jbo225 Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 well folks im going to be hitting the water Monday first time this year with highs in upper 60's in VA any recommendations on lures thanks also its getting to upper 50's low 60's today Quote
Super User Sam Posted January 31, 2016 Super User Posted January 31, 2016 JBO, what is the WATER TEMPERATURE of the place you will be fishing? Air temps are not what you need to consider. It is WATER TEMPERATURE. And being from Cumberland I suppose you are fishing a lake or pond. Please let us know. Like Sandy River, Briery Creek, Cumberland Sate Park, and the other waters in the greater Cumberland area. So what to throw? I have no idea. Are the bass going to be active? In a good mood to hit your baits? Still holding deep? Going shallow to enjoy some warmer water in the sun? Hiding in grass or other underwater structure? Any docks or piers available? Water clarity? Now, with all of the variables above listed I will offer you the following suggestions: Early Morning Poppers and Cavitrons Morning Lipless Crankbaits such as Rat-L-Traps or Red Eyed Shads Chatterbaits White spinnerbaits with trailer hook Shad colored crankbaits Drop Shot Late Morning into Afternoon Jigs – Blue/Black with a Rage Tail deep blue trailer Drop Shot 1 PM to 3 PM Plastics on the bottom using a Carolina Rig or Shaky Head presentation Go back to your Morning baits Jigs once again Drop Shot 3 PM to 6 PM With water cooling as sun goes down they will go deep Jigs Carolina Rig Shaky Head Drop Shot What ever worked earlier in the day No one can give you the "magical bait" that will kill them. If they are in a bad mood they will ignore your bait. If they are hungry, aggravated or in competition with another bass they will clobber your baits. It is up to you to find what bait and technique they like to establish your pattern. So don't rely on the above as 100% correct. It will depend on their mood when you find them. And they will be all over the place, just not in a hurry to kill or eat your bait. Don't forget to wear your PFD, have lunch, stay hydrated, keep out of the sun, use sunscreen, wear a hat or cap, wear polarized sun glasses, have second change of clothes with you, don't' for get your rods, reels and tackle, bring two additional baitcasters and spinning reels just in case you get the backlash from Chicago, retie your knots after every two or three fish, check your line for abrasions, cuts, knicks and if you find any cut them out and retie, take your cell phone so you can send photos to your buddies of what you catch and post them on the Forum, have your safe boating operators certificate, fishing license and drivers license with you on the boat so when the Virginia conservation officers stop you checking your credentials you will be OK, do a Float Plan and leave it with your parents at home so they will know where you are going, be sure your batteries are charged 100%, have your map of the lake at hand and ready to write on it as necessary, and I could go on and on. Just having some fun with you. I know you do all of this, anyway. Good luck and let us know how do on Monday. Quote
jbo225 Posted January 31, 2016 Author Posted January 31, 2016 that's the thing I haven't been out so no clue what the water temp is was hoping with temp going up a little maybe they will be going up shallow catch some warming waters and had plans to go to sandy but things changed and will be hitting the Cumberland state forest thanks Quote
Super User Sam Posted January 31, 2016 Super User Posted January 31, 2016 Please go to the introductions section and introduce yourself. Also, please consider using proper grammar and punctuation so we can understand you better and provide better information. Thanks. Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted January 31, 2016 Super User Posted January 31, 2016 I drove by a couple of ponds here in the richmond area and they all still had ice on them so you amy want to do a drive by and check out the areas to make sure they aren't covered in thin ice. Other than that, i can't add anything additional to what Sam said....cold water fishing is fun and rewarding. I have a tough time fishing on those warm days with cold water temps because my metabolism is high with the warm weather but the fish may not have the same feeling so it is harder for me to fish as slow as i need to. Still fun to get out though .. 1 Quote
jbo225 Posted January 31, 2016 Author Posted January 31, 2016 i guess that would be a good idea to check the waters Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted January 31, 2016 Super User Posted January 31, 2016 Really easy fishing this time of year when there is some ice present but you can get on the water. The fish are on the bottom since the densest that water gets is about 39 degrees. Any colder and water is lighter, that is why ice floats. Just look for this with your sonar and use blade baits: Saw lots of this at Sandy River last Winter. When you see predators with shad schools, it's about a sure catch: 3 Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted January 31, 2016 Super User Posted January 31, 2016 This was a warm winter day with some ice in coves and the downwind parts of the lake had warmer surface temps. The fish were still on the bottom. I caught this bass (yellow circle) with a blade bait after seeing it split up the school of shad (red circles). "It's so easy a cave man can do it." This is what was in the yellow circle: 3 Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted February 1, 2016 Super User Posted February 1, 2016 Good job Wayne, I see you have invested in that 360 since I was last here and it looks like your enjoying it too !! 1 Quote
