jerkbait, trap, jig, bladed jig. 

 

Some of the biggest bass I catch all year on a bladed jig are in water colder than most people think they're effective.

jerkbait, trap, jig, bladed jig. 

 

Some of the biggest bass I catch all year on a bladed jig are in water colder than most people think they're effective.

 

Blue, what are some of your preferred bladed jigs... brand color, size, etc...?

A 8" Hudd slowly fished.  Atleast around here.   Also fish an A-Rig, and a blade jig.  Then a jig (smaller size 1/4-3/8 around here).  Those are my winter baits.

I had a great afternoon today in 46.7* water with a lightly-weighted T-rigged Senko and a Ned Rig.  Large- and smallmouth bass were in the mood to be finessed!

 

Tight lines,

Bob

Blue, what are some of your preferred bladed jigs... brand color, size, etc...?

I fish my own, almost always a 3/8oz. Black and blue seems to be good in colder water, especially for big fish, water clarity doesn't really seem to matter. I've also had good luck with green pumpkin and a color I call Bream that is green pumpkin, brown, and some blue. 

 

Here's one from early this year, and yes I was fishing 2.4' of water despite it only being 45 degree water. 

  My go to bait would most certainly have to be a blade bait once the water gets 50 degrees or colder . I  am surprised it has not been mentioned more. Perhaps people just aren't fishing them ? I fish right until the ice is too thick for my boat to break through. A jig will work too but you wont get nearly as many bites. Water temp has been 47-50 degrees in northern New England the past couple weeks and the blade bait bite has been hot. You got to be making contact with bottom while you are fishing a blade bait. Fish it just like you would a jig.

  For those that are doing good on the blade baits, what brand are you using?  What weight for what depth?  Thanks!

  For those that are doing good on the blade baits, what brand are you using?  What weight for what depth?  Thanks!

 

 I have been using a 1/2 oz silver buddy. Targeting areas with rock, preferably a steep drop off, in 15 to 35 ft of water.

3.3 Keitech rigged on a 1/2football, reel as slow as possible back to the boat.

I fish my own, almost always a 3/8oz. Black and blue seems to be good in colder water, especially for big fish, water clarity doesn't really seem to matter. I've also had good luck with green pumpkin and a color I call Bream that is green pumpkin, brown, and some blue. 

 

Here's one from early this year, and yes I was fishing 2.4' of water despite it only being 45 degree water. 

 

Funny, I switch off constantly between black/blue and pumpkin...  maybe the combo is the trick.  Good looking lure, hey if you sell them let me know.  I enjoy trying out custom lures...

Water is cold here now in Minnesota - what are your go-to lures when it gets down below 50 degree water temps? Same or different lures for largemouth or smallmouth?

When it starts to get cold I'm downsizing a lot of my baits, smaller football jigs with craw trailers, drop shotting the transition points, and using a wiggle wart when I want to cover water.

On Pickwick Lake and Wilson Lake if you aren't throwing an Alabama Rig you don't have a chance to win any tournament period. I have 6 rods in my boat. 4 have Alabama Rigs on them with different colored/sizes blades/swimbaits and two with a paddle tail swimbait. One has a Basstrix on it and the other has a Keitech on it. These two came off the rig in a tournament this past Saturday:

 

On Pickwick Lake and Wilson Lake if you aren't throwing an Alabama Rig you don't have a chance to win any tournament period. I have 6 rods in my boat. 4 have Alabama Rigs on them with different colored/sizes blades/swimbaits and two with a paddle tail swimbait. One has a Basstrix on it and the other has a Keitech on it. These two came off the rig in a tournament this past Saturday:

 

Gray's 11:14:15.jpg

 

 Nice bass !  Im surprised to see such success with water temepratures around 48 degrees on an Alabama rig. I didn't really think the water temperature got that cold so quickly in that area.

Nice bass ! Im surprised to see such success with water temepratures around 48 degrees on an Alabama rig. I didn't really think the water temperature got that cold so quickly in that area.

Thanks! It's in the low 60s right now but the rig is the primary option up until mid-late February here. There were 30+ lb bags brought in two weekends in a row last year on the winter trail I fish when water temps were in the 40s. Both caught on the rig.

On Pickwick Lake and Wilson Lake if you aren't throwing an Alabama Rig you don't have a chance to win any tournament period. I have 6 rods in my boat. 4 have Alabama Rigs on them with different colored/sizes blades/swimbaits and two with a paddle tail swimbait. One has a Basstrix on it and the other has a Keitech on it. These two came off the rig in a tournament this past Saturday:

 

Gray's 11:14:15.jpg

I would love to throw some A-rigs for fun, but alas they are illegal here in Minnesota.  DNR is probably too afraid we'll catch too many priceless walleyes !!

Mostly suspending hardbaits- jerkbaits and cranks that can stall and hold a position for prolonged periods if I feel like it.

Bottom contact too, such as Ned rigs, standup hudd bugs etc. but usually lean towards smaller presentations. Bladed jigs and spinners slow rolled seen to work pretty good too.

Also swimbaits and glides, which are never out of fashion.

  My go to bait would most certainly have to be a blade bait once the water gets 50 degrees or colder . I  am surprised it has not been mentioned more. Perhaps people just aren't fishing them ? I fish right until the ice is too thick for my boat to break through. A jig will work too but you wont get nearly as many bites. Water temp has been 47-50 degrees in northern New England the past couple weeks and the blade bait bite has been hot. You got to be making contact with bottom while you are fishing a blade bait. Fish it just like you would a jig.

 

I've never fished blade baits before.  There are a couple shallow ponds near me, no more than 6' deep, that are choked with weeds during Summer.  What gear ratio/retrieve speed  do you recommend for these waters?  I'd rather fish than weed the garden, if you get my drift.   Also don't want to waste my time.

 

Thanks, in advance, for your comments.

Nobody fishes the float n fly? Even in Eastern Tennessee?

Give it a shot, gents, if you haven't. It's not for everybody, but it can be a hoot.

Redeye Shad in sexy shad or baby carp and a drop shot have been the ticket for me lately with that temp water.