Water In Low 50's, What Patterns Should I Be Looking For?

[mattk22]

I am headed out to a pot tournament this weekend.  Haven't been out in a month, the water here in Ohio is in the low 50's, the lake has been drawn down about 2-3 ft from summer pool.  What patterns should i start to look for?  I was thinking a quick topwater bite in early morning on a shallow road bed, then moving to a steep bluff and doing some jerkbaits and football jigs.  Thoughts on other things I should look for?  Is the water too cold to be looking in backs of creeks for bass chasing shad?

[WRB]

Waters in the low 5o's would indicate winter cold water period, the lake should have turned over. If there isn't a thermocline, bass can be at any depth depending on what they are feeding on. Find the bait and what depth they are in. You basically have 2 choices, fish bait schools or fish crawdad areas. It sounds like you target bass on baitfish, take your shot early, then go looking for baitfish. I would take a few minutes to meter the marina area to determine what depth to start fishing, before running blindly and hope to find bass feeding.

Structure spoons with feathers are good in cold water for deeper bass, you might want to consider a spoon.

When water is going down in depth, bass tend to move deeper.

Tom

[Ohio Dave]

Matt, I have not been out since the snow squals of ten days ago  I pulled my battery and have mostly called it a season.

 

but I would think that if you started with like a lucky craft jerk bait and jig you should be able to find active feeders.  You are talking about a tourney on the Deleware res right??  if they are brining water in regardless of temp I would take a good look there if you can not find bass busting shad

 

good luck

[mattk22]

it is at Alum, didn't hear of one at Delaware.  i was thinking of trying the bluff walls and those points north of 36/37, then running over to the road bed on the west side in the middle pool, may throw some cranks there mixed in with jerks and football jigs.  what do you think?

I have never really fished this cold of water, so i am up for any help on depths or patterns or baits to try.

[papajoe222]

You're not that far south of me, and until the water temps. dropped below 50, I was catching quality fish on buzzers and lipless cranks in some of the same staging areas the fish use for pre-spawn. Buzzbaits on the flats that still held some green vegetation and the cranks on the drop offs just off the flats.  I'd suggest finding the baitfish and picking a presentation based on their location, but you'll be playing beat the clock and unless you can locate them quickly, you can waste valuable time.

[Mainebass1984]

 I would be fishing a crankbait, a jig and maybe a silver buddy. Water temps in the low 50s the fish should still be feeding pretty good. If you have a choice fish on an overcast day. If it is "warm" and rainy then you should stop whatever your doing and go fishing. I have caught my biggest bass this time of year. Great time to fish. Try and target areas that still have offshore green weeds or logs. I like to spend significant amount of time targeting steep drop offs in 15-25 feet. The mouth of rivers are worth checking out as well. NOW is the time to catch big bass in the northeast. You may not catch a bunch but you usually get some good ones.

[ChrisAW]

I feel your pain here. I've never had a chance in the past to go fishing when its this cold, and worse yet the water temps went right from mid 60's straight to mid 40's for my area. There might have been a day or two of good fall fishing but our temps dropped right off.

 

I would have liked to try to go fishing tomorrow but with winds in the 17-20 mph range, I don't feel like fighting those kind of winds while I'm supposed to be drinking coffee on the pauses between jerks.