Bass Fishing HomeBass Fishing Forums

Go Back   BassFishin.Com Forums > Serious Conversation Only > Techniques, Strategy & Presentations

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 11-12-08, 11:44 PM   #1
Dshow28
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
Dshow28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
Posts: 105
Default cold water bass

Any tips on catching cold water bass. I don't think I can make it till spring.
Dshow28 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-08, 11:51 PM   #2
danielbasspro
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
danielbasspro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Altamonte Springs Florida
Posts: 252
Default

i would try shaky head jigs. a 3/16 oz size covers most situations. a good brand would be spot remover. and match that up with a zoom finesse worm. this combo is deadly. (for me at least).
and if you need to if this is not working i have even broken down and switched to lighter line and a grub to get that bite. well, good luck
danielbasspro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 02:46 AM   #3
carolina-rig-01
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
 
carolina-rig-01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Webb City, MO
Posts: 6,387
Default

my favorites for cold water are suspending jerkbaits (cold water sometimes means long pauses between jerks), jigs, and crankbaits (the colder the water the tighter the wobble you want in a crankbait). don't be fooled by thinking that you have to fish deep in cold water. i have had my butt handed to me enough times in winter tourneys by guys who fished in less than 5 feet of water all day and i spent my day struggling to fill out limits in deeper water. the fish will move in and out as the day wears on and fish tend to school up so if you catch one you need to fish that area out really well before moving on. wind will be a lot rougher to deal with in cold weather but it will help you a lot if you fish windy banks and points.
__________________
You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough.
carolina-rig-01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 09:07 AM   #4
Mac2
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 389
Default

Hair Jigs either not tipped or tipped with Netbaits Tiny Packa Chunk, a craw trailer. Worked slowly across bottom with pauses, occasionally barely twitched.
Mac2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 10:10 AM   #5
Fish2win
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
Fish2win's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Norris Tennessee
Posts: 469
Default

Jigs with pork , Silver Buddys,Senkos Shad Raps,Float and Fly or jiggin spoons, these are all deadly in the winter. The fish are much more active than you may be lead to think. Here in Tennessee I catch my biggest bass of the year from December until late Feb. If you get a few days of mild weather in a row the fish may move shallow. If you get a warm sustained rain they may move back where there is run in. If it is really cold they may suspend for several days. Smallmouth will still chase a crankbait in 45 degree water. Spots are active then also. Location is everything and bait is the key.
I fish Norris and I think Smith Mountain would be very similar in the winter. When the water starts to cool the fish stay active in shallow water much longer than you might expect. It takes longer for them to move to winter patterns than it does for them to move from winter patterns to pre-spawn.
Think finesse. My best winter bait is a 1/8 oz bitsey Bug or a 1/8 oz hair jig. The most consistant locations are 45 degree sloping rock banks with stair step type rock.
Winter bassin is great, no jet skis or battle ships and very few if any other fishermen.
Fish2win
__________________
Norris Tennessee
set the hook! They dont have hands.
Fish2win is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 10:16 AM   #6
MississippiBoy
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
MississippiBoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Ridgeland MS
Posts: 3,923
Default

F2W, do you use a trailer for the Bitsy Bug, and if so, what? Uncle Josh, Paca Craw...? Thanks.
MississippiBoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 10:19 AM   #7
JB
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
 
JB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,655
Default

I like to target the north east banks, the sun's angle heats up these banks a lil more than other places, esp. when spring rolls around.
JB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 10:20 AM   #8
Fish2win
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
Fish2win's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Norris Tennessee
Posts: 469
Default

Either a Zoom skinny chunk or a no 101 Uncle josh trimmed down a little. The skinny chunk is awsome because it is long and thin, dont confuse it with a tiny chunk. Fish2win
__________________
Norris Tennessee
set the hook! They dont have hands.
Fish2win is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 10:23 AM   #9
Bender
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
Bender's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Brighton, MI
Posts: 2,414
Default

