Bank Fishing Cold Water-Time Of Day?

[Brian6428]

Hey guys, I went fishing this morning and got skunked. I tried everything- jigs, spinnerbaits, crank baits, finesse and T-rig. I am a bank fisherman and the temp (air) was about 45 degrees when I was fishing, and it has been colder the past days. I think that the fish were too deep for me to reach them because of the cold water temp. I plan on going fishing a few days this week (from shore), the temp is supposed to be high of 60's all week. What would be the best time of day to go? Should i go mid-day so it is warmer and the fish will be shallower or should I just stay home. Thanks in advance!

[nascar2428]

We all get skunked occasionally. I also do a lot of shore fishing. Being from Michigan I still have a week or two before some of my spots are thawed. Once that occurs I will be fishing in the Northwest corner of the lake or pond and it will be in the afternoon. The reason for this is because of the trajectory of the sun at this time of the year, the Northern part of the lake receives the majority of the sunlight and the western part of the lake receives it the longest. It will simply be the warmest part of the body of water that I am trying to fish.

[hookset on 3]

The afternoon time frame is one of the best times to fish in late winter, early spring for the reasons nascar mentioned.

 

I like a breeze to help the fish from getting too skitish like when it's flat calm. A suspending jerkbait is another option if the jig bite is off. 

 

What is the body of water you're fishing like? size,water clarity, types of prey for the bass to eat.

[Brian6428]

Thanks for the replies, I will use them this week.

The afternoon time frame is one of the best times to fish in late winter, early spring for the reasons nascar mentioned.

 

I like a breeze to help the fish from getting too skitish like when it's flat calm. A suspending jerkbait is another option if the jig bite is off. 

 

What is the body of water you're fishing like? size,water clarity, types of prey for the bass to eat.

It is a relatively small lake, not too much fishing pressure, murky water. Im not sure about prey types but in the summer the crank bait bite is usually on so I assume shad of some sort.

[Avalonjohn44]

I got skunked today too. Had one on, but he shook off a dozen feet from shore... It was the only bite I had all day too. I had much the same conditions as you and also threw everything I had at them. I started with jigs, moved to jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, a soft plastic jerkbait, a lizard, chatterbaits, rattletraps, jig again... Finally got bit on a darn square bill. 

 

The best advice I can give you is to try it all again tomorrow and don't get discouraged, enjoy the time outside. Eventually you'll figure out a cold pattern, or it will warm up and you can use a more traditional pattern.

[QUIENYO]

I went out the last two days and had good luck.  I started with top water stuff and worked through two different types of swimbait before I settled on a Texas Rigged, Strike King 5 inch worm.  

 

If there is any single reason why that bait worked, it is because I could work it slow.  When I cast from the bank, the bait gets out far enough to go beyond the ledge.  I let the bait sit for at least a ten second count, then give it a twitch before making two or three slow turns of the handle.  At this point I let the bait sit for another 5-10 seconds before I repeat the process again. 

 

As I work around the pond where I fish, I eventually find the spot where the bass are settled.  Usually I can land three or four fish in successive casts before I need to move on.  When its cold, the bass keep together in packs in deeper water.  If you are bank fishing from the shore of a large lake, you may need to wait until it warms up a bit and the fish start to move to shallow water.

 

It was in the high 40s today and is forecast to be near 90 by the end of the week.  I'm hoping that by next weekend I may be able to start picking off some fatties that have moved to the shallow water. Good luck to you.

[CPBassFishing]

Is there any place you can cast to the opposite shoreline? I caught 4 today by burning a squarebill along the edges of a creek channel. The bass here are just starting to move up for pre-spawn, idk what conditions you have there. Try burning a squarebill. Cast to the wind-blown shorelines, over new grass patches.....stuff that will hold fish starting to move up.

[roadwarrior]

The best time is mid day, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

[Missouribassman95]

I had luck yesterday fishing a Shakeyhead very slow.

[Paul Roberts]

In early spring I follow temperature changes --as opposed to static temperature-- in the small waters I fish. Few anglers use a thermometer to its full potential. Below are some trip reports I made a while back that describe this fishing. But first, the basics:

 

In early spring, if I can choose my fishing days I target heating days, and then the most rapid heating periods within those days -usually afternoons. Such times offer the most aggressive biters, and often concentrations of them.

 

Waters don't warm at the same rate or amount all over. Nascar2428 describes the basics pretty well. Wind can blow warm water around too so downwind banks and corners can collect it. Regardless, find warm spots coupled with good habitat (in early prespawn that means cover that attracts food) and you could find yourself in the midst of pure carnage, like in the first trip report below.

 

It's not the only game in town though. If you are hip to conditions and have good habitat ID'd, you can adjust and still catch fish on non-heating days, as the second report below described. It's just that rising temps can really make the fish more aggressive biters and easier to catch.

 

So here are two fishing trip reports that highlight this tactic of following the heat. The first report shows two days targeting the same pattern (heat loving bluegills attracting bass) but each day offered different heating and fishing conditions. The second report was an "experiment" to document the effect on bass' reaction to lures on a good heating day versus a poor heating day:

 

http://www.bassresou...d-pure-carnage/

http://www.bassresou...-colorado-pond/

[JigMe]

Not sure about Kansas City, but in Maryland I found that 1-3pm is the most productivity during early spring or late fall. 

[Brian6428]

Thanks for all the replies and the links from paul as well, I will be sure to try it all out. Thanks!

[Felix77]

I have been in Dallas fishing the banks the past 2 days. The temp has been in the mid 50's, rainy and windy (20 mph winds). I was able to muster only one fish per day. Needless to say that sometimes the bite is tough.

My 2 fish were both on finesse lures. The first on a 1/8oz VMC rugby jig and a finesse worm. The second was on a drop shot/finesse worm.

In both cases it was a cast and soak method. They wanted it ultra ultra slow.

When all else fails go slow or go home. I know... easier said than done.

Good luck

[zwhiten12]

I got skunked the other day as well. I went out the very next day under the exact same conditions and caught 5 good bass. I would try mid afternoon through the evening. The only thing I did the second time that I didn't the first was SLOW way down, almost to an unbearable speed. It took time but it paid off in the end. Good luck!

[Brian6428]

Thanks for the advice, I will slow it way down next time.

[Bankbeater]

Between 2 and 4 PM is the best time around here.  After the sun has had a chance to warm things up.

[J Francho]

I'd be hitting the NW area, mid morning once the sun has been on it for a bit.

[Felix77]

I would fish the banks which get sun the earliest.