WdyCrankbait Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 I went out yesterday for a little bit to Echo lake, but the lake still had ice on it at some parts. (No bites, using a Chili Craw KVD 1.5) I'm waiting for warmer constant weather, I always get excited too early and therefore get frustrated not to fish when it is the best. 1 Quote
68camaro Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 23 hours ago, jbo225 said: that's the thing I haven't been out so no clue what the water temp is was hoping with temp going up a little maybe they will be going up shallow catch some warming waters and had plans to go to sandy but things changed and will be hitting the Cumberland state forest thanks I live outside richmond, the smaller ponds were still frozen over yesterday even with air temps of mid-60's. I did go to larger lake that wasn't frozen, water temp was mid 40's and very windy. In one small pond I found a 100x20' open water patch where creek was gushing in, water temps were mid 40's. I got nothing except for nice day throwing bait....and smoking a cigar:) Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted February 1, 2016 Super User Posted February 1, 2016 59 minutes ago, Nitrofreak said: 1 hour ago, Nitrofreak said: Good job Wayne, I see you have invested in that 360 since I was last here and it looks like your enjoying it too !! Good job Wayne, I see you have invested in that 360 since I was last here and it looks like your enjoying it too !! I have used the 360 for two years. First ran it with one of my 1198's in 2014. Got the ONIX since it has a higher resolution display and used that combo in 2015. These are a couple of Briery Creek victims early last year. 1 Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted February 1, 2016 Super User Posted February 1, 2016 Very nice indeed sir with some really healthy looking and very beautiful colored bass there Wayne !! Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted February 1, 2016 Super User Posted February 1, 2016 Sorry jbo225, I got a little caught up in Wayne's post and didn't make a suggestion, in colder waters I am more inclined to lean toward what Wayne is using which is blade baits but, my absolute favorite in cold water is the hair jig, it does a fantastic job on lethargic fish. Quote
Super User everythingthatswims Posted February 2, 2016 Super User Posted February 2, 2016 How'd you do? Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted February 2, 2016 Super User Posted February 2, 2016 6 hours ago, everythingthatswims said: How'd you do? Yes, tell us, enquiring minds want to know... Quote
CrazyFluker Posted February 3, 2016 Posted February 3, 2016 I fished for 6 hours yesterday at Lake Montclair in Northern VA and neither my buddy nor I got even a nibble. I used a jig about 95% of the time and 5% jigging a spinner bait. I tried hitting all of the woody cover and docks but blanked out. About a third of the lake is still iced over with water temps as high as 39 degrees. I think I'm going to hold off until March to get back out there, well unless we get some nice days again lol. Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted February 3, 2016 Super User Posted February 3, 2016 They may not be moving at all, in those cases you usually have to knock em in the head before they will bite anything, glad to hear you got out at least but I would keep an eye out for warming trends and fish those too !! Quote
jbo225 Posted February 27, 2016 Author Posted February 27, 2016 Well sorry took so long I ended up catching 3 biggest being around 3 caught them on a lipless I would burn it and let it die and the water I fished that day surprisingly was only about 1/4 frozen ill be going again this Monday Quote
Richard Rhodes Posted February 28, 2016 Posted February 28, 2016 On 1/31/2016 at 8:21 AM, jbo225 said: well folks im going to be hitting the water Monday first time this year with highs in upper 60's in VA any recommendations on lures thanks also its getting to upper 50's low 60's today Water is still cold here. low to mid 40's slow baits. worms ,jigs,cranks. Quote
jbo225 Posted February 28, 2016 Author Posted February 28, 2016 im going to give it a try Monday hoping they may move up a little Quote
HookdUP Posted February 28, 2016 Posted February 28, 2016 I'm going to try today and tomorrow . I'm going to be throwing nothing but hard baits . And probably not a jerkbait . But I'm waiting for it to heat up Quote
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