It's Been Awhile.. Need Some Tips.

[Mccallister25]

Wassup people? It's been a good while since Iv posted. It's actually been a while since Iv done any fishing either. Iv been focusing on my deer season, but for some reason Iv gotten an itch to try to catch some bass on the days Im not hunting.

The weather is cold down here in NC. Really cold in the mornings and evenings. I dont really know how to fish cold water. I was hoping you guys could fill me in on how to fool em. I'm not fishing lakes either. Just ponds up to maybe 8 feet in depth.

[Ozark_Basser]

In ponds, they'll be up on the shoreline buried up in cover with a small strike zone.  In other words, fish the same stuff you always do but make repeated casts tight to cover with a bait you have confidence in.  I've been doing better in the late afternoon as well. 

[Mccallister25]

In ponds, they'll be up on the shoreline buried up in cover with a small strike zone. In other words, fish the same stuff you always do but make repeated casts tight to cover with a bait you have confidence in. I've been doing better in the late afternoon as well.

Thanks! Imma try throwing the ol' tried and true. Black and blue jig. My number one bait, although Iv rarely fished one in the cold.

[Darren.]

In 8 feet you could do a lot of different things.

 

Wacky rig, drop shot, splitshot rig with a small

minnow as bait...

 

Or jig. Since you've got previous confidence in it, 

why not go with it!

[hoosierhawghunter]

Thanks! Imma try throwing the ol' tried and true. Black and blue jig. My number one bait, although Iv rarely fished one in the cold.

I caught 6 off a grassline today in a small lake. Throwing a PBJ jig that i made. I didn't have time to really try anything else. But they had it down in their mouth. Im gonna try and throw a red eye shad tomorrow. But the retrieve is the biggest thing. Find out what the fish want. Get a good cadence going. Sometimes you gotta fish painfully slow to get them to bite. Just gotta find out. On top of that. STAY CONFIDENT. Don't leave because you don't catch a fish quick. They're tough to figure out when its cold sometimes but when you do, its usually a consistent bite.

[Catch and Grease]

Remember that you may have to fish that jig slower than you normally would since the water is cooler!

[Mccallister25]

Thanks guys! The weather is supposed to be pretty nice tomorrow, so I think Imma hit it after work and see what I can do.

[Angry John]

The jig is a great option, you may also want to use a lipless or a dropshot without adding any extra motion.  The jerkbait is also a great coldwater bait.

[HoosierHawgs]

If they are holding tight to cover like mentioned above a smaller profile spinnerbait banged up against cover/the bank can be a great fish catcher. Go w/a 1/4 oz for a small profile. This is especially goodbif the main forage is shad. If the main forage is crawfish try crawling a natural crawfish color jig along the bottom.

[Senko lover]

The only fish I've caught since cold fronts moved through have been on a jig. Try it! Interesting, I actually have not "finessed" it, but worked it fast enough to get a reaction strike. The fish I've caught have not been deep, hanging out in cover right by the shore.

[gulfcaptain]

I'd invest in a thermometer to take the temp of the pond, and probably fish in the afternoon.  If it was me, maybe a dropshot, Ika, a big jig slowly worked with a pork trailer. or a 6" swimbait like the rof 12 huddleston and slowly work it.  Sometimes bigger baits get bit better in cool water.  More bang for the buck in terms of effort.

[bonzai22]

I would try a shaky head with a wacky worm on it. Me and my friend have had some good days on it even in super cold water. Drag it until you get stuck on some cover then shake it slowly and let it sit.

[Patrick Morrow]

When fishing in fall when water is cold, schooling bass, lipless crankbaits are traditional choice for just covering large area of water.