What tackle for first outing

[WABass]

I will be fishing a river that has both largemouth and smallmouth, there are flats that are 2-5 feet deep and also deeper channels up to 15 feet deep, the weather is supposed to be in the mid 50s and lows in the upper 30s, with the water clarity of 3-5 feet of visibility and is about 41 degrees. I have 3 poles rigged up pole 1 has a jig n pig pole 2 has a texas rig for worms or whatever, and the third I cant choose between a spinnerbait, jerkbait or crankbait, any ideas?  Thanks in advance  

[Shane J]

If it were me, I'd probably use that third rig for a suspending jerkbait or a lipless crank in craw color. Have fun!

[Uncle Leo]

I have had some luck with a X-Rap in 42-48 degree water. I would give that a try. Hold a bit between jerks they still will not be very active at that temperature.

[J Francho]

So far, my two fish this year (yeah, just two, LOL) came on a 1/2 oz. finesse jig - no trailer -  and a Pointer on a long pause.  The Pointer did have a dressed tail hook.  Water temps were in the mid 40s.

[iceintheveins]

This time of year I would use a 3" tube in natural crawfish or baitfish colors with enough weight to get it to fall to the bottom. Senkos and hard jerkbaits are also good options. When the water warms more, a shallow running crankbait fished with a stop and go retrieve is good, as is a slow rolled spinnerbait.

[WABass]

Thanks guys the pole that is texas rigged is going to be used for weightless flappin hogs and senkos, pegged worms and tubes with an insert weight, what size jerkbaits are you using?

[J Francho]

Not sure what it means for a rod to be "Texas rigged," that's usually a term used to describe a bullet sinker and weedless hook with a soft plastic.

As for jerkbait sizes, Pointer 100, Rapala XR-10.

[WABass]

Sorry when I say texas rigged I guess I mean a weedless rig and I add weight if needed, even with no weight and a senko isnt it still texas rigged or texposed? I was thinking it was the way the hook was rigged not the weight.

[J Francho]

I always consider a Texas Rig as a slip weight, hook, and the plastic rigged weedless.  But many refer to the weedless style of hooking a plastic as Texas Rigged.  I just didn't get what you meant by a "t-rigged pole."  I thought maybe you meant something else.

Texposed is where you pass the hook point completely through the bait and leave it exposed, but snug to the bait.  Many, myself included, like to "skin hook" it by burying about 1/8" of the point back into the bait when fishing around light cover.

Depending on you water temp, I'd stick to less "active" baits below 50°.  As it gets closer to 50° and above, start adding some baits with flapper, claws, curly tails, etc.