Hey guys! I'm sure someone has asked this before but i couldn't find where when i searched for it. 

 

But i was just wondering what your favorite cold water baits/techniques are. I've caught them on tubes, jigs, cranks, shaky heads, texas rigs, and everything in between, but I don't have one technique or bait/lure that stands above the rest. I do a lot of research and read everything from deep cranks to dead sticking a jig. Then you have the things that you hear all the time like suspending jerks and dragging a jig real slow.

 

Just wondering what y'all had your best luck on!

 

Thanks guys and tight lines! 

Lipless cranks in a Red Craw pattern in late Winter/early Spring work well at times. That and a jig are my two choices.

all of those are fine choices, but i like jigs with pork trailer. big swimbaits slow retrieve, is mostly what i use. but it depends. im not sure if you read these article but they have some info. Rat traps do well some days, cranks, t-rigged worms and drop shoting, jerkabits.. there's a plethora of baits to use. The ones that will work best are the ones you have  the most confidence in. 

 

read these article if you haven't yet :http://www.bassresource.com/seasonal-fishing-articles#winter

Jerk baits are tough to beat, especially early in the spring.

 

If the water is reasonably clear, it's a good choice.

 

A-Jay

all of those are fine choices, but i like jigs with pork trailer. big swimbaits slow retrieve, is mostly what i use. but it depends. im not sure if you read these article but they have some info. Rat traps do well some days, cranks, t-rigged worms and drop shoting. there's a plethora or baits to use. but the ones that will work the best are the ones you have  most confidence in bait your using. 

 

read these article if you haven't yet :http://www.bassresource.com/seasonal-fishing-articles#winter

Thanks for the feedback guys! And thanks for that link. I must have missed it when looking through the pinned thread.

At what water temperature do you go to the rattle trap? God Bless and Thanks

Depends on your definition of cold water... for me it would be ice out or the month up until ice up in the early winter. In no particular order these seem to do best for me when water temps are high 30s and into the 40s

1. Drop shot

2. Hair jig

3. Jerkbait

4. Float and fly

5. Bigger profile jig - the Northstar hippy jig or similar offerings

The key here for me is that's all 5 can be worked slow or almost not at all. As water temps warm up I will add lipless cranks, flukes, and c-rigs more in the rotation as well as some swimbaits.

My favorites in order are:

 

1. Jerkbaits.

2. Hair jigs.

3. Flat side crankbait.

4.Finesse style swim bait.

5. Shaky head with finesse worm.

 

The swim bait was something I learned from a friend a few years back, it seems they are great for coaxing strikes from cold water and the shaky head works in cold water but the worms that work best are all in the 4.5" to 5" range.

In no particular order..... Lipless cranks, jerkbaits, jigs, drop shot, and shaky heads.

Carolina Rig or a tight wobble crankbait (Shad Rap or Spro Fat Papa 55).  If they are around docks or less then 15 ft of water I like a 4.5" finesse worm/baby brush hog TX rigged with a 3/16 oz weight and 1/0 Owner hook. 

 

I haven't had much success on a jerkbait but for other people they are great. 

My favotite cold water bait is a Livingston Lures Stickmaster. This stick bait is a all around great bait. You can cast it shallow or deep and it will call the fish to you. My favorite color is Gold Digger. I have found on no mattwr where i go i always catch fish. To me the difference is clear!!!

My favotite cold water bait is a Livingston Lures Stickmaster. This stick bait is a all around great bait. You can cast it shallow or deep and it will call the fish to you. My favorite color is Gold Digger. I have found on no mattwr where i go i always catch fish. To me the difference is clear!!!

That read like a commercial lol