How would you approach this?

Mid January.   Surface temp 36.  Negligible current.  Water visibility approx 15".  Stable weather; daytime highs low 40s, partly cloudy; overnight lows around freezing.  Primary forage is threadfin shad. Some isolated standing stumps around 25 FOW, most topping out around 17'.

Sonar indicates very strong 'life zone' from 16-20 foot.   Some large returns below the band of bait, but when in 20 FOW, the returns are indistinct...very hard to discern large fish in that 'life zone".  Few larger fish marked above 15'. Shore line has good amount of laydowns.  

  What's your plan of attack?

Surface temp 36, ive never approached that! I would use a little ice fishing tungsten jig with a wax worm I guess! But if that water was more like 46, I would jig a spoon in that life zone you are referring to. 

19 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

 But if that water was more like 46, I would jig a spoon in that life zone you are referring to. 

Been out 3 times last couple weeks working on it.  Cannot get the deep winter bite figured out.  Tried jigging spoons, flutter spoons and tail spinners.....blade baits, lipless, deep cranks and slow rolling spinnerbaits.  Have gotten a few jig bites in the wood from 4-10 FOW, but would really love to get on those deep ones.

   When Mama gets hungry, she puts on her coat and walks up the hill to the cafe. She comes home afterwards, satisfied and full, and wants to rest. Don't bother her. 

 

   The vast majority of my active winter bites have come in the shallows immediately above ledges. I'm talking water temps barely above freezing.

   I have never gotten a reliable bite in winter by going deep. Never. Other people have, but I never have. YMMV.            jj