Winter fishing
Winter fishing
I do not get out much any more since I have small kids, so take the following advice with a grain of salt.
I used to live in PA and fished for bass every weekend from season opener to mid-December (when ice was forming on top of the lake). Late fall/winter was definitely hog time. I would catch a couple of bass over 5lbs during the whole summer, but usually at least one (and as many as 4) over 5lbs each weekend in the winter. The difference is that in the winter I would fish all day and get just a couple of bites - but they were usually hogs. The other thing that was true in PA (and NC) is that fishing wood in colder weather was the tactic. My best spots always had good wood on a steep drop into deep water. Picture a spot where the bank is a steep cliff with trees toppled down into the water. Also, I only fished a jig and pig. In the summer I would have half a dozen rods rigged with every type of lure imaginable. In the winter, I would bring 2 rods. One that had a blue/black jig and one that had a crayfish colored jig. Often, I would only pick up one of the rods all day long.
Not sure if there are spots like I described above at Freeway Lakes.
Best of luck.