Crestliner2008

Bass gotta eat. My son won an ice tourney last year on a local pond with a 3.7 LM. And there are countless articles written, that substantiate feeding activity of LM during the cold water period. I think it's kinda like cracking a puzzle. You have to find them first. I don't believe you can do that without an UW camera, due to the fishes habit of bottom hugging when the water temps get down to <40 degrees. You just can't see them on a sonar. They are there; just in small, concentrated areas. I don't fish for LM this time of the year, mainly because my focus is on the big smallies available. And the fact that LM - even big ones - don't put up much of a fight in cold, open water conditions. (They come up like a log!) I much prefer targetting fiesty SM during this time of the year.

A few years back I tried the "Sensation" line by Trilene and didn't like it much. It was useable, but was too stiff in the lighter line weights. But I got to tell you all...I get a real kick out of all the negativism here being bandied about concerning Vanish fluoro. I've said it before and I'll keep saying it - I've been using it for years with no problems whatsoever. I have 4 spin rigs filled with it from 4# to 14#. I'll match all the fish I catch with anybody using any other fluorocarbon line. Vanish is not better, but it's certainly not as bad as some folks make it out to be. Maybe it's bad because it doesn't carry the high price tag?

I've used the Gulp drop shot worm (almost a full bag now), on the drop shot and the wiggle rig. I don't like it because it gets stiff after being in the water a very short time. Finesse presentations require a natural movement to entice a fish. The Gulp products just don't look that good in the water, when compared, side-by-side, to the softer plastic worms or minnows available - at much less cost. Maybe the scent of the Gulp gives some people the "edge", I don't know. It didn't do much for me, is all I know.

Interesting take on the LC Vibes. But what are you paying for them? I get my blade baits from TnT Tackle; called the "Lit'l Nitro". They only cost me $2.50 ea., and I buy one or two doz. at a time. If you're getting the most out of your blade baits, you'll loose 3 or 4 every trip out - they work best on the bottom, like a jig. The "trigger" on these baits is the lift OFF the bottom; that's where you get the vibes, not on the fall. They take it on the fall, but that's not the trigger, since you're fishing deep and raising the lure only about an inch or two at most (I drop it as soon as I feel any vibration). Not sure if any falling action is really necessary to be honest with you? (JMHO) Sometimes I'll let it just sit there on the bottom in 30' of water - deadsticking - for several seconds, before barely twitching it off the bottom and letting it settle back down again. This presentation gets dramatic strikes in 40 deg. water temps! Don't know as I could afford to buy a couple of doz. LC lures of any kind in this day & age! If you are able to, God Bless ya my friend! I'm even thinking about molding my own.

Wow. I can't believe it guys ! Never give up on bass ;D. This has got to be the absolute best time of the year for smallies on rivers! They do not suspend - period. They bottom hug the deepest holes and dams. You won't see them on your sonar, but if you have a UW camera, you'd be shocked! Like a load of logs down there! Lots of presentations work well, but I've found blade baits, drop shotting and Senkos to be excellent at this time of the year. Find the holes, fish slow and close to the bottom and you'll tie into some of the biggest smallies in the water. Water temps in MA are now hovering around 40 degrees. SM will be in very small, well defined areas only - their wintering holes. Dress warm and fish safe!

Actually this is in MA

I've had a Pfueger Supreme 370 softside tote for 6 or 7 years now. I like it a lot, but the main problem is that it carries TOO much stuff! It has four 3700 boxes (horizontally) along with side compartments and front & back sections. It weighs in at almost 50 lbs. when full! ;D I mainly leave it in my boat, but it's difficult to pull out and transfer to another boat when I want. I'm looking at downsizing to the BPS XPS 360 tote now. It has four 3600 series boxes and plenty of extra compartments to organize your stuff. I'm hoping this will restrict me in the quantity of tackle I tote.

trixo69 - What part of the country do you live in? What are the water temps? How deep are you fishing? Need more info before you can really get the specific help you want.

Besides drop shotting, I am a firm believer that once the water temps get down around 40 deg., the blades really come into their own. I also fish a large river system and this time of the year we clobber the smallies in 30' - 40' holes. You won't "see" them on your sonar. They are glued to the bottom. But they are there and in large numbers. Blades are definitely the way to go!

