Holland Posted March 21, 2020 Posted March 21, 2020 I live in southeast Ohio and can't seem to have any luck untill about mid May. I went fishing five or six times the last two weeks without even a bite. I waited for warmest days to go, between 60 and 70 degrees and I can't buy a LM. Any tips? Fishing mostly farm ponds and a small local lake. Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted March 21, 2020 Super User Posted March 21, 2020 One thing - air temp doesn't matter...water temp does. Do you know what the water temp is? Takes a while for it to warm up - so it could still be in the 40's below the surface. That's going to determine what the bass are doing, and what types of lures to use. Quote
TBAG Posted March 21, 2020 Posted March 21, 2020 I caught several last week on a warm day, mid 50's. Caught them on a flat sided crankbait and baby advantage jig with rage tail trailer. Quote
Hower08 Posted March 22, 2020 Posted March 22, 2020 6 hours ago, Holland said: I live in southeast Ohio and can't seem to have any luck untill about mid May. I went fishing five or six times the last two weeks without even a bite. I waited for warmest days to go, between 60 and 70 degrees and I can't buy a LM. Any tips? Fishing mostly farm ponds and a small local lake. I'm in n.e Ohio have been on the water bass fishing since late january. Most the bass I have been catching have been extremely shallow. 5 foot and under. Jerkbaits and swimbaits . What lakes are you fishing I have fished water as cold as 34 all the way up to 48 degrees so far this year Quote
VPI Posted March 22, 2020 Posted March 22, 2020 Water was quite cold here today and I found the 6th Sense Divine Swim Jig was bringing them in with ease. 1 Quote
Shimano_1 Posted March 22, 2020 Posted March 22, 2020 Throw a jerkbait! That's my go to in cold water and especially if they're not willing to eat faster moving baits 1 1 Quote
Holland Posted March 22, 2020 Author Posted March 22, 2020 1 hour ago, Hower08 said: I'm in n.e Ohio have been on the water bass fishing since late january. Most the bass I have been catching have been extremely shallow. 5 foot and under. Jerkbaits and swimbaits . What lakes are you fishing I have fished water as cold as 34 all the way up to 48 degrees so far this year Hey thanks! I fish Burr Oak Lake, AEP Mining ponds and my little farm pond. Quote
Hower08 Posted March 22, 2020 Posted March 22, 2020 Burr oak is on my list of lakes to fish this year. Try fishing a black jig right now with a beaver style bait. Work it very very slow. When I can't get hit on moving baits right now I either fish a black jig or a tube jig and can usually get bit Quote
Holland Posted March 22, 2020 Author Posted March 22, 2020 13 hours ago, Hower08 said: Burr oak is on my list of lakes to fish this year. Try fishing a black jig right now with a beaver style bait. Work it very very slow. When I can't get hit on moving baits right now I either fish a black jig or a tube jig and can usually get bit Thanks for the info. Burr Oak is a tough lake to crack (for me anyways) but once you do it has some very big fish. Quote
Super User Fishes in trees Posted March 22, 2020 Super User Posted March 22, 2020 I have 2 early spring strategies. Strategy #A - fish the warmest possible water at the warmest part of the day with a reaction bait, like a lipless crank or maybe a chatter bait or spinnerbait. Strategy #B - anywhere else, any other time of day - go low & slow. 1 Quote
OnthePotomac Posted March 22, 2020 Posted March 22, 2020 Under 50 water, go slow, real slow. A shaky head left alone for a bit works. Any area of your lake fairly shallow in the sun is a good place to look. Don't be in a hurry with any plastic. Quote
The Bassman Posted March 22, 2020 Posted March 22, 2020 I've been doing real well with this bait, a Megabass Dark Sleeper. Today with low 30's air temp and water in the 40's they were eating it up. One of my favorite cranks, a Rapala Rippin' Rap was getting follows but no commitment. Put this on and as you can see they had every intention of eating it. 1 Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted March 22, 2020 Super User Posted March 22, 2020 1 hour ago, The Bassman said: I've been doing real well with this bait, a Megabass Dark Sleeper. Today with low 30's air temp and water in the 40's they were eating it up. One of my favorite cranks, a Rapala Rippin' Rap was getting follows but no commitment. Put this on and as you can see they had every intention of eating it. Bassman, curious... What do you like about the DS in cold water? Does the tail move? Does it have to? Quote
The Bassman Posted March 22, 2020 Posted March 22, 2020 Just now, Paul Roberts said: Bassman, curious... What do you like about the DS in cold water? Does the tail move? Does it have to? I actually just started fishing it this past winter. In the water the small paddletail makes it look exactly like a young bluegill. The color I use resembles a 'gill with the tail mimicking the pearly bluish appearance you see when they're near the bank. Also, the lure performs well as a swimbait or a jig. 1 Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted March 22, 2020 Super User Posted March 22, 2020 57 minutes ago, The Bassman said: I actually just started fishing it this past winter. In the water the small paddletail makes it look exactly like a young bluegill. The color I use resembles a 'gill with the tail mimicking the pearly bluish appearance you see when they're near the bank. Also, the lure performs well as a swimbait or a jig. I just looked into them. The weight and weedlessness could be useful in my waters too. Quote
The Bassman Posted March 22, 2020 Posted March 22, 2020 3 minutes ago, Paul Roberts said: I just looked into them. The weight and weedlessness could be useful in my waters too. They're not as weedless as they look. The dorsal fin is real soft. Good luck. 1 Quote
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