Looks like everything has been covered except float and fly. I have it rigged up but have not caught anything on it yet. Same thing with blade baits, never caught any but throw them plenty this time of year. Pretty much everything comes on suspending jerkbaits worked with a series of twitches and then let it sit for 30-60 seconds.
Bender is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 10:27 AM   #10
Lilmoosecountry
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
Lilmoosecountry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 1,322
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by carolina-rig-01 View Post
my favorites for cold water are suspending jerkbaits (cold water sometimes means long pauses between jerks), jigs, and crankbaits (the colder the water the tighter the wobble you want in a crankbait). don't be fooled by thinking that you have to fish deep in cold water. i have had my butt handed to me enough times in winter tourneys by guys who fished in less than 5 feet of water all day and i spent my day struggling to fill out limits in deeper water. the fish will move in and out as the day wears on and fish tend to school up so if you catch one you need to fish that area out really well before moving on. wind will be a lot rougher to deal with in cold weather but it will help you a lot if you fish windy banks and points.
What he said. The Rogue rulz over all in the winter here in MO.
__________________
Live everyday as if it was your last & check your ego at the door!!! God is watching.
Lilmoosecountry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 11:15 AM   #11
Fish2win
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
Fish2win's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Norris Tennessee
Posts: 469
Default

Bender he FnF is not effective until the water temps get below 50 degrees. 42 to 45 are ideal.The fish you are catching with the FnF are suspended fish.Correct rigging is very important and speed of movement or the lack of is also important. If the fish are suspended. I usually determine what depth and set my down line a little shallower because the fish feed up on the rig. I dont even carry my FnF rod until the water gets below 50. The blade bait is also only effective after the water temps drop below 50. I think it has something to do with the activity level of the bait or craws.I have caught fish with a blade bait crankiing it like a Rattle trap in slightly warmer water but it is best in cold water Yo-Yo'ed or hopped like a jig. You can also jig it like a spoon. Dont over work this bait.
Dont forget that in early winter before the turn over the water is cooler at the surface than at say 3 feet deep.What is the water temp in Mi now? Fish2win
__________________
Norris Tennessee
set the hook! They dont have hands.
Fish2win is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 11:16 AM   #12
woody
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
woody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Jonesville, Indiana
Posts: 3,597
Default

Those north banks are also not as affected by the cold north winds.
woody is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 01:08 PM   #13
Bender
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
Bender's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Brighton, MI
Posts: 2,414
Default

F2W, It was 42 on my local lake on Tuesday evening down from 50 last weekend. Maybe I will try the FnF next time I go out. I don't have any of the Punisher jigs so I will just have to use what I got and see if I can find anything else that is effective.
Bender is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 05:56 PM   #14
Fish2win
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
Fish2win's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Norris Tennessee
Posts: 469
Default

The main deal is the duckfeather jig, 1/8 or 1/16 oz. 6 pound or 4 lb floro and and the correct float. Be sure to tie the jig where it hangs straight to the line without drooping. I usually find the fish suspended between 10 and 20 feet deep. If the fish are suspended at say 15 feet I will set my down line at 13.5 or 14.usually this early in the year you ncan move the float a lot and trigger strikes. The further into the winter yiu go the less movement of the float you will need. Good luck Fish2win
__________________
Norris Tennessee
set the hook! They dont have hands.
Fish2win is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 08:59 PM   #15
Jim80
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
Jim80's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Thomaston CT
Posts: 3,862
Default

Jig with pork , or senko's have worked well for me . I have also had good luck slow rolling a spinnerbait , you got to let it hit the bottom and reel just enough to get the blades to spin . The biggest thing about cold weather fishing is to slow down your presentation and when you think you are going slow enough go slower .

Jim
__________________
In memory of Zooker 1/11/73-7/2/2010. You will be sorely missed and never forgotten.
Jim80 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 09:14 PM   #16
Rodman_Rob
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Ocala, FL. 1/2 hour southwest of Rodman
Posts: 1,702
Default

for cold weather I like small baits fished reel slow. if I can't get a bite, I put big baits deep and keep it reel slow.
__________________
Lizardsrule may not be able to drive a boat, but he can sure put you on the fish!
Rodman_Rob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 09:57 PM   #17
Dshow28
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
Dshow28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
Posts: 105
Default

