Hey guys,

 

For the holiday season I'm frequently down at my parents in the southeast corner of Michigan, specifically the River Raisin. It's a relatively shallow bedrock river (Deepest hole I've seen were about 8 feet in the sections I'm fishing, but water is typically waist height), but it's loaded with smallmouth. Due to the dams in Monroe, it's a pretty contained river. Doesn't see any runs (They just did some work to the dams to help possibly bring in some runs but they were just completed in the last year.), so no Steelhead to be had unfortunately. Currently water temps are around 33 degrees. I was just hoping to get some recommendations on lure selection for this extremely cold water temperature. I'm pretty new to cold water river fishing (last two seasons), and I'm really working to pull a hog out before the season closes. I'm going out later today after the game and trying out some 3/8oz hair jigs I got last night, but that's all I really have planned right now (besides some tubes of course). Anyways, thanks in advance for any suggestions, and tight lines.

Hair jigs would be my number one choice!!!! The Susquehanna river that I fish is probably similar but the Susky is big but that kind of depth I would use anywhere from 1/16oz to 3/16oz hair, going maybe to a 1/4oz jig if the flow is high with faster than normal current. optimum hair jig size would be 3/32oz or 1/8oz, that is what I would be using but don't forget tubes, just drop down to 2.75" or 3" max on a 1/16oz to 1/8oz max jig head, you need to have the jigs falling slowly at that water temp.

remember to work whatever lure you choose slowly.  The bass won't want to chase a fast moving bait.