Bass are not conditioned to plastics like hardbaits. Re-try the Senkos dead sticking with an occaisional vibration from your rod tip. Heavily pressured waters here still produce quality fish on plastics.

I totally agree with muddy. I've used a sounding rope 30 years ago, in a small 12' tin boat, to learn a lake. You can get a lot of experience with a sounding rope. Will get you close to previously fished humps and channels quite easily once you get enough practice under your belt. However, don't forget, these days you can get an adequate sonar for under $100.

Fishing a Senko isn't like fishing a regular plastic worm. When the fish takes it....he's committed to taking it, period! They will actually try to swallow it almost immediately! No need for an instant hook set. You will see your line start to move off. Reel down until you feel him, as was mentioned above and snap-set fairly hard, but not you don't have to try to break your rod, IF you're using these quality hooks. For 2 yrs. now, every off-set worm hook I've used (those mentioned here above, actually) I've pinched down the barb to facilitate easier hook extraction. Rarely have I lost a bass.

2" curly tail grub on a 1/16 oz. jig head. Our yellows up here this time of the year can reach 2 lbs.

But boy, this is real tempting!

Think about this; even with a left cranking bc reel, you'd still have to reposition your right hand to palm the reel, right? You can't just keep your grip on the trigger while retrieving! That would diminish your control considerably. So, if you have to move it anyway, why not move it to the left hand? I've always found it to be a very natural movement. It's pretty easy for me to do and I'm not the brightest bulb in the pack

I've used Mann's Lil George on & off over the years with varying degrees of success. Have any of you had much luck using this oldie? I mainly use it for smallies, fishing deep, in the early spring or late fall periods. I'm thinking, this should actually be a great presentation for the time of the year; maybe I'm not presenting it correctly?

OK....here are 4 of the 12 smallies they took at the end of last week: http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r251/Crestliner_photos/SM_1.jpg http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r251/Crestliner_photos/SM_2.jpg http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r251/Crestliner_photos/SM_3.jpg http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r251/Crestliner_photos/SM_4.jpg

Didn't realize you needed to register to view!? I'll attach some pics in a bit. Sorry about that!

Just thought you folks may want to re-consider and do more cold water fishing. A friend of mine from MaAnglers.com posted this on Friday. He fishes through the winter....breaking ice to launch sometimes. A fine tournament angler and great sportsman. Link below: http://www.maanglers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5949

Also, you may want to think about buying some women's hose (NOT for you!). Cut sections of it to fit around each reel. Keeps the dust off

tin2win - Yep....Quabbin

JWO - You are off on a great start with that boat. It will free you from the bank and let you exercise some of the knowledge you are obviously getting from these fishing forums. One thing you may want to invest in is a Bottom Line "Fishing Buddy" sonar, which will clamp on the gunnel of your boat. This rather inexpensive - but quite adequate - tool will allow you see what you have learned. And get you to that next level. And, maybe next season we can tie up and I can show you a few things.

I don't agree with the premise that you can't catch fish after a certain time of the year. If I can find open water, I can catch fish from shore or in a boat. You just have to adapt to the conditions at hand. This past weekend the water temp here was 44 deg. and we killed the crappie and bass. You do have to slow down and you do have to fish where the fish are. Whenever I get into a slump, I pull out my 7' UL, tie on a 1/32 oz. marabou jig which I suspend under a slip bobber, and go fishing! Last week, shore fishing, I caught several rainbows, LM bass, crappie and bluegill with this slow approach. Not every area of a pond or lake is going to have fish, but if you move around and are versatile in your presentations, you will succeed. On the other hand, when all else fails, break out an M-80 ;D

And don't forget all those underground springs that EVERY pond/lake has. They keep the exchange happening. Nature is a wonderful thing

jwo - I'm in western MA and this past weekend the water temp was 44 degrees in the Oxbow section of the CT River and the river itself. It's getting down, that's for sure. Time to start looking for holing bass in 20'+ deep holes from now until ice up. Tubes are good this time of year and some bass can still be taken in shallow water on plastics. A 6 lb., 2 oz. LM was taken on Sunday in the 'bow in 4' of water! Don't discount the drop shot either. In another week or so, when the temp gets down to 40 deg. or less, you'll need to break out the Silver Buddies, if you haven't already