Finally was able to get out and catch a couple even though there was still ice on the water.  Started out drop-shotting Berkley PowerBait mini-swimbaits with no love.  Switched to dead sticking a nosed hooked TikiStick, with the same results.  Put down the fairy wand and started chucking  a 3in. minnow (jerk) bait with a fairly quick retrieve.  On the second cast, BAM, an 18in. bass.  Switched quickly to a tandem willow leafed spinner and continued to catch 'em. 

Go figure

Sounds like they needed speed.

for some reason, people are reluctant to throw moving baits in cold water.  real cool that you figured out that's what they wanted.  good thinking.

for some reason, people are reluctant to throw moving baits in cold water.  real cool that you figured out that's what they wanted.  good thinking.

Caught a couple on spinner baits myself a few days ago.  Definitely wasn't expecting the results I got considering the water temps.

Nice job figuring them out.  I know i have caught quite a few on square bills this winter in temps all the way down to 39-40.  I read an article by alton Jones once and he said there are two schools of thought to cold weather; super slow or super fast and most people go super slow but there are days where super fast reaction baits just plain work.

Nice job figuring them out.  I know i have caught quite a few on square bills this winter in temps all the way down to 39-40.  I read an article by alton Jones once and he said there are two schools of thought to cold weather; super slow or super fast and most people go super slow but there are days where super fast reaction baits just plain work.

Didn't read that article, but I know of what he speaks.  Three years ago, on the same body of water, on the Monday after Easter, I literally tired of burning a 1/2oz. Cordell HotSpot.  Half the fish I brought to shore had that bait entirely in their mouths. If I'd have known, I'd have brought my 7:1 burner reel, but even with the 6.3:1 I was using that bait was flying.

Didn't read that article, but I know of what he speaks.  Three years ago, on the same body of water, on the Monday after Easter, I literally tired of burning a 1/2oz. Cordell HotSpot.  Half the fish I brought to shore had that bait entirely in their mouths. If I'd have known, I'd have brought my 7:1 burner reel, but even with the 6.3:1 I was using that bait was flying.

Was that Easter 2010? Where were you fishing? Looking at weather records for Chicago, that day was in the midst of a string of unseasonably warm 75F days. Do you have water temps for that day?