It’s feels a lot like winter now.

With lows in the 20s the past few days, the bite may slow down, but the size of the fish you catch will increase.

The spawn could kick off as early as mid-February. The big sow bass and white perch will develop eggs this month and hold their eggs until water temperatures climb above 57 or 58 degrees.

The white perch usually spawn just before the bass so it won’t be long before the big slabs will be in shallow water.

For now I’m hearing good reports on the white perch fishing at the Saline/Larto complex. Located about 20 miles south of Jonesville, this complex consists of two lakes connected by a maze of bayous and manmade canals.

Larto Lake is the best area for the white perch in January. This lake is loaded with manmade brush piles.

Most of the brush piles are located in the mid lake area, sitting in anywhere from 10 to 20 feet of water.

Wind can be a problem for small boats. If the wind blows you off the open waters of Larto, just head up the bayous that connect Larto with Saline, and fish the areas where the canals and bayous intersect.

At times the big slab white perch will be right on the bottom in the middle of the bayous. If the deep bite is slow, move up to the banks and fish the visible stuff that consists mostly of logs and cypress trees.

The best lakes for bass this month will be Bruin, Concordia and St. John.

For numbers it’s hard to beat Lake Bruin. Just fish the many cypress trees with jigs or any one of the creature style lures. With the colder water, the cypress tree bite may be slow.

Just back off the banks and fish the deeper piers with brush sunk nearby.

Lake St. John’s bass are catchable as well. You may have to work a bit harder on this lake, but the fish are there.

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