Fishing half frozen lake!

[Dpatt402]

Ok so this weekend I will be hitting the lake. I have had great success icefishing the laydowns on this lake with a very small 1/32 oz jig and waxies. We have had some warm days and all that ice is now open water. How can I approach this open water from the bank. Like I said I have been using a very small profile jig. I don't know if they would hit something larger. Was wondering if anyone had some advice on what to use in these 30° water situations. Thinking of drop shot or shakey head worm. Maybe even the ned rig. But I'm not so sure they would be willing to strike a large profile bait. Any suggestions out there. Greatly appreciated thank you

[Turtle135]

You were catching largemouth bass on the 1/32 oz jig and waxies? If so, what size were they?

 

I winter fish for largemouth bass largely only using a suspending jerkbait (LC Pointer 78's and 100's) and a 3/8th ounce Football Jig with a craw trailer. I generally do not catch small bass fishing that way. The profile is more than the little guys will strike in cold, cold water.

[scaleface]

If you have access to the same laydowns weedless slider jigs  might work . I wouldnt hesitate to go with crappie jigs .

[Dpatt402]

41 minutes ago, Turtle135 said:

You were catching largemouth bass on the 1/32 oz jig and waxies? If so, what size were they?

 

I winter fish for largemouth bass largely only using a suspending jerkbait (LC Pointer 78's and 100's) and a 3/8th ounce Football Jig with a craw trailer. I generally do not catch small bass fishing that way. The profile is more than the little guys will strike in cold, cold water.

I'll have to try to throw the football jig around see what happens I might slim the skirt down to make a smaller profile and Yeah I was getting a ton of them with jigs and waxies sure I would have to fight through a mess of bluegill and crappie but I had caught a couple 3lb and a really nice 4lb. I have it on my channel last time I posted my channel I got banned for promoting it. I won't link it but I have the vids up on YouTube channel: 402 Fishing

[Turtle135]

That is interesting. I have a friend who used to slow trolling crappie jigs underneath a bobber trying to target crappie in the winter (water was down below 40 degrees). He caught three largemouth over 21" doing that over the course of one week.

[Dpatt402]

8 minutes ago, Turtle135 said:

That is interesting. I have a friend who used to slow trolling crappie jigs underneath a bobber trying to target crappie in the winter (water was down below 40 degrees). He caught three largemouth over 21" doing that over the course of one week.

That sounds like it would work perfectly for this situation 

[Tommy X]

I'm killing them on a  suspending Glass Minnow color Rapala Husky Jerk. They always take it on the pause. I pause it at least 5 seconds more like 10. They also just bite it and stay in one place. I only feel the fish on the next jerk. Hope that helps

[NHBull]

In my younger days, the silver buddy is what I would reach for.....with great success 

[Crestliner2008]

Fishing from shore over laydowns you might try wacky rigging a 4" Senko under a slip float. Start out with the bait only about 2' below the bobber.....then increase that distance, if you don't get bit, until you are just above the laydowns. That'll work.

 

Another option is slow rolling a horsehead spinner with a Swing Fat Impact dressed on it. A lot depends on the water you are fishing and bottom content. These plastics can be rigged pretty weedless as well, if the situation demands it.

[Sittin there reelin em in]

Shaky heads are pretty good for winter time fishing down south. I also prefer a Sexy Shad Strike King deep diving crank bait.

[everythingthatswims]

I would just use something small that you can drag on the bottom. If I am fishing an area that I know has bass, I will drag a bait a few inches then count like I would with a jerkbait before moving it again. Painfully slow but effective, and it sounds like you know where the fish are.

 

A little gulp minnow under a float is a good winter bass technique too, I've caught a lot of them with a 1" gulp minnow on a 1/64-1/16oz head under a float.