What lures to use in the winter with 45 degree water....

[billwv68]

Just like to know what are some good lures for winter fishing besides jerkbaits, blade baits and underspins....

[S. Sass]

Worms worms and more worms  I am kind of a worm fanatic so I fish them year around but in the cold slow and deep works. 

[j bab]

I've always heard that big jigs with subtle action trailers fished slow work well in winter.

For example, a mop jig with a pork trailer or something like that (no rage craws or other high action baits)

[Robert Riley]

Jiggin Rap

[bowhunter63]

Float and fly right now.

["hamma"]

lighter hair jigs and small pork trailer, traps, and I cant really emphasize the need for a ssslllooowww presentation. Its a good chance for a big fish, but its also a time for patience and diligence

 

[Crestliner2008]

For me, I try to keep it simple. I've tried a huge amount of lures in my day for smallies. Cold weather, it's hard to beat a hard jerkbait on one rod and a blade bait on the other. If there are smallies on the structure you're targeting, one or both of these presentations will net you results.

[A-Jay]

16 minutes ago, Crestliner2008 said:

For me, I try to keep it simple. I've tried a huge amount of lures in my day for smallies. Cold weather, it's hard to beat a hard jerkbait on one rod and a blade bait on the other. If there are smallies on the structure you're targeting, one or both of these presentations will net you results.

 

~ X2 ~ Could agree more.

Once the water temps fell to the low 50's and below, virtually Every Brown Bass I caught this past season came on one of these. 

The only exception being a thin rattlebait that I fish like a blade bait.

A-Jay

[Megastink]

I wish my lakes were 45* and not frozen solid in winter!

 

that said, don't count out a Red Eye Shad. Chrome or Panfish patterns fished over whatever grass is left. Sounds counter-intuitive, I know, but it works up here in NJ/PA when the lakes are still half frozen.

[William Rossi]

Carolina rig or Dropshop.

[IndianaFinesse]

The blade bait and jerkbait are two of my top producers in the winter, but other than them the ned rig and 1/8 or 1/16 ounce Bucktail jigs work very well to.

[TnRiver46]

9 hours ago, S. Sass said:

Worms worms and more worms  I am kind of a worm fanatic so I fish them year around but in the cold slow and deep works. 

When I saw the topic I clicked so I could reply "worms!" Sass beat me to it. When bass fishing there is never a bad time to use a plastic worm. That being said until about 10 yrs ago I didn't think you could catch bass in winter. We always went after trout when it was cold. Then I kept reading articles about float and fly and silver buddy. Didn't have any silver buddy's back then (hard to find here) so we used little Cleo spoons and started catching smallmouth in winter!!! Nowadays winter is my favorite season to fish. Still haven't had any luck on float and fly for bass but fly without a float is very effective for me on bluff walls. Got some homemade silver buddy's now that work great but what really happened was they gave me confidence that bass will bite in the winter. Now I catch them with almost any lure in winter, I just needed that confidence. Small tube and shakey head are usually where I start but jerkbait crankbait, jig, Texas rig, fluke, hair jig, blade bait, and all kind of things will catch fish in winter. Tightlining a fly of small Berkly gulp minnow is the way to go here in east tn once the water gets to 45 and below. But once you find them you can make them bite a lot of things. I caught what was probably my biggest largemouth dec 27 a few years back on a gold silver buddy, probably about 8 lbs but I didn't measure it. 

[crypt]

I don't think I've ever seen water that cold !!!!!!!!!!!!      so I got nothing !!!!!!!!!! sorry.LOL

[IneedAnewScreenName-334504]

Probably goes without saying, but SLOW IT DOWN in the winter time. 

 

I already retrieve pretty slowly, but I work my jigs at a crawling pace... 

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

Jigging spoon, jig, shakyhead,  grub.

[Catt]

Stability!

What was the weather 2-3 days before today & what will the weather be 2-3 days after!

Weather stability will determine when, where, & on what!

[Crestliner2008]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Didn't have any silver buddy's back then (hard to find here) so we used little Cleo spoons and started catching smallmouth in winter!!! Nowadays winter is my favorite season to fish. Still haven't had any luck on float and fly for bass but fly without a float is very effective for me on bluff walls. Got some homemade silver buddy's now that work great but what really happened was they gave me confidence that bass will bite in the winter. 

There are numerous blade baits to be had. I've probably got 1/2 doz. different brands right now. You do not "need" a Silver Buddy per say to be successful. Use whatever brand you can find; if you can feel the "vibes" when you first lift it off the bottom, then you have a winner.

[JustinJ]

Paddletail grub on a plain ballhead jig

[TnRiver46]

32 minutes ago, Crestliner2008 said:

There are numerous blade baits to be had. I've probably got 1/2 doz. different brands right now. You do not "need" a Silver Buddy per say to be successful. Use whatever brand you can find; if you can feel the "vibes" when you first lift it off the bottom, then you have a winner.

Blade baits of any brand are hard to find here. I am still using some of the home made ones I got 7-8 yrs ago. Bass pro shops about 45 minutes away is the closest place I can buy blades , the xps lazer. Academy sports, gander mtn, and dicks sporting goods have a total of zero blade baits out of 50 bajillion fishing lures. 

[roadwarrior]

41 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Blade baits of any brand are hard to find here.

 

Hmm...

The internet is your friend!

 

[TnRiver46]

3 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

 

Hmm...

The internet is your friend!

 

Yea but that takes all the fun out of taking the lure off pegboard and shaking it!!!! I don't think I have ever bought a lure online 

[JigMaster4]

I like a jig with a bbug or kickin b trailer, but any rodent/beaver style bait works.

[roadwarrior]

Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad

 

[Catt]

Yesterday it was 75° with 12 mph south wind

Today it 41° with a 25 mph north wind & rain

Y'all gonna use the same lures ya did yesterday just because the water temperature ain't changed?

[IgotWood]

17 hours ago, S. Sass said:

Worms worms and more worms  I am kind of a worm fanatic so I fish them year around but in the cold slow and deep works. 

What size worm do you fish in the cold? Do you downsize?