cold-water

[Pike-Fisherman]

Are there any special techniques that could help me in catching bass in cold water....i went out today and didnt have any luck...any special lures or presentations that will help me???? thx guys

[keithdog]

First off, keep your presentation slow. In cold water bass gerally are not going to chase anything down. Lures like a suspending stick bait, a chatterbait, jig n pig, and spinnerbaits can all be worked slowly. Try a plastic salamander crawled slowly near cover along the bottom. Water you use, work it slow. I once caught a 6 pounder right after ice out by slowly crawling a buzz bait along the bottm in a shallow bay. You have to reel very slowly to make a buzzbait work the bottom. Secondly, I would start out working the northeast portions of your body of water. Those areas warm faster due to warm southwesterly winds blowing warmer water into that portion of the lake. If you can find a shallow flat, or bay in that part of the lake with deeper water nearby, you may have found a honey hole in early spring. If your not having any luck in shallow water, start looking towards secondary points and structure in deeper water. Bass will often stage in those areas waitting to move in shallower to find spawning areas. Hope that helps.

[jooleyen]

I'm close to you Pike-Fisherman. To add, I'll say I like yo-yo-ing a lipless crankbait like the Strike King Redeye Shad.

[Rebbasser]

Cold water is tough. I'm with Keith-a jig and/or a suspending jerkbait are both great cold water baits.