Fishing in the snow

[Mocktopus]

It is supposed to snow Friday here in central Pa, but I'm hoping to hit my local lake for the first time after work. Is it a dumb idea to throw some soft plastics to the deep spots? The water can't be much over 40° and I don't have any crank baits. Would I be better off with moving baits like a spinner?

[J Francho]

Fish slow.  Plastics, jigs, and suspending jerk baits would be my plan.

[Mocktopus]

I'm thinking the same.

[J Francho]

Most of my early season, cold water fish come from a jig or Texas rig plastic of some sort.  Once the water warms to 50+, then moving baits start to work better.

[Mocktopus]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Most of my early season, cold water fish come from a jig or Texas rig plastic of some sort.  Once the water warms to 50+, then moving baits start to work better.

Thank you. This will be the earliest in the year that I have ever fished for bass. I really have no idea what to throw.

[J Francho]

It's almost 70 here, I'm probably gonna wet a line after work.  Supposed to snow tomorrow.  Crazy winter.

[Mocktopus]

Yes its 68 and thunder storms today and snow flurries Friday. Last week I wanted to get out in sunny and low winds day. I couldn't though so I have to go in the snow Friday.

[IndianaFinesse]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

Most of my early season, cold water fish come from a jig or Texas rig plastic of some sort. 

What size and type of plastic would you recommend for fishing in 10-17 feet of 45 degree water?

[J Francho]

My first fish of last year was on a Rage Tail Craw.  Third cast, never hit the bottom.

[fishballer06]

6 hours ago, Mocktopus said:

I don't have any crank baits....

 

[BassNut]

Don't forget Blade baits, and my #1 choice suspending jerk baits.

Long pauses between sweeping moves.

 

[fishballer06]

In all seriousness, I've been out the last two weekends and fished two different bodies of water around Somerset and Pittsburgh (and know you and I fish some of the same waters). The water two weeks ago was 41*. I've caught three fish so far and they came on a LC flat CB DR, Mann's baby 1-, and a Rage Tail Swimbait 3.75" on a 1/4oz jig head. Certainly not the baits I would have expected to catch me a fish in February in PA. 

 

Aside from that, I normally catch my first ice out fish on either craws or other finesse techniques. Last year my first fish was on a texas rigged Missle D-Bomb being slowly hopped along the bottom.

[Mocktopus]

4 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

 

Yea i'm fairly unconventional. I just haven't had the budget to be a bait monkey. I bought 3 spinners last week (my first 3 ever). That was big for me. I haven't really been experimental in baits. I know what has worked in the past and I find different ways to use those baits. Can't say I've e every been skunked more than one trip in a row.

@fishballer06 check my post in the bass fishing blasphemy thread that'll really make your head explode. Lol