So, I've never fished in the late fall/winter before really. I'm usually a spring/summer/fall fisherman. 

 

Now, what do ya'll deem to be essential during this time of year? It's in the upper 40's/lower 50's here in Central PA.

 

Any recommendation would be perfect!

 

 

EDIT: I feel like a moron, I should have specified. I meant lures and things that you say should be in your box. 

Layers are key to staying warm. A good thermal under layer is most important.  

• outer layers that block wind.  
• mittens, or glove/mitten combinations (that's what I use hunting).
• good wool socks.
• waterproof boots. Cold feet can ruin your day.
• did I say layers?

Really, just dress the way you did when you were a kid when you went out to play in the winter (if you did such)

 

When I kayak fish this time of year I also keep a full change of clothes in my truck in case I get really wet.

 

My wife uses disposable hot packs in her gloves/mittens.  During hunting season I'll carry a Zippo hand warmer too.

 

EDIT: Don't feel like a moron. I was figuring out what I was going to bring with me on Friday when I play hooky from work and go fishing.  It's in the 30s here now, but is going to 40-60 Friday...  My head was thinking clothing.

Hair jigs jerkbaits rattle traps

Blade baits, spoons, flat sided crankbaits

Hair jigs jerkbaits rattle traps

Geeze, I forgot those......

My last outing was a day in which the air temps were in the 40s with strong winds between 15-25 mph and cloudy to partly sunny skies. The jig out produced everything by a wide margin. The jerkbait, chatterbait, and lipless baits were a distant second. I would also consider a drop shot as well.

Now, are ya'll just throwing plain jig with a skirt and no trailer? 

Now, are ya'll just throwing plain jig with a skirt and no trailer?

Yes, it would be good time for a standard big and craw, hair jig, or combination of living rubber and silcone jig with craw trailer.

Now, are ya'll just throwing plain jig with a skirt and no trailer? 

No, you are probably going to want a trailer.  It's usually better to choose one with less action when it's cold.

Please consider the blue plastic gloves the doctors use I their practice and in the hospitals.

You can get them at a pharmacy.

they need to be the "blue" ones, not the skimpy white ones.

And no powder.

Wear the gloves on our hands to keep them dry and warm.

You can wear regular gloves or the ones with the short fingers.

Just a crazy suggestion.

 

Texas Rigged Lobster

High 40's/low 50's I'm pretty much fishing moving baits with baits like suspending jerkbaits, traps, bladed jigs, and squarebills getting most of the work. Slow them down a little and you'll be fine. Fish are more active in colder water temps in the fall than they are the spring because they're cooling down from warmer temps instead of starting cold and warming up like in the spring. You can certainly still catch them on topwater in those water temps in the fall if you wanted to, just won't be as many bites.

t-rigged compact profile plastics, jigs, and occasionally a senko on a lightly keel weighted hook.  that's 80% of my winter fishing.  the other 20% is squarebills, rattlebaits, and spinnerbaits.   i know lots of guys who do really well on suspending jerkbaits but i hate using them so i don't throw them.

I have been using a lot of shallow running crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and bladed jigs. I also like to make sure that I have a waterproof hat. I hate when my head gets wet.

jig and pig  'pork'.

Over 50F I'm more apt to use horizontal baits. Under 50F I'm slowing WAY down and/or fishing more vertical.

 

I like:

-jerks

-flat cranks (slow rise versions) Fats can work too though.

-lipless

-bladebaits

-hair jigs, grubs; (w-w/o overhead spinner -slows things)

-Float-n-Fly

Wool socks,sunny spots ,jignpigs,shallow to deep ledges 1'dropping to deep water,

I prefer smaller jigs with compact trailers, beaver style preferred, and jerbaits.

Yum 6" money minnow, light dying minnow presentation.

Work it slow like a easy meal. If it's cold with snow flurries that's even better. Fish till the ice over.

Swimbaits. I'm waiting for the snow flurries then the big guns are coming out. I lost the biggest bass of my life during this time. Time to fish it hard.

1 pc snowmobile suit, waterproof footwear, disposable pocket heaters.