help needed!!!

[future pro]

ill be going out bass fishing for the first time this year on an interstate pond in a boat. the pond is about 20-30ft deep.  it will be imediately following ice out i was wondering what would be the best tactics for the cold water? i know stuff like jerkbaits, and jig&pigs but i was wondering if i could get a little more in depth explanation. thanks

[roadwarrior]

Focus on finding structure to fish, the lures are the easy part. Points are an obvious target, fish them thoroughly. If you can find isolated humps, ridges, pools, boulders, rock piles, bottom transition and ledges, these are all potential places for bass to stage.

Soft plastics will generally produce a few fish. In water <12' deep, I suggest Senkos and Fat Ikas. Tubes are another option and can be fished in even deeper water. This time of year the #1 hard bait might be a Rat-L-Trap type lure. That will get you started.

[BigAL]

Try a big ole spinnerbait!Check out this article!

http://www.strikeking.com/journal/00125/1.php

[Zel]

I hate ice-out angling usually cold and miserable, and not much action.

Not sure quite what your looking for, but you picked some of the lures I would use for ice-out fishing.  I agree with first keying on structure points, rocks, ledges and breaklines are the structure I target on the lakes I normally fish.  When you find the structure and see bass holding on it, then see what lures would interest them.

Suspending Jerkbait Cast it out, Crank it down to the depth you want, and then utilize one-or-two jerks of the rod to move the jerkbait, and let it pause for about 3-15 seconds (depending on what the bass want, and they will let you know how long to pause between jerks, as I have found they usually hit it on the pause or when you first jerk the bait after letting it pause for a while).  Keep repeating the jerk and pause action.  I have found you need to let it sit motionless for a longer period of time between jerks in colder water temps.

Jig'n'Pig I prefer smaller jigs and pork (not plastic) in colder water, and in natural colors, and I personally think hair jigs (or hair jigs combined with marabou) work better in colder water than do rubber skirted jigs.  And I've found you can't seem to fish the jig slow enough in cold water.

When I have to put the lure 18ft or deeper in colder water, I'm using Jigging Spoons (1/4 ounce Kastmaster's match the hatch where I live up north), or Drop Shots with 3 or 4 inch hand poured worms in smoke, green watermelon, or pumpkinseed (basically natural colors).  And I use a hair jig rather than weight at the bottom of the drop shot rig.

Good luck.

[John J.]

  Quote

Try a big ole spinnerbait!Check out this article!

http://www.strikeking.com/journal/00125/1.php

If you were to use the spinner-bait try the slow-roll retrieve with a colorado blade. Basically, just cast the spinner-bait out, let it sink to the bottom (line quits going out), and slowly reel the spinnerbait in then.

The idea to winter fishing is S-L-O-W presentations. A worm, jig&Pig, or other plastics, and remember the bass' metabolism is slow, so they won't hit a huge lure (well they will!) but it is better to go along with a small worm, lure etc. Like instead of a 5" worm, throw out a 3-4" worm.

A good technique for worms would be either the carolina, texas rigged or the drop shot rig. Fish those around sunken cover/structure or near dropoffs!

Good luck!

God bless  8-)

[rocknfish9001]

By far the #1 ice out lure here is the silver buddy. Cast it and let it settle, than use a yo-yo retrieve with 1' lifts, more or less depending on the fish.

[future pro]

thanks for all the info guys