I was fishing in cold water yesterday. The water surface temperature was 40 degrees while fishing the main lake. I fished 2 main lake points and a ledge for about 3 hours a piece with Spoons, jigs, 2.5" tubes, and jerk baits. After having no luck on the points and ledges, I started looking for the closest man made structure to these points/ledges. I started targeting Porcupine cribs and Jr. Cribs. I marked one crib in 15 feet of water in a cove that drops off into some deeper water. I dropped a marker buoy and picked apart the area with a tube. I did catch one perch, but I'm starting to question the fish holding capabilities of these cribs. Are these good spots for bass? What about in winter?

I don't think I would target these dense pieces of cover. It's great for forage fish, but I don't think bass would be too inclined to hang around them.  

Wouldn't the active bass want to hang out in those spots then?

they may be more productive in the spring/summer when fish of various species spawn. fry hatches and hides in there, predator fish outside waiting for an easy snack. otherwise i have no clue and just taking a guess really

Those cribs are great for catching crappie and perch around in the Raystown. I've only ever caught one bass off one and it was during a tournament whenever the fish were pre-spawn. 

Good to know. The perch I caught off one  on arthur last weekend choked that tube. That was my first shut out at arthur all year. 

On 11/28/2016 at 3:59 PM, stk44 said:

Wouldn't the active bass want to hang out in those spots then?

Not really no. cribs are really meant to offer super dense cover for forage fish. I've fished a few places that have them, and while they hold crappie and bluegill really well, I've never caught a bass off of one no matter how hard I tried. I'm not sure if it's due to the cover just being to dense for bass, or if there is some other reason they won't hold there, but I've come to find that it's better just to avoid them. 

56 minutes ago, DrMarlboro92 said:

Not really no. cribs are really meant to offer super dense cover for forage fish. I've fished a few places that have them, and while they hold crappie and bluegill really well, I've never caught a bass off of one no matter how hard I tried. I'm not sure if it's due to the cover just being to dense for bass, or if there is some other reason they won't hold there, but I've come to find that it's better just to avoid them. 

Good enough, I have a hard enough time finding them anyhow lol. 

cribs are designed to protect forage fish or panfish species they off er porotection for the fry to hide so bigger fish wont have a buffet , as far as catching game fish of sorts maybe put and take trout in lakes that have cribs but basds prefer natural structure