Tough Time With 40 Degree Water In Ohio Advice

[Lip Ripper 87]

Hi I went out the last two days at Tappan lake in ohio. I fished from 10-5 both days. Water temp at its lowest was 42 and highest 48. Water clarity is stained and visibility of 2 feet. It was sunny with slight winds. I fished everything from main lake points, drop offs, rock piles, secondary points, riprap. Techniques used varied from jerk bait with long pauses, slow rolling spinnerbaits, Carolina rig with 1 1/2 ft leader with 7 inch worm, buckeye mini mop jig with uncle josh pork trailer, and tube baits. I fished slow and methodical with no success. I found huge balls of shad in multiples places and tried to match the hatch and also throw something completely different. Does anyone have any in-sight or advice for my last two days. I'm not discouraged just trying to recap.

Thanks in advance

[Dave P]

Similar conditions to what we had on a local lake the last two days. The secret was finding clean (no slime or green moss) weed and making sure it was near a creek channel. Under good conditions they were roaming a bit farther away from the channel maybe 30 feet or so, but if the wind picked up and switched or cloud cover arrived they dropped right back into the ditch. Less than 6 feet of water. Crankbaits ticking the weeds and pausing or burning it right down the channel did the trick.

[rdollar80]

I went out yesterday here in Indiana and spent half the day not catching anything. I did finally catch a few small ones the biggest being about 13". I located a sloping point that had some light grass at about 10' (the lake is very clear.) I drop shotted with a robo worm. The fish seemed to be suspended about four feet above the grass, I'm guessing they were trying to soak up some of the sun. I had about a 24" leader below my hook. I didn't catch anything else anywhere else on the lake. I tried about everything. That was the only spot and technique that seemed to be working. Hope that helps a little bit.

[Lip Ripper 87]

Thanks guys, ill just keeping grinding it out till I can stay on them. I imagined it would be slow considering it was the first two nice days of the year.

[ww2farmer]

Thanks guys, ill just keeping grinding it out till I can stay on them. I imagined it would be slow considering it was the first two nice days of the year.

 "Nice" days to fish this time of year are often the worst days to fish. The feeding windows are tighter in cold water, and combine high barometric pressure, post frontal conditions, with that cold water and it makes for a long slow day.

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

Try secondary points with a drop shot rig. Similar conditions here and it's working. I am new to the drop shot but I seem to be getting better at it. another tip is try shallower than you think. You might be surprised how shallow they can be when water is cold. If all else fails cover water with a square bill crank.

Jay-

[jhoffman]

Its really tough in the NE right now, give it a week or two

[Uncle Leo]

Ripper that is very cold water. Early in the year fish shallow on the north end of the lake hopefully on a sunny day to increase your odds. This ara will have the warmest water.Also slowwwwwwwwww down and slow down some more.

[Lip Ripper 87]

Went out this last Tuesday evening (5-815) for our first Tuesday night tourney. 20 boats and 4 fish were brought to the scales. Big girl was 5-05. I caught one fish on a jerk bait but measured just under 12". Water temp is slowly rising. I am going back out this weekend to fish some deep water close to shallow flats that I somehow forgot to fish. Will also check the north end bays. On deck is a jerkbait, crank bait, jig & pig, and tube. Also forgot to mention, this lake has no vegetation till early summer.

Tight lines

[fish4five]

Sounds like your doing everything right just keep at it! God bless and tight lines.