I know I know its still a while away but what baits do you use. I might not even be able to fish because of ice over but who knows.

Ice pick, If you want to fish in the winter in open water,make a trip down south or Table Rock Lake in Mo.! But Midwest leave the top water at home and get some tip-ups

Jigs!!

Jigs!!

 

Yup, ice jigs

Yup, ice jigs

Haha. Yup. If you're wanting to bass fish in the midwest during the winter, either go south to Table Rock or go all the way up north to pool 2 where a power plant keeps a portion of the river open (same /w pool 4 but it will be predominately walleye/sauger) and you can fish for smallmouth in sub zero temps if you wish. 

Hair jigs, jerkbaits, a drop shot, and a float and fly should all be techniques to consider for winter fishing just prior to ice up.

Find a power plant lake and you can fish whatever you want all winter long!  

 

If you can't get to a power plant lake, jerkbaits, jigging spoons, jigs, shakyheads, float and fly, traps, and suspending deep cranks all work well for cold bass. 

If the water is not hard I use the same baits that I do in summer.  If the water is frozen I stay home.

Smallest size lindy darter through an 8" hole in the ice. Targeted bass a few times and it was a blast.