I don't normally ask this type of question but I am kind of lost.  I haven't fished the area before and I am fishing it tomorrow.  Large river, water temp right around 39 Degrees.  Close to a Dam and has natural hot springs in the area that keep certain parts at a constant 50-54 degrees year round.  I was planning on fishing the the spots where the hot springs flow into the main river with soft plastics, jigs, jerk baits and big swimbaits.  What are your thoughts?  

Perhaps consider fishing a Blade Bait like a Silver Buddy 1/2 & 3/4 oz ~ either could be the deal.

Silver in the sun and gold works well when it's overcast but sometimes the opposite takes fish too.

I'll also say this usually works best in clean / clear water ~ the better the visibility, the better the results, usually

Good Luck

A-Jay

Another thought is to fish small panfish size jigs and see what will bite . I catch multiple species including bass below a dam in winter with grubs on a 1/16 or 1/8 jighead . I fish the current breaks . I would think the warm water springs would be good but have not encountered  that scenario  myself .

Fished most of the day yesterday with the group and we all caught trout.  Water clarity was about 3 ft real blue color water.  Temp was 48.7 degrees.  Started off with the ned rig,  switched to jerkbaits,  then to jig & pigs, then to crankbaits,  even tried some back rigs and spinners and small spoons.  Marked a lot of fish and only the trout were biting.  I don't know if the bass are being finicky due to the water temp there Its warmer then all the other bodies of water in the area.  Thanks for the input I will try those next time I'm out.

I would probably start in this order:

1. Jerkbaits

2. Shad Raps

3. Silver Buddy

4. Tubes and/or grubs

Tubes tubes tubes!

I'd agree with above mentioned method of starting with reaction baits fished slowly and transitioning to downsized finesse presentations depending on the bite.

Slow is key for me around here. Letting a tube sit for upwards of a minute before dragging 6 inches is not too slow.

Same with a jerkbait. I'll twitch, then let sit for what feels like ages. Dead stick it up and you're sure to catch something. But by the sound of it those hot springs make faster possible for you. I'm stuck fishing the Arctic here in WI. 

Gold luck 

On 3/1/2016 at 5:01 PM, WI_Angler1989 said:

Slow is key for me around here. Letting a tube sit for upwards of a minute before dragging 6 inches is not too slow.

Same with a jerkbait. I'll twitch, then let sit for what feels like ages. Dead stick it up and you're sure to catch something. But by the sound of it those hot springs make faster possible for you. I'm stuck fishing the Arctic here in WI. 

Gold luck 

Agreed. Our one really good smallie lake is almost thawed and we fish 3/8oz green pumpkin football jigs with Gitzits for a trailer and fish it like a Shakey Head.