I have no clue how to fish this week

[cassidyta]

I have a tourney on Saturday and am completely lost at what to do.
Our weather is very cold for here. They expect snow to drop to 1000' elevation and the high will be 41. I expect to have rain mixed with flurries. I know that is not cold to a lot of you, but the average temp out here at this time of the year is usually around 71.
A month ago the fish were in prespawn, but with all of our run off rain water, the lake temp has dropped to about 52. It quite lower where the mountain runoff is feeding the lake. The only real mudlines are at the edges of the colder water.
The water depths are up about 15' over their norm and visibility has gone from more than 10' visibility down to less than 2'

I prefished in the rain last week and managed to catch fish but they were all over and I never got a pattern. I caught 1 fish in 30' of water and also caught a frog fish.

The lake has plenty of bait fish and throughout the rain there were quite a few busters.

My gut tells me to find the rocks and throw a jig or drop shot. Addtionally, I am thinking that an LC pointer and/or a weighted fluke might be a good choice.

I am completely open to any suggestions at this point because honestly I am lost.

[carolina-rig-01]

One thing that I have come to realize is that cold weather usually effects us more than it does the fish........meaning that we tend to over think stuff like this. I find that if the water is rising the fish usually move up with the water (shallow), and if it's falling they tend to pull out (points). Given that there is a cold front coming and the water is up, I would look for them to hold tight to shallow cover. This is just an idea though, on the water adjustments will probably be huge given the circumstances. Plus for all I know those California bass are just as screwed up as the rest of the state hahahaha. Good luck!

[carolina-rig-01]

I thought I should add that our weekend is looking pretty nice, in the 60's I believe

[cassidyta]

Thanks Kory
With highs in the 60's, missouri inbreeding to stay warm should be at a minimum. Now it will just be because they like it.

[carolina-rig-01]

Originally Posted by cassidyta

Thanks Kory
With highs in the 60's, missouri inbreeding to stay warm should be at a minimum. Now it will just be because they like it.

Like I said before, around here the men are men and the sheep are nervous. You gotta get a little further south of here for that kind of stuff.

[lilmule]

Toss another log on the fire ,put on some more coffee,and you will catch almost a many bass at home.
Dress warm,slow presentation down then slow down some more.
I have had it snow and made tracks on the front deck,no bass wernt wearing snow shoes so left after I needed a shovel to stay on board.

[walkeraviator]

I have found when i dont know what else to do, fish your confidence lures. Thats about all the advice i have.

[cassidyta]

Originally Posted by walkeraviator

I have found when i dont know what else to do, fish your confidence lures. Thats about all the advice i have.

Now I just need to find confidence in a lure..lol

[lilmule]

Whatever you recently caught fish on should be a confidence lure.
Shallow fish are generally more active and closer towards when they want to reproduce.
The frog,the frog,while ive caught fish topwater at 50-51 deg generally works better around 60 and above.If pads are up they hit frogs anytime,just have to figure out the retrieve they want.Tullies should be just as good.

[cassidyta]

Originally Posted by lilmule

Whatever you recently caught fish on should be a confidence lure.
Shallow fish are generally more active and closer towards when they want to reproduce.
The frog,the frog,while ive caught fish topwater at 50-51 deg generally works better around 60 and above.If pads are up they hit frogs anytime,just have to figure out the retrieve they want.Tullies should be just as good.

Thanks Lil. I have a few confidence baits in mind.

[3dkicker]

52 degree water and pre-spawn......Son!!!

1) Hit the flats close to the spawning areas and toss the crankbaits and traps.

2) C-rig or shakey the secondary points.

3) Main lake rocky points with any of the above.

or stick with the junk fishing .