Cold-Water Bass

[Buzz Wing]

With two trips in the canoe under my belt, both yielding no fish, I figure I need a few tips. Here is a list of what I've been trying and what I have questions on.

What I've been doing....

• Cranking sumberged timber in about 10-15' of water
• Casting X-Raps over submerged timber in about 12' of water
• Flippin' tubes to submerged timber in 10-15' of water
• Fishin' in-flows of water with tubes and Texas Rigs
• Spinnerbaiting submerged timber
• Castin' PNJ's to submerged stumps, timber, and drop-offs.....

What I have questions on....

• Since I don't have a DF on my canoe, what 'eye' cover can I fish?
• Would rock piles be good to fish right now?
• Since I'm in a canoe, and space is limited, what rods would be best to take pertaining to this time of year?
• Could I use scent along with real pork?
• What colors seem to be most productive now?
• What times would be best to fish?

Keep in mind I live in the North and most waters are still 1/4-1/2 froze-up, so tecniques are limited.

Thanks in advance,

-Buzz

[JB]

I'd say you're too deep. We live in ohio and the air temp is 40 bout all week and water temp last week was 38, its probably in low 40s now.
So far I've seen fish picked up on a grape colored culprit worm, many on manns -1..on sunny days.
On the overcast days we 've gotten some on crankbaits
(black n silver, shad, and red crawdad)
and swimbaits in the 5-7 foot range, shad or bluegill color,
about 15 feet off the bank. Many of them are coming off tree tops of small limbs on the north banks, NE banks too.
Havent found any on big timbers yet, like big trees. Also have found some on north and south banks on the first drop, like 3 to 5 foot. I'd target these areas instead of beating the banks..
This pattern will hold up till it changes lol..next step will be jerkbaits , spinnerbaits, and jigs ...we hope, about water temp 50ish

[Buzz Wing]

Thanks, JB. I'll give that a try tomorrow, although it looks rainy and windy...

-Buzz

[keithdog]

I'd have to agree with JB. I think you should look for some shallow water in a sheltered bay where the sun can warm the water temps more than the rest of the lake. Wood holds heat, so fishing brush and laydowns would be good. I got out durring a freak warmup this past January. For 5 days the once frozen lake was open water. Water temps were in the upper 30's. The bass I took all hit my offering within 6 feet from shore.

[BigBassin144]

Buzz, try either the DS or Soft jerkbaits (Slug-go's Flukes etc.) I've caught fish on both those things so far this spring.

BB

[Patrick Krueger, Jr.]

You are at a latitude about 100 miles south of me, and have had about the same weather conditions this month.

I've had the most success on X-raps and other suspending jerkbaits, letting them sit for up to ten seconds, then twitching and getting bit. I only got one on a fluke, but it was the biggest so far (3 pounder). I got, I think, three or four on a jig with a zoom chunk fished really, really slow.

[senko]

Try the rockpiles, they hold heat better than wood