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What do you start using when the water temp. get in the low 60s. I am in NJ and the Bass are slowing down.

Paulie,

The first thing that comes to mind has to be the ever popular "Senko" or wacky worm! It seems to trigger strikes with its slow decent into the water when nothing else will produce!

You could also try either a weighted tube (A.K.A. "Gidzit") or a jig, fished very slowly on the bottom.

The key is SLOW!!! Unfortunately, when the bass slow down you must do the same with respect to your approach.

All the best!!!

ED F.

Paulie- Ed has given you an excellent start on how to adjust your fishing speed as the water cools.

As he said, s-l-o-w drop speeds will help a lot as will slow movements on the bottom.

One additional thing is to deadstick the bait on the bottom as a way of transitioning from the bait's drop to the initial movements. As the temps get colder and colder, you may wish to leave the bait on the bottom for long periods of time; in some cases a minute or two. Maybe longer. All the while you should be telling yourself that the bass is almost ready to engulf the lure. And every so often that is what happens. Ask Ed F. He knows.

In November, I don't move the bait (tube, jig or grub)at all. I cast it. It drops and sits. And the next thing I do is set the hook! And, every so often............Wow!!!

First tubes, then spinnerbaits and Rogues. I then go to hair jigs and blades(spoons)

Paulie,
In Illinois we get a lot of opportunities for cold water fishing. There are several approaches I've used here, and in late fall fishing in northern Arkansas.

First, the advice about slow is correct, unless there is some feeding action spotted, which sometimes can take place.

Always target the warmest water. Last year, on November 17, I was pounding a Middle N crankbait into the bottom of a 1 to 2 feet deep gravel point, when my 85 state award bass hit. Estimated weight was over 6 pounds (this was a measurement and release award). The area was on the north end of the lake where the sun had been providing some warming.

Normally I will use crankbaits along any warm area, especially rip rap. I will run them down over cribs and submerged wood in and near deep water. Then slow down the retrieve to bump the top. Several casts are made, and all angles possible are fished. Then I'll hit the same area with a slow moving tube, with Kodiak Crawfish Paste, and jig-n-pig.

Another lure used in the shallower areas, is a slow rolled spinnerbait with plenty of thump.

For suspended bass, especially in the deeper water lakes like Bull Shoals in Arkansas, I'll go to a 1/2 ounce vertical jigging spoon along bluffs, on points, drop offs, and in the middle of main channel coves. I know this is a dirty word, but drifting live minnows will also catch fish in these same areas. We call it Ozark shiner fishing, and I did a TV show on that technique in 1996.

If there is schooling action, I've found the Mann's Manniac to be my best tool. My favorite color is pearl/black back. You may want to try replacing one of the hooks with a Daiichi Bleeding Bait treble. It adds a flash of red like an injured bait fish, or gill flash. I've caught a lot of Kentucky spots and smallmouth in Bull Shoals in the backs of creek arms doing this.

This is probably obvious, but if gulls are feeding heavily better investigate that area. Fish are most likely feeding and chasing something to the surface.

Hope some of this has helped.
Dan

I want to add something to my recent posting on this subject.

Everything has been cooling down fast in the Illinois/Iowa area. During this past week I fished a small lake with a maximum depth of 33 feet. The water temperature was 45 degrees, and the wind was hitting 10 to 20 mph from the south. I fished shores which were being paralleled by the wind.

The best technique was to downsize to a Tiny Ika with a 1/16 ounce lead head jig. Unfortunately the size 4 hook created a little problem in keeping the hook set on the bigger fish, but if I would have been in a tournament there would have been 7 keepers in the boat.

For the retrieve, I let the lure sink to the bottom in 9 to 13 feet of water, along the edge of an old creek channel. The rod tip was given to sharp jigs, while slowly pulling the line about a foot or two, and then allowed to fall back to the bottom. Pick ups were slow, and just a "soft weight" feeling.

I managed to lose a bass, which would have been my 95th state award, but then again, if I hadn't used this smaller lure and technique I would have never hooked it, or the others.

In the past I've had similar results by slowing down, and downsizing in colder, clear water.

By the way, I used light spinning tackle, spooled with 15 pound test, green Gorilla Braid line. This provided the needed extra sensitivity and hook setting power.
Dan