What moving bait do you reach for first in that cold water of spring? I've had luck on several different ones over the years...just curious to hear what you guys reach for

Would a tiny swimbait on a jighead count? That's in my arsenal 24/7 though no matter the conditions.

 

If not a spinnerbait or swim jig has been effective for me after ice out/early season. I throw them for pike since I cannot target bass at that point of the season, but I get plenty of bass by-catch on them. 

 

In 2020, I slammed a bunch of eating sized walleyes off the bank in shallow water. Just a couple of weeks after the ice was gone, all on a sunfish colored swim jig. 

 

 

 

 

Spinnerbait… but I always reach for a spinnerbait. Does this surprise anyone?

A blade bait. I'll begin throwing one when there's still ice on the water. Normally, it's a 1/4oz. but I'll go to a 3/16oz. before abandoning them.

My other bait is a hair jig/grub combo which I can also fish as a bottom presentation.

The first thing I’m throwing for LSC smallmouth in a couple of weeks will be a 3.3” Keitech Swing Impact FAT in ‘Smallmouth Magic’ on a 1/8 oz head. I can’t wait.

Rattletrap- 1/2oz. Shad color

Does a jerk bait count as a moving lure? I like the long pauses. Almost painfully long in really cold water.

Glide bait, super slow. 

Jerkbait to find them.

And a vibrating (or hair) jig once I do.

A-Jay

3 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Jerkbait to find them.

And a vibrating (or hair) jig once I do.

A-Jay

Do largemouth eat the hair jig as well as smallies?

1 hour ago, Jig Rookie said:

Do largemouth eat the hair jig as well as smallies?

Unfortunately I have no experience trying feed them to green bass in cold water.

So I can not offer an answer I feel confident in one way or the other.

A-Jay

1 hour ago, Jig Rookie said:

Do largemouth eat the hair jig as well as smallies?

I’ve got some good largemouth on hair jigs.  I love tying them! 

Here in Mexico, usually fish a buzz bait, whenever I take Ice out of my cooler.

4 hours ago, king fisher said:

Here in Mexico, usually fish a buzz bait, whenever I take Ice out of my cooler.

 

suspending jerkbaits or lipless for me. 

Blade bait.

One of my largest bass was caught dragging the blade bait(Vib E) off the ice and into open water

I was thinking that the current shouldn't be that strong as I was feeding it line and it kept moving away

This year it was a spinnerbait.

3/8oz 3/0 dj guppy head w/ a bit off gambler ez in hammond's herring slow rolled on the bottom.

 

scott

 

also tied on or backing up; because I'm a junk fisherman

 

jerkbait

1/2oz blade bait

1/8oz gambler ned w/ 3-4" plastic (hula grub, jerky j, stick bait)

8" glide bait

1/2oz jackhammer gp/shad

3/4oz swim jig crappie

A-rig no blades w/ 3"& 4" swimbaits

6 hours ago, Jig Rookie said:

Do largemouth eat the hair jig as well as smallies?

 

they sure do in my parts!

Our lakes don't freeze here in OK, and water is mostly stained....so a slow rolled spinnerbait gets the nod.  White tandem w/ flo red kicker blade.

I like crankbaits on steep banks . If there is to much vegetation to throw them then a spinnerbait is my next choice .

Blade Bait