Cold water Fishing

[RookieBassMan]

The temps here are in the 60's with night time temps in the 40's and 50's. I have tried a variety of lures from the bank, I don't have a boat, and can't seem to attract any bites. I would appreciate any suggestions any of you might have.

Thanks in advance.

[johnnie crain outdoors]

RookieBassMan,
Need more info. What are you fishing, pond, lake river? What is the water temp.?
Water clear-dingy or dirty? What exactly have you tried? Johnnie

[carl]

In our area day temps are in the 50's, night time temps in the 30 and 40's. Leaves are still falling, so it's fall fishing. I'm not sure what to tell you because we've had a drastic change in weather. I was out last week, and the fish were deep and not on the banks, but it was warm and sunny. Now with the change in weather the bass may be moving into the shallows, but I won't know that until I go out tomarrow when the winds are supposed to die down. As far as bank fishing cold water my go to lure is a pig/jig in blue/black. Fan cast the lure from the bank. When it hits bottom lift it up and let it fall again. Esp. good on those 50 degree sunlit days with a South wind. Don't forget to give Johnnie more info. on the water your fishing. good luck, carl

[RookieBassMan]

I am not sure of the water temp but the days are in the mid to high 50's. The nights get down into the low to mid 40's. I am fishing lakes, some are clear and some aren't. I am fishing the same lakes I always have and the rigs I usually use aren't working. I have tried tubes, rat-l-traps, salty-fries, worms, and spinners. I have a few jigs that I haven't tried yet that I will try. ANy advice you can give will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Rookie,
With the conditions you describe I would try suspending minnow baits-Rogue etc in the clear water. Jerk it down and let it sit a bit, then jerk it again.
In the dingy water, I'd try a big spinnerbait with copper blades and a brown or black skirt, fished very slowly, let the bait contact the bottom once in awhile.
You might also try killing a spinnerbait. Run the bait fairly fast for a short distance, then just stop and let the bait sink under slight line pressure, you want the bait to fall straight down, but still be able to detect a light bite. Good luck, Johnnie

[RookieBassMan]

Unfortunately I was unable to get back out until today. It took a while but I found a lake that wasn't totally frozen over. The water is dingy and full of vegetation. I tried the spinner bait advice you gave, a jig/pig(black/blue skirt w/red tail), ratt-l-trap, texas rigged salamander and a tube and got nothing. I used a vary slow retrieve, allowing the baits to touch bottom. I am not even getting bites. Is there a trick to fishing the frozen lakes like that or am I doing something wrong?

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Rookie. I hate to say this, but fishing from the bank you most likely can't reach the fish which have gone into the winter mode. They will be out away from the shorlines in deeper water, fifteen to twenty feet if available. You need to be able to parallel deep sharply dropping banks with deep crankbaits for winter bass or use a jigging spoon fished vertically. We experience the same thing here and fishing is tough. Good luck.