What would you Throw

[Chance_Taker4]

I have an event Sunday. The only time I have to pre fish is tomorrow afternoon. It is a small lake that is filled by Lake Erie. The event is a bank fishing event so there won't be too much running around. The current weather here in NW Ohio has really threw me off. About a month ago we had two weeks of 75-80 degree days. The bass were starting to come up and stage. Then we got hit with 9" of snow. over a 2 day span. For the last 3 weeks temps barely make it out of the 50s. with the event temps in the lower 60s. The bass were ran off deep when the snow hit. I still haven't seen any fish baitfish or bass near the shore. I have caught decent fish on jerk bait but that was different waters. If you only had half a day to find fish and determine what stage the fish are in what baits would you throw. Im taking 10 combos with me pre fishing but want to narrow down to three for the event.

[A-Jay]

I'd have both hard & soft jerk baits, swimbaits, swim jigs, Vibrating Jigs, Lipless baits, Squarebills & Medium depth Cranks, spinnerbaits,  a frog, stick baits (senko) & a drop shot (try a craw).

And then when is time to cull up a tanker - I'm throwing a Jig / Craw

Good Luck

A-Jay

[primetime]

I would bring a rod with light line and try some smaller baits that you can cover water with...Road runner hair jigs in 1/16 to 1/8 and small jigs, grubs etc...You understand the issue which is finding where they are feeding..Suspended or bottom...

I would maybe try a Ned Rig which falls slowly and that would tell you if they are hitting it on the drop, or when you drag it....I guess a light jig does the same thing, but I always did well with Road Runners in winter for Bass when I lived in NY...I always liked a 1/8 oz on 6lb test and usually they would thump it on the fall or as soon as it hits bottom. Small Tubes always worked well....Bitsy Sized tubes just to locate fish, then maybe go bigger? Cold water Bass Fishing can be tough, but if you have had success on suspending Jerkbaits you should be able to figure something out...Good Luck. 

For some reason I am a big believer in light line in cold clear water...If I can use 4lb test, then I truly believe that will work better than 6lb etc...But that is just me...

The Bass may be located at the first main drop from the shoreline....I would try to figure out where that first change of depth is and start in that area....Fishing From shore may actually be better for finding them...

[Ktho]

I honestly wouldn't worry about the lures nearly as much as finding spots to fish. If the weather has gotten cold like that I find the bass are going to associate very closely to cover. You need to be fishing right on the brush or timber, rocks etc to get bites. They're less likely to be moving around through transition zones and most likely holding to that medium to deeper depth staging. Depending on the lake the lake could fish extremely small so finding spots is going to make a giant difference. Whether it's prepawn, spawn or postspawn there are going to be some fish hanging in or near that cover along the way.

[Chance_Taker4]

8 minutes ago, Ktho said:

I honestly wouldn't worry about the lures nearly as much as finding spots to fish. If the weather has gotten cold like that I find the bass are going to associate very closely to cover. You need to be fishing right on the brush or timber, rocks etc to get bites. They're less likely to be moving around through transition zones and most likely holding to that medium to deeper depth staging. Depending on the lake the lake could fish extremely small so finding spots is going to make a giant difference. Whether it's prepawn, spawn or postspawn there are going to be some fish hanging in or near that cover along the way.

I was hoping this was the case. I know of submerged cover that is castable from shore and I'm not sure any one I'm fishing against knows aabout it.

[avidone1]

when I lived up north I had good luck with a large single Colorado bladed spinnerbait slow rolled on the bottom.

Good luck in the 'event'

[Wprich]

I'd have fishhead spin/keitech swimbaits, lipless cranks, senkos, and Texas rig with a worm or a magnum lizard to start with worked slowly.

[blckshirt98]

I would dropshot until my arms fell off, covering as much water as I can hoping to find a ledge/channel or some rock/grass/vegetation the bass might be hunkering down in.