Hey guys, this is my first year with my own boat and plan on getting it on the water soon, I don't typically fish this early in the season, what are some methods to catching early season bass in cold water?

If I could only throw one bait in water between 35 and 45 degrees, it would be a jerkbait. And I would try hard baits as well as soft baits like a Zoom fluke. My second choice would be a jig; keeping is simple- 5/16 to 3/8 black and blue jig with matching craw trailer; same jig weight in green pumpkin.

If I could only throw one bait in water between 35 and 45 degrees, it would be a jerkbait. And I would try hard baits as well as soft baits like a Zoom fluke. My second choice would be a jig; keeping is simple- 5/16 to 3/8 black and blue jig with matching craw trailer; same jig weight in green pumpkin.

Thanks for the help! I fished a little this time last year and had my best luck with jerkbaits and tubes (only got out 3-4 times in April)

X2 on the hard jerkbait. However, if the bottom is not too weedy, consider the blade bait. Fished just off the deep structure edge, I've taken some dandy bass and lake trout with this lure. And I never leave home without a box of hair jigs and Senkos - just in case!

Everyone has already hit on the good baits, so ill touch on the locations. Use the places you fish later in the season as reference points for finding fish this time of year. If you normally catch fish near trees on shore, go back to the trees and move out to a deeper spot in line with the tree and start fishing there. If it's too deep for a jerkbait throw a jig or a silver buddy type blade bait. If you don't have success fishing deep, begin to move closer to the trees. The bass will winter deep and move shallower getting ready to spawn as the water temps rise. Good luck!

Mid April to early May last year we were crushing bass on those powerbait swimbaits in firetiger. Just worked them really slow across the bottom. All along the shorelines.