l will fish until the river freezes over completely. l find though that the older l get, the less l like fishing in sub-freezing temps, not because it is too cold, but because l hate having my line guides ice up on me & l dont like any of the products that claim to eliminate the problem. You have plenty of time to get out & catch some good fish. Just dress for the weather. Thermal everything!!

Head to a Tackle Shop & get some Mini-Foo Jigs & some floats & a cup of maggots. Determine (estimate) the depth of the water u will be fishing & set ur float about a bit longer than the depth of the water. Cast it upstream & let it float down until it is below you. Try to mend ur line as it drifts so as to achieve a ''drag-free'' drift. Do this through the deeper pools & u will be surprised what u will catch. If u have anymore question, check out my profile & l can be contacted through my website as well. Good Luck & do not let a little cold weather stop u from fishing.

See ya on the river!!

NEVER!!!!!!