It's mid February and high is 68 tomorrow. Today was about 60 n sunny. Bass will start biting any day. Water temp probably is 51 to 56, my guess. What baits? I hope to go tomorrow. Also would you go at daybreak or afternoon? I have never fished bass early like this. Bass love senko on this lake in spawn months. Jig too but I am no jig expert need to learn lol. 

 

Reeds at lake edge is the structure. Lake is low though I am guessing cuz we in severe drouth. 

Per spawn lures; jigs, swim baits, crank baits and worms.

Tom

Bass bite everyday.  I'd target shallower water, I like 3-6" swimbaits slow rolled and dragging/hopping jigs.  I think the big girls are feeding up in those conditions and season.

 

scott

4 hours ago, WRB said:

Per spawn lures; jigs, swim baits, crank baits and worms.

Tom

Ditto to what Tom said.

Crank baits, Lipless crankbaits, swim jigs, spinnerbaits, and chatterbaits.  Plastics on the bottom will work also, but around here it seems like the bass want something moving right after ice out, and during prespawn.

Well my first outing of the year will be different from you as it will be at ice out and the water temps will likely be under 40. All that said my rundown will be: 2 baitcasting setups- finesse jig and jerkbait. 2 spinning setups- Ned rig and shaky head/vmc finesse rugby with a small worm. For a wildcard 5th rod- baitcaster with a finesse swim jigs or 1\4oz lipless in case it gets warm fast and pushes fish shallow. Ill likely start mid afternoon like 2-3 and fish til 6 targeting the warmest sun hit banks I can find. Rocks are a bonus heat source.

I'm a long ways from Louisiana . My top lure for early in the year is a crankbait . I simply look for south facing , steep , rocky shores , make parallel  cast and retrieve super slow . The old Arbogast Mudbug is my go to bait but a lot of people like Warts and flat sided baits . . 

Water temps mid low 50s I’d love that right now. It’s ice out here in MA, caught a fish on topwater last week ice just melted. 
swimbaits from 5’inch soft baits to 9

inch glide baits 

It will be late April before Bass are an option in these parts. I will be throwing all the things Tom mentions then.

 

Square bill crankbaits.

Wind and water clarity will play a big role.  But I don't think I'd feel right fishing this time of year without a Rapala Shad Rap 05.  I'd probably grab a jig too.  Jigs are never a bad idea.  

Prespawn  they eat almost anything. Anytime

Suspending jerkbaits almost always account for my first cold water fish of the year right after ice out every year. 

12 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Suspending jerkbaits almost always account for my first cold water fish of the year right after ice out every year. 

X2 !

My brother from another mother

A-Jay

2 hours ago, cyclops2 said:

Prespawn  they eat almost anything. Anytime

If you can find them.

 

Yes  But most posters have enough years to know the pre spawn gathering areas.  

I'm in LA as well.

 

I was tearing them up on a green pumpkin 4" berkley pit boss and a "molting craw" colored Z-Man Big TRD yesterday...and will be doing the same today in about an hour lol

 

I caught a dozen.

 

Basically, I was throwing out onto grassy flats about 3ft deep.  Most hits were on the initial fall.

 

Largest fish yesterday was just shy of 4lbs, but there were a lot of fish hitting.

Went out Friday and Monday, both days with plenty of wind and people coming back to the dock complaining about skunk. I hit on a pattern of fishing submerged wood in 3 ft. of heavily-stained water with a white Siebert chatterbait and Hog Farmer Spunk Shad trailer. Only two bites Friday, but both 2.5 # largemouth. One bite Monday in an hour's effort, but it was a 3.5#. In this pressured lake, I consider both days very satisfying.

 

Guess what I'll keep throwing. ??

 

My first fish of the year came on a jerkbait. 3.8 lb LM. Water temp was 52 degrees and slightly stained. I would start there. Plenty of good recommendations in this thread already.