40* River Smallies - New River

[rowyourboat]

guys im going to bluestone lake tomorrow. and plan on spending some time up where the river runs in. do you guys have any advice for 40 degree water?

[BradGuenette]

I've had the best luck dead sticking/dragging tubes in those temps, 1/4oz-3/8oz tube jig with the tube of your choice, I prefer strike king coffee tubes in green pumpkin/watermelon red.Less action the better.

[moguy1973]

Suspending jerk baits fished real slow.

[Crestliner2008]

Make sure you have some blade baits, Senkos and hard jerkbaits. Fish slow.

[Mainebass1984]

 I have had my best luck when the water is that cold using jigs blade baits and jerkbaits.  Start fishing slow and then fish slower. It should take multiple minutes for each cast. I would start with a blade bait. They slam smallies in cold weather.

[don53]

in line spinners and senkos,green pumpkin

[retiredbosn]

Go as far up as you can, where the water starts shallowing up. I've had luck there with a white 4" grub on an 1/8th ball head, this time of year get upstream of a hole and cast downcurrent. Keep your grub just off of the bottom and let it out real slow. You fish away from you letting the current give the grub action and take it down stream SLOWLY through the hole. It is a slow tedious process but can pay off, you can do the same with a senko, use a 4". I would go to the river south of the lake put in behind that gas station at Sandstone and go up to the falls and fish there. I can't believe your fishing it was 10 this morning, and tomorrow they're calling for snow. So glad I moved south, no snow or cold weather.

[The Young Gun]

Suspending jerk baits fished real slow.

Always produces... Never can fish to slow