OK Folks-

Next weekend is my annual "Happy Birthday to me" fishing trip, which I look forward to All Year.......It's the only 3-day weekend of "nothing but fishing" I get all year, so I'm obsessing about every detail!

I'm wondering which 2-3 lures would be your "go-to" choices if you were me, given the following conditions:

-Lake - Fishing a small, 15-20 acre lake near Birmingham, AL. Lake is about 8-12 feet deep in most places, about 20 feet near the dam.

-Shad - Threadfin Shad are the main forage base, but I believe many were killed off a few weeks ago in our very cold Shad-kill there.....Not sure how many are left.

-Weather - Water temps are currently around 48-50.....Today it will get up to about 70, but later this week it will get back down to about 50 (high) and 30 (low) each day. The days I'll be fishing it should get up to about 55 degrees (air temp) and be sunny each day, as of today's forecast.

-Depth/Structure - I don't know much about structure or contour/depth change, as I've never used electronics. However, for the first time, I WILL be bringing a portable fishfinder/depthfinder, so what should I be looking for?

-Water - I believe the water will be lightly-stained to medium-stained.....Shouldn't be muddy, but doubtful it will be gin-clear, either.....

-Fish - Lake is stocked with Florida-strain bass, usually pretty hard to catch. Lots of small (1 pound or less), and a few Giants (6-8 pounders or bigger), which again are typically VERY hard to catch.

Thanks - have a few ideas, but really would love your input as well.

BEN

Senko, XCalibur Xr50, jig & pig.

8-)

Flick Shake

Flat Side Crankbait

Suspending Jerkbait

A cinder block tied to a rope as a weight to punch through the ice, carolina rigged with whit super fluke.

You could have put anything in your description, and I would reply the same thing.

Senko worms.

Jigs

Lipless Crankbait (RED CRAW)

Lipless Crankbait (CHORME)

Lipless Crankbait (CHART.)

Lipless crankbait, jerkbait, jig.

Since the success at the Bassmaster Classic, I'd say go for the lipless cranks. Water temps should be about the same and they killed 'em on those in your area!

Other options that might work would include suspending hard jerkbaitss and maybe a jig or plastic, if the bite gets tough. Good Luck! 

Lipless crankbait.

Jig and Pig.

Shaky Head.

Have fun. 

Rattletrap

Carolina Rigged watermellon lizard

Booyah Chartreuse and white spinnerbait with Colorado blades.

shallow suspending crankbaits, jigs, and almost any soft plastics should do the trick.

Good Luck and Happy Birthday!

LJ

Lipless crank and suspending jerkbait.

Since the success at the Bassmaster Classic, I'd say go for the lipless cranks. Water temps should be about the same and they killed 'em on those in your area!

Other options that might work would include suspending hard jerkbaitss and maybe a jig or plastic, if the bite gets tough. Good Luck!

Yes, because a 15 acre pond has a lot to do with a biizillion acre river system enpoundment.

jig, tube, trap

Why not do what they did at the Classic this weekend.........throw lipless crankbaits. 

I know the sales of them will be up 45% after the successful weekend this past weekend 

In addition to the Jerkbait, and Trap (X-cal XR50), I would also try a single tail grub hooked on a 1/16 or 1/8 oz jighead.......fish it slow (maybe a Yamamota Single Tail or Kalin).

suspending jerk bait,jig ,lipless crankbait