Suggestions For A Cold Spell In Ohio

[Ohio Dave]

Temps have taken a nose dive here in Northern Ohio the last few days.  I saw bass on beds last weekend but have not been out since the rain and cold.  

 

In an effort to widen my approach and become much more of a student of the sport rather than just a guy who tosses senkos all the time I would like to ask how some of you would take on rock bottom and soft bottom with the crinkle weeds as structure on a day that is following a cold snap,  water is stained.  far more largemouth than smallies             generally limited structure  

 

air temps today will see low 60's     water temps (I am guessing) will be in the upper 50's low 60 ish 

 

am I wrong to expect to see bass still shallow or will they have moved off to adjacent 6-10" water  

 

where would you start?  bait, color, size   

 

I am sure the majority of you (all) did not read my last post:  I am making an effort this summer to really learn where, when, and how to use spinner baits and chatter baits.  I had some nice luck early this year but was shut out the last time I was out

[Josh Crye]

i would still look for them in shallow water/bank first.  probably start with a popper/prop bait/chatter/ in the morning.  then transition over to a fluke.  if nothing seems to like that and i cant see any fish along the bank.  id back out into deeper water and fish a worm and/or jig.

 

as for color, im always having luck with green, black/blue, and purple

[Ohio Dave]

we are thinking pretty much alike there.      Since taking on coaching the high school boys I have changed my approach a bit to more of a student of the sport.  I have learned a bunch related to rigging and to the use of spinner baits which is something I stared at before in utter disbelief.    

 

I will likely remain a senko first sort of guy as I am more relaxed and having fun going slow as opposed to being a run and gun guy or power fisherman.  I am not sure I like that term anyway but it doesn't matter that much to me.  But I want to have the tools of a gunner to use when conditions demand that I do.  That way I can help young men round out their approaches as well.     

[Ohio Dave]

got just one bite last night on a chatter bait.  But it was all worth it as she was very near 5 lbs!   She is the first fish to get into the Lews drag on my tournament pro reel.  What a beast

[JPascavage52]

Let me start by saying that I don't think there is anything wrong with being a Senko first type of guy, I'm the same way myself, and every angler will have their baits and techniques they are most comfortable and confident with. Heck, Gary Yamamoto himself is a top pro, and I saw a video with him where he said he's been able to do almost anything he's needed to do with plastics. It's one of those lures that you simply need to let do the work for you, which is what makes it so versatile. And hey, unless you are fishing among elite pros, I believe the guy who is consistently catching a limit of solid keepers each time out will, over time, do better than the guy who is inconsistent, and gets an occasional hawg 

That said, some other things to consider are the forage base of where you will be fishing (bluegill, perch, bream, shad, shiners, other baitfish, crawfish, etc), and the conditions (water clarity, light penetration, etc.) If the water is going to be clear, and the day sunny, you will want to stick with more natural colors (watermelon, green pumpkin, brown and orange, baitfish colors etc), if the water is  stained, you will want to use colors that will be easier for the bass to see. Also, remember that lures have different purposes, a crankbait is meant to be a search bait, and draw reaction strikes when it colides with cover, as are topwaters, these can help you eliminate a lot of water quickly, which comes in handy in a tournament on a large lake where your time is limited, and you don't have much time to fish every nook and cranny thoroughly. Flipping jigs, and heavy rigged texas plastics, are great for weeds, lily pads, and heavy cover, and there will ALWAYS be at least some bass in these areas. When the water is cool, or a front has come through, fish will sometimes use these areas as somewhat of a blanket. In addition, bass will often construct spawning nests here, and go deep into weeds in the summertime for cover, oxygen, and ambush points. You can also try probing the edges of weeds with your senkos.

For your specific situation, I would still expect to see bass on the beds, and shallow. Remember that not all bass spawn at the same time, and it is quite possible for bass to be in different "seasons" at the same time. I've caught spawning bass as late as July and as early as March here in PA. Check main lake shorelines, flats, and shallow structure for spawning bass, in addition to the backs of coves and creeks. For baits, your senkos are a great place to start, in addition texas rigged lizards are incredible during the spawn, as lizards are notorious for ransacking bass nests and eating eggs. A tube jig can be key, drag it along the bottom slowly, and hop it occasionally.

If nothing shallow, check structure and points where coves and creeks intersect the main lake, as these areas often hold post spawn bass, as well as the first breakline. Keep an eye out for drop offs, and sudden depth changes. In the rocky areas, and ledges, try a crawfish colored crankbait or black and blue football jig with a craw trailer. 

Good luck and let us know how you do.

 

[Ohio Dave]

A very sound approach !  I sure can not argue a bit with it!

 

Yet, breaking old habits with my senkos and other soft plastics and trying out spinner baits and chatter baits in a serous manor has produced my personal best largemouth last night (very near five pounds) and personal best smallmouth (around 4 pounds).  I honestly am not at all sure that I could have induced the strike of that big gal last night ticking my plastics along.    

 

My whole aim here does not have anything to do with becoming a pro or super fisherman or anything like that.  If a friend invited me to join them as co angler to a tournament I wouldn't likely turn them down but otherwise I will never be a tournament fisherman.

 

What I do want to do is learn a few new tricks that I can share with my high school boys to help them along and to have an excuse to buy more tackle LOL I mean widen my skill range to be able to catch more fish more often and better fish too

[hatrix]

Where is it that you are fishing? The temperature did drop quite a lot for a couple days but now it is back to being hot and super humid as always.

[Ohio Dave]

I should really take a thermometer with me for shore and in my little boat.  I went out Saturday afternoon with my kids in tow.  My son was tossing a Yum craw and my daughter was taking pictures with my phone.  (has a nice eye too)

 

I got one 3lb large mouth on a spinner bait which was about the only strike I had in the hour and half.  I doubt my son let the craw even reach the bottom much less pop it along as he knows he should   his results were a complete shut out.  Unless you count the tad poles and wild onions he collected which I do LOL

 

Tonight is supposed to drop from the 80's to the 40's and not reach past 70 tomorrow.  I will likely be out tonight if I have time and the rain holds off