The coldest water you can consistently catch LMB

[Micro]

What's the coldest water in which you can consistently catch LMB?  We'll define consistently as at least a few decent sized bass on a bass technique (not as a bycatch while jigging for crappie) for an average outing.

For my neck of the woods, once the water temps drop much below 50, the fish seem to get lock-jaw.  I might be able to pick up a few in the high 40s, but otherwise, I usually wash out.

Anyone have the same experience?  If not, what's your cold-water technique?  

[thetr20one]

I am in Ohio and plan on Fishing Erie for largemouth Friday. Temps are problably in the low 40s to mid 40s. I will let you know how that turns out . We went out the same time last year at the same time and cleaned up! there has been as much as 13" of snow fall up here already.

[Gatorbassman]

I've had great success even when the water was in the high 30s. You still have to find them and then figure out what they want and how they want it. But studies and some of the biologists that I know concider the magic temp to be 53. That's usually when they shut down for the winter.

[Troutfisher]

Bass can be caught in any situation, you just have to know where they are and how to get them to hit, even when they aren't hungry for anything.  I caught a bass in a 4 ft section of unfrozen lake, and the rest was frozen solid.  Any time during the week when it is warmer than usual can be killer to catch them.  Just remember to work slow.

[Micro]

What are you getting them with in temps that low?  The water today never made it to 42 degrees.  That's really cold for this time of year where I am.  Water around here usually only gets down to 41 in the dead of winter (Jan or Feb), after I've usually hung it up for the season.

I tried jigs (blue/black with okeechobee Paca Chunks and blue/green Berkley Craws).  I tried carolina rigging blue/green 7" Rage Anacondas.  And, of course, deep diving cranks.   All I got was a few blue cats and a bowfin on the jigs (one hit on the rage tail, which I'm assuming was another blue cat).   I know where the fish are because I've killed them this time of year in years past.  I just couldn't buy a bite today.   It's too early to give up bass fishing for the year.

[MattStrykul]

I'd say low 40's for me. My favorite thing to do is throw a 1/2 oz evolution jigs UP points. I pull my boat up into the shallows of the point and throw off of it and bump the jig up. Give it a try.

[BassinBoy]

Im in the same temperature range of high 40's to low 50's.  Its the minimum temp ill try to catch them in.  

[HPBB]

There is something you might want to re-think?

look at you last post and see if you see it?

you said the water is 42degree

and only get down to 41degree in jan-feb.

then later you said you know where the fish are becasue you have killed them in the past this time of year.

you see it yet?

Ok,its Nov now. the fish might not be where they ussialy are this time of year because it as cold as it gets in jan-feb. the fish are mostlikely not where you think they are.

I have caught bass in temps as low as 40, most if not all of them off of a jig (jig & Pig and tube). and when to hang it up? when the water gets hard. If I get a free day here in the near future I plan on getting out.

[Micro]

In years past, the water temp was normally in the lower 50s, high 40s, this same time of year.  I think the fish are in the same place.  The deepest part of this lake is where I was fishing.  I saw incredible numbers of fish on my finder bunched up around deep structure.  This time last year I caught fish on that structure.  This time nothing.  I think the only difference in the water temp.  Could be wrong, though.

[Matt 825]

We fish for them and catch them with water temps in the mid 30's.  We catch them right before the ponds freeze over, then we catch them through the ice and then once again the day after it melts.

The key to catching LMB in water below 40 is location, location, location.  Look for the best weeds in the deepest areas that they will grow.  Some lakes that may be 4-6 ft other lakes 18-20ft.  I have had the best success for LMB in shallower lakes fishing with jerkbaits.  You have to fish it very slow with a 15-45  second pause in between jerks.  

If you find them in water with temps in the 30's you can get them to eat your bait and they will probably be quality fish.    

[Siebert Outdoors]

usually for me its the high 30's.  

[SuskyDude]

I've had pretty good day's through the ice. Is that cold enough? ;D

[Tokyo Tony]

In the spring, low 40's temps are beautiful and I can catch a bunch on jerkbaits. In the fall, low 40's temps mean I'm probably not catching much of anything.

