What are the best winter fishing lures for winter in lakes that are clear and lakes that are kind of clear and kind of murky.

Welcome to BR, we have a fishing tackle forum that member use to talk about lures.

I see you are in TN with reserviors that have LMB, SMB and spotted bass each having different lure preferences, all 3 each Shad.

Blade baits like silver buddy are popular in your region. Structure spoons, tail spins like Little Goerge and under spins Swirming Hornets are good everywhere. Drop shot soft plastic, smaller size diving crank baits, jerk baits and spy baits all work good. Smaller size jigs work slowly always are a good choice. Lots of lures work.

Tom

 

Rattletrap Alabama rig and suspending jerk bait. I use a Texas rig no matter what the weather is but I don't weigh in 25+ pound bags like everyone else

A bass's metabolism is finally tuned to its circulatory system temperature which is the same as the surrounding water temperature. In cold water their metabolism slows down, their brain slows down, so the bass slows down. In cold water a bass's instincts are less finely tuned, it has less appetite and it mostly stays suspended at or near the bottom.

 

The colder the water, the slower the bass's brain operates so the slower you must present the bait or it's gone before the bass's brain tells it to bite.

 

Think Vertical

Think Deep

Think Bottom

Think Slow

 

21 minutes ago, Catt said:

A bass's metabolism is finally tuned to its circulatory system temperature which is the same as the surrounding water temperature. In cold water their metabolism slows down, their brain slows down, so the bass slows down. In cold water a bass's instincts are less finely tuned, it has less appetite and it mostly stays suspended at or near the bottom.

 

The colder the water, the slower the bass's brain operates so the slower you must present the bait or it's gone before the bass's brain tells it to bite.

 

Think Vertical

Think Deep

Think Bottom

Think Slow

 

 I think after reading this it occurs to me why I have much better success in winter than any other season. I'm guessing I just fish really slow

Cold water you spend more time looking for bass then fishing for them. TN it’s all about looking for bait, then follow Catt’s advice and slow down.

Tom

On most bodies of water in winter we're looking at a vertical situation as far as cover types go.

 

To explain: Bass usually move deeper during the winter months. On some lakes that may mean they pull into creek channel for the winter.

 

On other lakes, where everything is pretty well shoreline-related, they might move to steeper banks, 45-degree banks or bluffs, which are the areas where they're probably going to spend the winter.

 

One thing you can just about bet on is that wintertime bass are going to be close to deep water. I'm not saying you can't catch them shallow because if you get a few nice days during the winter some of the fish will move up. They may also get on shallow targets next to deep water.

 

Keep deep water and a slow retrieve in mind, and you'll be a little better off during winter months.

 

Think bottom; when I'm fishing during the wintertime, I usually relate to the bottom. That's where I'm trying to find the bass I'm not looking for suspended winter fish.

6 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Rattletrap Alabama rig and suspending jerk bait. I use a Texas rig no matter what the weather is but I don't weigh in 25+ pound bags like everyone else

That lipless crank is my favorite cold water bait, especially in late winter/very early spring. I also like the T rig any season.