What is the first bait you are going to throw after ice out? I always go with LC Pointer jerkbait for my first bait after ice out. I think I might be missing out not throwing jigs when the water is still really cold but not sure. And yes I'm aware that guys with open water don't have this problem but I'm a Yankee so things go through my head while walking is circles after I've cleaned and organized my tackle for the day.

If the water is fairly clear theres a good chance it will be an Arbogast Mudbug in crawfish color.

bluegill/perch lipless crankbait (rapala rattlin' rap/spro aruku shad)

spoons (acme little cleo/ johnson silver minnow/ johnson slimfish)

size 0 through size 2 spinners (bluefox vibrax in gold or in silver)

spinnerbaits (booyah chartreuse spinnerbait/ wareagle screamin eagle)

blade blaits (heddon sonar)

slow-rolling chatterbaits (siebert fogy bubble blade/ d&m piranha swim jig)

perch/bluegill jerkbaits (rapala husky jerk/ kvd jerkbait)

 

However, the VERY FIRST thing I will throw is probably going to be a bluegill colored lipless crankbait (or perch depending on the lake I fish).

xraps & damiki vaults

All the baits I ended the season with, will almost always work at the very start as well.

 

How long depends on how quickly the water warms.

 

Lipless baits, Blade baits, Jerk baits, Hair Jigs & Small Swim Jigs.

 

And don't forget about the Pink Hula Popper on a Carolina rig - that deal is Deadly.

 

 

A-Jay

 

My go to bait is a suspending jerkbait and a jig n craw....As far as lipless cranks go, what retrieve do yinz fish em with low water temps?

My go to bait is a suspending jerkbait and a jig n craw....As far as lipless cranks go, what retrieve do yinz fish em with low water temps?

I usually straight retrieve them but you can let them sink then rip them up and repeat

It depends on the water temp and the body of water. if  I'm fishing a lake it is going to be a suspending jerkbait, probably an Elite 8 rogue or if there is a warming trend I'll be trying the new Bagley Balsa shad, the size 5 is 1/4" longer than the #5 Rapala Shad Rap but it weighs 3/8oz so I'll be able to get good distance, it should be a player. If I'm fishing the river it will most likely be a hair jig or suspending jerkbait, either a Pointer 100 or an RC STX 4.5" or 3.75", but one of those 3 will work.

Probably a small flipping jig, or a t-rig worm.

Squarbill but I don't have ice.

For the last two years my first fish of the year which I generally catch around the second week of April has been caught on a zoom super fluke. I was lucky last year and caught one on 4/5 but around here it can be 70 or 40 so we will see when the spring arrives.

Here he is actually and it was the first fish I ever caught on a rod that I built.

I picked up some pointers both literally and figuratively so will be trying some be things this spring.

Lipless cranks all the way!

Depends what the water is like. If it's muddy probly a jig, spinnerbait with colorados slow, or squarebill. Clear water rattletraps. maybe I'll get into jerkbaits this year. I rarely throw them. I'm surely missing alot of fun.

I always plan on getting skunked the first couple of outings after ice out, so I'm really the wrong person to ask.

I won't be able to resist chucking and winding, so the first bait I tie on that I have confidence in is a blade bait. Once the urge subsides, or when I don't catch anything, I switch to a suspending Rogue. I'll work it with hard jerks and short pauses and ease up and lengthen  pauses until I don't catch something, am unable to feel my extremeties because they're frozen, or I've exhausted all the time I have available.

Jerkbait

Probably some kind of lipless bait.  This time of year the bass really tear them up around here.

Hudd 8 in

Scatter Rap Shallow in bluegill or smash colors.

I don't usually wait until ice out is complete. Rather I find some coves where the ice edge is about 30 - 50 yards out. I'll cast a 4" wacky rigged Senko up onto the ice and pull it off and let it sink. If there are any fish there, they will bite.

 

If I'm fishing the cold water period after ice is completely out, then it would depend on the species and the lake I'm fishing. Normally I'd be tossing an X-Rap or Pointer if the fish are somewhat active. If I can locate some fish that are reluctant, then I'll put my drop shot down to them. Again, there are a lot of variables involved, including the body of water I'm fishing, the depth & temp of the water, etc.. Blade baits are my go-to if the above doesn't work.

Suspending Jerkbait, jig, lipless crank, balsa cranks.

I could almost guarantee you it will be a keitech swimbait.

1/16oz. jig with a fathead minnow. Love me some springtime crappie.

Lipless Crank or Small Compact Jig

40* water temp in VA. Ice is in and out with a few cold nights. Drop shots and blades (silver buddies) have been working well in deeper water. A couple sunny 50-60* days when bass move a lil shallower and a jerkbait or Stacee work well. Long pauses between subtle jerk/pulls

Blue/chrome ratl trap

Or

Pointer