Thanks for the info guys I'll keep trying. I was really on the summer bass but this cold water has been frusterating.
Dshow28 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-08, 11:39 PM   #18
chubs
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
chubs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 153
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dshow28 View Post
Any tips on catching cold water bass. I don't think I can make it till spring.
You got some great cold water tips from the guys on the board.But what I have been seeing in my area is that fish patterns will very from the different bodies of water I fish so I have to try different techniques to stay with active fish.
I was out with 5 other boats the other day on a local lake water temps was in the upper 30's It was agreed that we would meet at the launch at 3pm and weigh in our best 5 and compare our bites that we had going 2 boats were fishing plastics in the deep weeds 2 boats were working plastics and jigs on the points and steep breaks And I was in the shallows and a flat working cranks and a spook.
The top teams in the weeds caught 15 fish there best 5 weighed 9lbs.
The top team that fished the point and breaks caught 22 fish best 5 weighed 11.5lbs
and my team weighed in only 4 fish for a total 14.25lbs.
My whole point is fish can and will be caught on different baits and various locations on any body of water.
chubs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-08, 02:09 PM   #19
zooker
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
 
zooker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: denton nc
Posts: 13,441
Default

i normally crank a wiggle wart knock off. but some fish like the shakey head and or a jerk bait. i use all three but the wart knock off seems to catch more fish for me..



zooker
__________________
the godfather..
aml in remission since 7-20-09
zooker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-15-08, 10:16 AM   #20
keithdog
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
 
keithdog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: IN
Posts: 8,308
Default

For years, my favorite cold water lure just before ice up and then again after ice out has been a hard bodied jerk bait, particularly the Rattln Rouge. However, the past three years my favorite has become the Chatterbait for cold water. I believe it is because it can be worked at a snails crawl and still offers enticing action. Or it can be manipulated easily to increase speed and action to get a reflex strike. I have easily trippled the number of catches with the Chatter Bait over the jerk style lure in very cold water.
keithdog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-15-08, 11:12 AM   #21
Fish2win
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
Fish2win's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Norris Tennessee
Posts: 469
Default

Ice up. man thank goodness we dont have that here. We get 12 months of fishing. If we had ice up I would be terminal crazy. Fish2win
__________________
Norris Tennessee
set the hook! They dont have hands.
Fish2win is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-15-08, 10:05 PM   #22
BigBassin144
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
 
BigBassin144's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Posts: 9,463
Send a message via AIM to BigBassin144
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fish2win View Post
Ice up. man thank goodness we dont have that here. We get 12 months of fishing. If we had ice up I would be terminal crazy. Fish2win

don't be afraid of the ice. It's not before it's thick enough to ice fish on. Yes, fishing, through the ice. Who woulda thunk.

BB
__________________
As of June 14, 2014 the members of the BF.com forum have moved to basschat.yuku.com!
BigBassin144 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-16-08, 07:16 PM   #23
MrPhotographer06
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
MrPhotographer06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Fort Bragg, NC
Posts: 2,096
Send a message via AIM to MrPhotographer06
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fish2win View Post
Ice up. man thank goodness we dont have that here. We get 12 months of fishing. If we had ice up I would be terminal crazy. Fish2win

it still gets cold in TN though..it sure does in SC
__________________
For Those I Love, I will Sacrifice: US Army since 2012
MrPhotographer06 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-08, 11:44 PM   #24
BASSFISHINCHRIS20
BassFishin.Com Member
 
BASSFISHINCHRIS20's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: temple, texas
Posts: 20
Default

suspending jerkbaits
rapala husky jerk
rapala x rap
or just a generic suspending jerkbait
long pauses between the jerks
rattletrap sometimes works
a worm along a channel edge
jig and pork combo is good
and the shaky head worm isnt a bad idea
BASSFISHINCHRIS20 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-08, 05:57 PM   #25
3dkicker
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
3dkicker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Spotsylvania, VA
Posts: 4,483
Default

Dshow - Up until this most recent cold front the water's been in the 50-55 degree range on the river and the same on Anna. Fish have been shallow or less than 5 feet and relating to the drop offs or channels. Crankbaits and plastics have been really good the past 3-4 weeks. This cold front will move a lot of the fish deeper so you'll need to adjust and fish deeper and a little slower.

MissBoy - I use the 2" Craw Papi as a trailer on the Bitsy Bug.
__________________
Smitty
www.smittystubes.com
3dkicker is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Disclosure / Disclaimer
Before acting on the content posted, you should know that BassFishin.Com may benefit financially and otherwise from content, advertising, links or otherwise from anything you click on, read, or look at on our website. Click here to read our Disclosure Policy and Disclaimer.


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:57 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
© 2013 BassFishin.Com LLC