My favorite fall technique this year is slow-rolling a 1/2 oz chatterbait along the bottom, so that the blade barely vibrates. I think I'm pretty much done for the year though. Water temps in the high 30's, low 40's, and it's been really windy lately.

[detroit1]

For me, 48 degrees (water) is the coldest i caught a bass. Usually once it dips below 50, i have a problem scratching out more than 1 in a 4 hr. outing. Thats when i hang it up for the season. If i could stand being out in that cold weather for 8 hrs, who knows - i might be able to find a school of gooduns...

[eatnsleepfishing]

I went out this last Sunday and the water temp is at 55 but going down every day.I'm still catching bass very shallow but they are changing from Large mouths to Kentucky bass.Large mouths are starting to move out to main lake points and bluff ends.I have a tournament this Sat. I will let you know what the temp and how I do.I'm using Shakey Head and Football jigs and Square bill Bagley.We have tournaments all winter long here but you do see the total weight for the day go down as the water cools down.

[MNBassguy]

upper 40's cranks and a slow rolled spinnerbait when the water lower 40,s till ice up Jigs,tubes and c-rigged plastics.It was said earlier its all about location!!!!!!!

[bilgerat]

Here in New Jersey I was catching fish all winter last year, although pickeral outnumbered the bass. Water temps in the mid thirties. Gonna hit it again this year, will try some new techniques and strageties to get more bass. I hear winter is a good time to get hogs, I just need to dial in to them.

[5bass]

Micro, the bass should be somewhat grouped up around the baitfish. If the baitfish move into or out of an area, you can bet the bass will follow them. Its not uncommon here on Smith Mtn to catch a good bag with the water temp hovering around 40. The best technique once you find a school is the jigging spoon.

[paul.]

i have caught plenty of bass in 35 degree water.  jigs, tubes, small plastics (zoom ultra vibe speed craw is a killer),  suspending baits.  live baits work well too if you can find them this time of the year.  the trick seems to be finding the windows where the bass are active/feeding.  these are few and far between when the water is frigid cold.  but if you can time it right it can be really great.  you will be fishing for bass that might not have seen a lure in 3 months.  i remember a couple of years ago i found a hot bite in 35 degree water.  i was catching 'em left and right in 3-4 ft. of water with a suspending bait.  good ones too.  i got 2 over 7 in that trip.  i haven't experienced anything like that since then, but i do have fairly consistent results when i go in the winter using the above mentioned baits.  

[Paul Roberts]

paul,

Do you have a date for that trip?

Do you know what the forage was at that time?

[paul.]

other than remembering it was in january, i'm not exactly sure about the date paul.  i don't really keep detailed records.  too much work. ;D   forage was probably a mix of shad/shiner minnows/bluegill.

[Paul Roberts]

OK. Thanks.

[5bass]

Are we talking about fishing from a boat on a big lake or walking the banks of a pond? Knowing this will help and will allow more detailed answers.

My earlier response was from my experience fishing a big lake where you use your electronics to locate schools of bait that have bass following and drop a jigging spoon down to 'em. This would obviously not be the best tactic walking the banks of a small private pond.

[Micro]

Yes, fishing from a boat. I'm finding fish holding at anywhere from 15-25 feet in 25-30 feet of water. They are holding around hard structure and what look like tall weeds.  And yes, there ae always very small signatures that look like small fish, and other signatures that look like bunched baitfish.  So I'm confident I've found bass, and not catfish or bowfin.

I talked to my tackleshop owner friend and he stated lots of fishermen were having luck jigging "Silver Buddies" straight down into the bunched up fish. It saw these flat, crude jigs and I'm wondering if that might be worth a try. I think it's consistent with what 5Bass was saying, even if it isn't exactly the same lure.

http://www.silverbuddy.com/

[Andrew Coleman]

I would think that you could catch bass even in the low 40s. Remeber, bass dont just stop eating, they just dont eat as often and are not willing to go after baits like they do in the spring because they dont want to expend the energy.