So what are your favorite lures to use when ice has only been out for a week or two and the temps of the water are still in the upper 40s? I was thinking jerkbaits as I do well with them in the 50s. What about drop shotting as well, and since it's a grass lake I know lipless cranks work well in the grass at this temperature. The fish won't move up on shallow cover for at least another 2.5 - 3 weeks until temps reach the upper 50s, but I'm sure a slow fished jig out deep or even a swimjig might do well.

 

Anything I'm overlooking besides a slow rolled spinnerbait?

Some of my favorites are jigs, grubs, and when the water gets close to 50 a lipless crankbait is always worth some casts at each stop.

Caught one on a beaver this weekend in 42 water temps with a 316oz weight on a Beaver. Fall was pretty slow on 12lb test YZH.

I like a drop shot 4" worm, split shot tiny ika, stingray grub on a 1/16 or 3/32 oz. open jighead, or tube with light insert head

Some of my favorites are jigs, grubs, and when the water gets close to 50 a lipless crankbait is always worth some casts at each stop.

 

 Every season I routinely catch them in on trap style baits when the water temp is in the mid to upper 40's. Pick a bait that vibrates at low speeds and slow roll it with occasional pausees or use a Rapala Rippin' Rap and yo-yo with aggressive jerks on semi slack line. 

 

 Drop shot rig can work as well.

 

 In our part of the country a blade bait like a Binsky Blade, Silver Buddy or Vibe " E"  can be deadly.Cast, let it settle to the bottom and then lift until it barely vibrates and then pause. Sometimes they will hit when the bait is deadsticked. Their are times a heavier 3/4 oz blade worked a little more aggressively will be they want that day. Experiment.

 

 Try a Poor Boys Erie Darter on a light jighead or tube with an insert jighead.

 

  Slow roll a single blade spinnerbait is worth a try. it doesn't always work but when it does it can be killer for big fish.

 

  The best overall bait day in day out in clear water for me has been a jerkbait. I prefer a more subtle jerkbait like a Husky jerk, Rogue and especially a Lucky Craft Pointer 100 or Ima Flit. Need the bait to perfectly suspend or slooooowly sink.Sometimes wrapping a little lead wire around the shank of the hooks or sticking on a couple of Storm Suspend dots may be necessary to get the right action. There have been times when I have had to pause  it as long as minute  between twitches but normally  5-15 seconds will get the job done. Sometimes a longbill jerkbait like a Lucky Craft Staysee or a Jackall DD Squirrel may be better if the fish are deeper. With the longbills I tend to work the bait with short pulls and pauses. 

 

 If they are on the bottom a slowly worked jig can be deadly and appealing to bigger fish.

 Every season I routinely catch them in on trap style baits when the water temp is in the mid to upper 40's. Pick a bait that vibrates at low speeds and slow roll it with occasional pausees or use a Rapala Rippin' Rap and yo-yo with aggressive jerks on semi slack line. 

 

 Drop shot rig can work as well.

 

 In our part of the country a blade bait like a Binsky Blade, Silver Buddy or Vibe " E"  can be deadly.Cast, let it settle to the bottom and then lift until it barely vibrates and then pause. Sometimes they will hit when the bait is deadsticked. Their are times a heavier 3/4 oz blade worked a little more aggressively will be they want that day. Experiment.

 

 Try a Poor Boys Erie Darter on a light jighead or tube with an insert jighead.

 

  Slow roll a single blade spinnerbait is worth a try. it doesn't always work but when it does it can be killer for big fish.

 

  The best overall bait day in day out in clear water for me has been a jerkbait. I prefer a more subtle jerkbait like a Husky jerk, Rogue and especially a Lucky Craft Pointer 100 or Ima Flit. Need the bait to perfectly suspend or slooooowly sink.Sometimes wrapping a little lead wire around the shank of the hooks or sticking on a couple of Storm Suspend dots may be necessary to get the right action. There have been times when I have had to pause  it as long as minute  between twitches but normally  5-15 seconds will get the job done. Sometimes a longbill jerkbait like a Lucky Craft Staysee or a Jackall DD Squirrel may be better if the fish are deeper. With the longbills I tend to work the bait with short pulls and pauses. 

 

 If they are on the bottom a slowly worked jig can be deadly and appealing to bigger fish

 

nice write up!  .

Rattle Trap ever so slowly reeled in just enough to keep it moving and dragging bottom.

WhiteMike1018 Thanks .