Gettin' ready to hit the lake....
The other day Jay and I were talking about the late winter/early spring bite about to happen in our parts of the country now that the ice is out. Baits and patterns for cold water bass, what works best, what used to work, what we like and more importantly, what we might be missing.
Let’s face it, times have changed, and so have our tackle and techniques (anyone throw a Carolina rig anymore?). That including our tactics for chasing bass in cold water.
I grew up watching Bob Cobb and The Bassmasters TV show. One episode had Randy Fite using jigging spoons for late winter bass on Lake Conroe. Does anybody still own and use those things?
Another had Ron Shuffield on Ouachita slow-rolling spinnerbaits over deep grass early pre-spawn.
Then there are the other coldwater ‘baits of yore’ such as the Rebel Spoonbill, the Silver Buddy and the once-venerable (and still effective) hair jig. Am I starting to show my age here? Did I mention Pedigo Spinrites and smoke Mister Twister and Stingray grubs (where are you RichZ)?
I’m thinking about all this while Jay is rambling about swimming jigs, which to his credit is a much more modern tactic than what I’m hurling now (see below).
I watch the TV shows. I hit the websites. Only to find out that nowadays I need several $25 Megabass Ito 110 suspending jerkbaits, a box full of RedEye Shads for those shallower grass lakes, and a Float’n Fly to tease big smallies from clear highland impoundments. Hard to argue with the recent success of some of those tactics. Time to pull out the credit card and modernize the tackle box, I guess.
So the question to BassParaders today is, what’s your “go-to” cold water technique? What are we missing out on?
We need to hear from you Rogue guys….
I’ll start by telling you that this time of year, I never leave home without a Silver Buddy, a Shad Rap and a hair jig (“sissy” jig). Call me old school. And you?
Bass Pundit
March 10, 2011 at 6:23 am
Float and Fly with a Cubby Mini-Mite
The 2″ Storm Wildeye Swim Shad
I’m in Minnesota fishing for panfish and “bullheads” when the ice goes off the lakes.
Bass Fishing Opener this year, May 28th.
PS- I’ve been known to throw a few real lures around for Bowfin, which don’t have a closed season. White spinnerbaits, black or white jigs, chatter-jigs.
BryanT
March 10, 2011 at 8:42 am
Living in the upper midwest near clear water lakes. All the baits mentioned are a necessity. Silver buddy, hair jig, spoon (the new tungsten ones fall fast and offer a small profile)… The float n fly is a staple on the great lakes. Slow rolling a spinnerbait is no different than how KVD fished day 1 at the classic. Throw in a jerkbait too, the smallies eat those up till ice up (even the spoonbills).
I think you covered my tackle box till the water hits 55*. As far as got-to, I throw them all.
Tumblebug
March 10, 2011 at 8:49 am
Last week Stacy King took second on Beaver. One of his lures was a Cordell Super Shad. Out of production for many years.
Jason
March 10, 2011 at 9:22 am
To answer your question… YES! They still use jigging spoons on Conroe.
Personally, I think spoons are for communists.
Sincerely,
The Closed-Minded Basser
Ronald J. Lindner
March 10, 2011 at 9:38 am
You cannot view bass fishing all species, blacks, smallies and spots, as well as Florida strain vs. Northern strain, as well as F1’s as if they were a single entity. Most bass fisherman south of the Mason Dixon line don’t realize that you can REGULARLY catch largemouth bass in water as cold as 39 degrees. In fact, my brother Al Lindner, just completed a DVD which chronicles the cold water period right before freeze up (in northern natural lakes) as THE BEST time to catch them. Two man catches in 5 hours of 60 to 100 largemouth bass are common. In fact we call them wintering holes and they should start to be protected just as the smallmouth bass were (in their wintering holes) in Minnesota. Under these conditions there is a whole variety of baits. Everything from cranks to spinners, to spoons, etc. that can work….however, swim jigs probably are the best producer. As far as old type lures are concerned, KVD, throws a spinner and a crank a great portion of the time. He learned to fish in the cold water of Michigan and that is what gives him a leg up on many a southern fisherman just as some Western bass guys are starting to show an edge. Your seeing more spinning rods on the trail than ever before. But that doesn’t mean finesse is something that should be used exclusively. I spent a lot of time fishing bass in Canada as well as Florida, and there is a difference in the way the two breeds react. Cold fronts that are not even noticed by a northern strain bass seem to knock the socks out of these temperamental Florida bass. The point of all this is when discussing bass fishing you must first name the LOCAL area under consideration. And then go from there. Otherwise lure choice, methods and strategy can only be confusing.
Bass Pundit
March 10, 2011 at 8:06 pm
I would be interested in that DVD.
old fishing guy
March 10, 2011 at 9:55 am
First and formost a complete set of dry clothes!!!!
Then:
– a shakyhead jig with either a finess worm or baby brushhog. (Staging)
-a 3/16 or 1/4 oz swimjig with double tail trailer, horney toad or swim bait. (Looking for love.. prespawn)
-a 4″ lizard or 3″ wooley bugger with a 1/8oz slip sinker. (hanging around the nest)
-a 5″ stickbait wacky. (get away from my babies)
admin (mostly Jay)
March 10, 2011 at 11:34 am
Wooly bugger as in fly fishing?
old fishing guy
March 10, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Jay is that awizz consin jab?
No……. yums little double tailed two armed ribbed critter…..
Chad Keogh
March 10, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Tube jig and drop-shot are what I use to catch smallmouth throughout the winter months. You have to fish ’em slow, but they really produce.
SkeeterVD
March 12, 2011 at 7:48 am
Around here, the secret west-central bait? Homemade red rattlin’ bait on main lake points.