cold water

[big fish lite line]

I was wondering if anyone had a method for catching cold water bass?
the lakes around my house take a while to heat up and not to mention it hailed this morning!

[cavdad45]

I see you are from Anacortes. Try Campbell Lake for bassing now. Obviously try the southside of the island, but try the treed shoreline directly across from the boat launch there are alot of submerged logs there. Use a jig-n-pig or a Texas-rigged worm (straight tail).

[fishnislife]

Slow is the way to go. Be methodical and use precise presentations. Scent helps. Your looking into convincing bass to bite in cold water situations.
D-shot, t-rigged and c-rigged plastics. Try smaller presentations.



fishnislife

[HillbillyGeek]

Slow is the way to go. Be methodical and use precise presentations. Scent helps. Your looking into convincing bass to bite in cold water situations.
D-shot, t-rigged and c-rigged plastics. Try smaller presentations.



fishnislife

Yeah, what he said.

[Smalma]

I have found that the perhaps the best tip I can give you for success in cold water bass fishing is to carefully pick the days you fish!

I have had much better success when picking days were water temperatures are increasing - it doesn't matter where the temps have increased from 39 to 40 degrees or 46 to 48 the bass will be more responsive then than if the temperature is stable and of course it will be a very tough bite if it is dropping this time of year. I would look for a day that has been proceeded by a stable and warmer period of weather. The afternoons are usually better than the mornings.

For largemouth I have had best success by focusing on shallow lakes - a couple that immediately come to mind in your area include the previous mentioned Campbell (I have caught bass there as early as January) and Big Lake (caught fish there in February and March). The other areas that I have had early largemouth sucess include the large shallow bays on larger waters and the very back and the mouth area of such bays can be hot spots. Since the name of the game this time of year is often precise presentation I typically look for shallow heavy cover spots where I can visually picture that high per centage spot. My best techniques have been using jig-n-pigs, texas rigged worms, small grubs and slow rolled spinner baits.

Smallmouth is a different game and until the water warms some it is a deep water game that I do not play. However as the temperautres warm some you can begin finding the fish as they begin moving towards the shallower waters. The fish seem to follow predictable paths from those deep water haunts to the spawning flats. They seem to stair step their way up to the shallow stopping at consistent areas which are usually stagger flats with the fish holding on specifc cover spots. With warming water they will be more up on flats and with less favorable conditions they tend to hold more on the edges (especially inside turns) and are less aggressive. I tend to pick presentations based on how aggressive I feel the fish will be with drop-shotting, grubs, and hair jigs being consistent producers though more aggressive presentations such as blade baits, cranks, jerk-baits, and spinner baits can have their moments depending on the situation.

The one exception I like to the above weather conditions is if I'm "hog" hunting - then between late March and the spawn I really like the front edge of a storm front following a period of stable weather. Such conditions are almost always difficult fishing with boat control an issue and not a high numbers game however most of my truly exceptional fish have come during those period.

One final word - dress warmly and fish with a plan.

Tight lines
Curt

[fishaholictaz]

The one exception I like to the above weather conditions is if I'm "hog" hunting - then between late March and the spawn I really like the front edge of a storm front following a period of stable weather. Such conditions are almost always difficult fishing with boat control an issue and not a high numbers game however most of my truly exceptional fish have come during those period.

This is the time!!!