TrapperJ Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Got first event this Saturday and that water is cold! Going over my tackle box and have the ole go toos ready. Jerk bait Finess jigs Shad Raps A Rig Anything missing anything? Or got something to add to my over abundant tackle bag? Let me know! This is a tuff time of year so any tips advice on what to throw is welcome! It's cold right now but next days leading up to event have some decent weather Thurs 53/37 Fri 65/41 Sat Tourney day 67/37 Thanks! Quote
Rangerphil Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Hair jigs, squarebills reeled slowly just bumping cover! Water warms the rocks and stumps and the bass will hold tight for the warmth smack the stump and bam 3 pounder! Good luck! 1 Quote
TorqueConverter Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 I shallow crank in those temps in state ponds. I usually get a spring turnover that muddies up the water to 0 visibility and drives the fish super shallow. In my case I'll throw a big bright squarebill crank and slowly swim it just off the bottom. What you should be throwing is going to be dependent upon your specific body of water. If I was down in Table Rock I'd be throwing suspending jerkbaits and slow rolling chatterbaits/spinnerbaits. 1 Quote
Chris186 Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 If it were me, I would definitely have a rattle trap tied on. The rest would depend on the lake I am fishing. 1 Quote
tubedude Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 I agree with the suspending jerkbait comment. Right around that temp is when the bass will start hitting them, especially if the lake is on a warming trend..the Smithwick Rattlin Rogue is a good bet, fished with long pauses. Finesse worms/jigs on the bottom are a good choice if you can't get a reaction bite and don't forget the drop shot! Quote
TrapperJ Posted February 27, 2014 Author Posted February 27, 2014 oh yeah cant forget those Rattle Traps! Man just wouldnt have thought about Sq Bills this early. Yup got those chatterbaits standing by, i was thinking about spinner baits but figured Chatterbait more over the spinner baits. The the lake has some good rocks with some color to it. Im sure we wont be the only ones targeting that area. Quote
Comfortably Numb Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Water has come up to that temp in Va. Bass were in a bout 15' water still. Rattle trap and Blade bait worked, as well as Carolina rig. Quote
Super User iceintheveins Posted February 27, 2014 Super User Posted February 27, 2014 Deep LC pointer or Dynamic Lures Deep Travado jerkbaits. Strike king red eye shads, swimjigs, and carolina rigged centipedes. Quote
Super User Bankbeater Posted February 27, 2014 Super User Posted February 27, 2014 You might try a tube or a plastic worm. I have luck on those year round. Quote
Fish Murderer 71 Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Dead stick a suspending jerk bait in 5-15' cover A-rig in deep cover, 10-12" power worms Black t-rig along the creek/river beds. rattle trap on wind blown points. and square bills for the fallen trees. Senkos on the rip rap. and be prepared to catch nothing. thats my general patterns in COLD waters Bass dont need to eat much when its that cold, they can go up to a week without feeding in those temps... which makes for aggravating day on the water. GOOD LUCK! Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted February 27, 2014 Super User Posted February 27, 2014 If it were me: Lipless crank Jerkbait finesse jig Shaky head Drop shot flat sided diving crank In no specific order. 40-45 degree water pretty much describes our lakes for about a month after ice out, and those baits are what usually work for me. 1 Quote
Super User smalljaw67 Posted February 27, 2014 Super User Posted February 27, 2014 I'd use the jerkbait if you have clear water but based on the weather you said was coming is going to mean you are on a warming trend and the middle to last day of a warming trend will get fish active. Based on that I would have a #7 shad rap ready for the 6' to 8' range, a flat side crank like a DT Flat 7 and 3 to cover shallow and mid depth areas along with a jig or finesse rig. If you need to swing for the fence try a chatterbait or a swim bait retrieved slowly around any cover, the best bet would be a hollow body like a money minnow, shadalicious or the Basstrix, this is under utilized and doesn't get a bunch of bites but the ones you get are big and this is the perfect time for them, good luck!! Quote
bassin is addicting Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 like most have said....and what i will be throwing in a couple weeks... LC Pointer..... Living Rubber Jig with an Uncle Josh pork-craw tailer Hair Jig Lipless crank Norman Thin N Quote
Brian Needham Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Here is what I got ties on for a hopeful weekend trip: 1/4 oz jig 1/2 oz jig 3/4 oz jig Flutter Spoon shakey head senko 3/4 oz big hammer The Rig I got more but that is what I am going to key on, I will be looking 12-20 foot mostly Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted February 27, 2014 Super User Posted February 27, 2014 I think you can catch them on a lot of stuff but you just have to realize it has to be fished SLOW! The weather should be helping you out though making them more active. They should be starting to come up out of their deep wintering holes. Quote
TrapperJ Posted February 28, 2014 Author Posted February 28, 2014 We pre fished today and it was tuuuuuuuuuuff! we were mostly covering a lot of water to look around and scout areas we got a game plan now going into Saturday. We fished, but not near slow enough I'm sure. It's hard to slow down. U just gotta make yourself do it though. We threw JB, finesse jig, biffle bug, shakey head, spy bait, cranks, rattle traps. Hopefully what little bit of warm weather we are getting might get those lock jawed fish to open their mouths little more. Quote
dfris Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 How about a lizard. Its getting time for spawn in a few months, Bass will start to get very aggressive towards a lizard. We have been catching quite a bit of them on lake keowee in 52 deg water on lizards Quote
frogflogger Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 40-44 - jerkbait 45> - square bill on protected northern banks Quote
TrapperJ Posted February 28, 2014 Author Posted February 28, 2014 The last placed we stopped in a cove water temps were right at 45 degrees. Was hoping for some Sun today but its cloudy. Hoping the sun peeks outs this after noon maybe. Just glad no massive temp drops leading up to Saturday. Quote
Lip 'em! Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 I fished a tournament this past weekend with water temperatures ranging from 43-47 degrees. We figured the fish would be stacked up on the deeper points and even on ledges so we spent most of our time deep working jigs, cranks, jerkbaits, and the a-rig...we never did really get them figured out. Turns out the winners of the tournament caught their fish on square bills and rattle traps, fishing them fast in 2-4ft of water. We had a pretty good warm front come through during our practice day and air temps got up to 68 degrees. I took away a valuable lesson from this experience: never be afraid to go shallow and fish fairly quickly even with lower water temps if a warm front comes through and the water temps come up a degree or two. After all it's early spring and these fish know the spawn is just right around the corner so they are going to take advantage of every degree they can by turning on the feeding switch. Quote
TrapperJ Posted February 28, 2014 Author Posted February 28, 2014 wow yeah last thing i would be thinking is shallow and moving fast. Sometimes you just never know. Quote
bassin is addicting Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 shallow water will heat up faster... off colored water will too... protected northern banks...get the most sun... Quote
Super User bigbill Posted February 28, 2014 Super User Posted February 28, 2014 The overlooked inline spinner. Lists of flash & bling plus the steady vibration. Quote
TrapperJ Posted February 28, 2014 Author Posted February 28, 2014 inline spinner u mean like a rooster tail? Quote
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