Ontariobassin

Davis you might want to try a tube (not berkley) enpregnated with heavy salt because they work much better than powerbait tubes here and those smallies might know that powerbait scent pretty good after being caught so many times with those 7" power worms. Andrew, tubes work great but stay light ( 1/8 oz) unless you're fishing deep - 20'. If there is a lot of weeds you will have to texas rig your tube and use a light bullet or inserted weight.(1/16-1/8) Everything else mentioned works good also but start with working tubes slow and when the water warms up pick up a couple top waters like a pop r, skitter pop, or torpedo and work them with a slow popping action, hold on and have fun.

BRAID!!! power pro 20 lb, Fireline 12lb, or any other braid in 20 lb. Because they are small diameter, no stretch, and so strong how can you fish anything but. In super clear water tie 30 - 48"s of flourocarbin leader material on the braid. Braid won't show up under black light but the feel you get makes up for it. You might need 2 different spools one with mono for night fishing and one with braid for days. Give braid a try you won't regret it. P.S. you save quite a bit of money with braid because you straighten most hooks that snag up or you can pull the log up and retrieve your bait. ;D

The water temp. is very important, unless the water is quite a bit warmer at the discharge those fish would be wintering down river where the water is slower. Winter bass don't move much and congrigate in a small area where they won't have to exert any energy. If there is bass near the discharge look for eddy's where the water is moving back upstream and try dead sticking tubes, small grubs, and 4" senkos and finesse worms. Try split shotting and carolina rigging these baits also.. I'm jealous we have a foot and a half of ice and all we catch now is walleye, perch, and pike but at least they taste good.

If you haven't tried #3 and #4 blue fox inlines silver/blue on rivers than you should give it a try. Swimming a 3 or 4" smoke coloured grub with a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jig works wonders and throw a topwater like a pop R and you will have a sore arm at the end of the day.

If you,re fishing sand or rock in less than 20' of water slide a 1/8 or 3/16 oz jig into a tube and always push it right to the end of it. This works best in 3 1/2" but 4" tubes work good also. In deeper water go to 1/4 - 3/8 oz depending on how strong the wind is. Texas rigging, weightless for a slow fall, with a 1/16 - 1/4 oz bullet weight if you want the tube to fall head first(heavier cover) , and use a worm hook with a centre weight if you want the tube to fall flat ( falls slower this way ).