I know some BR members have already been fishing through the cold months. I'm hoping I can start next month.                                               My own starting lineup of baits for my first trip are:         1. Spinnerbait( inline and standard).                                       2. Jig with pork frog trailer.                                              3. Lipless baits.                        4. Plastic worms. ( most likely a Roboworm or Zoom finesse worm.                                 5. Tube baits. I can see a tube working early in the year. I haven't done this much in the past.                             6. Tailspinners.                         7. Crankbaits. I can use them early before the weeds get thick. Both shallow and deep diving.                                      Reels are cleaned and spooled with fresh line, just waiting patiently for the big day.                                                  I'll admit that I've been skunked on my first trip more than any other time. The cold water, sluggish bass are a challenge. But, the first trip is always an important one.           What baits will you include in your starting lineup?

 

1) Spinnerbait

2) Chatterbait (if im tossing into new weed growth with old dead stuff)

3) Black/Blue jig with craw trailer (or t-rig creature bait)

4) GP jig with craw trailer (or T-rig creature bait)

5) Squarebill (or this year a wake bait)

6) Depends on conditions

 

I can only fit 6 rods on deck, the rest I rig up for a few conditions based on what the weather is supposed to be or potentially be. Reason for the 2 color jig/creature types is depending on where I'm fishing on my lake it could be muddy or it could be clear. Creature vs. jig is just how I feel that day, usually its 1 jig and 1 creature to see what they prefer.

Spinnerbait , especially if I fish a pond . Bomber Long A "Prop A" with the tail prop . Jig , worm . maybe a ned and tube. Crankbaits if i find a spot without grass.

One of those that has been fishing through the mild winter this year. Ned, suspending jerkbait, blade bait, small jigging spoon and hair jig have been it this winter. Will start adding a couple more baits to the rotation once waters start warming.

We're in pre-spawn ?

 

What's hot right now

Spinnerbait 1/2 oz, white skirt, double gold willowleaf.

Chatterbait 1/2 oz Bhite Delight 

Rat-L-Trap 1/2 oz Toledo Gold 

 

1) Magnum UV Speed Worm / Rage Cut R

2) Scum Frog / Trophy Series Popping

3) Devils Horse / Spook

4) Skinny Dipper / Big EZ

5) Rage Bug / Rage Craw 

6) Fat Max Ribbon 

 

The first listed are always pre rigged for every outing regardless of where I go, weather or conditions. 
Second is on the same combo which are usually the next choice then go from there 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Texas rigged Zoom lizard and a 1/2 oz double willow spinnerbait is where I’m going to start for pre spawn. Oh yeah, can’t forget the purple worm. 

15 minutes ago, Catt said:

We're in pre-spawn ?

 

What's hot right now

Spinnerbait 1/2 oz, white skirt, double gold willowleaf.

Chatterbait 1/2 oz Bhite Delight 

Rat-L-Trap 1/2 oz Toledo Gold 

 

 

I have a tournament this weekend on a 12000 acre lake. Water temps this morning are 48. Depending on time of day and area of the lake we will have some in winter mode and some in prespawn. 
Ill have the following on deck:

MB vision 110 in chrome or white
Luke Clausen 3/8 Finesse jig in green pumpkin or Alabama craw

War eagle spinnerbait with gold willows

Jackhammer in bruised green pumpkin

And maybe a 1/2oz rattle trap in red or chrome

 

If I can’t catch them on those then I suck lol

 

Jerkbait, chatterbait, and maybe another jerkbait.

 

But I'm still almost 3 months from being able to bass fish, both legally, and realistically.

1 XXH 8' swimbait rod for glides up to 8 oz 

1 XH 7'9" swimbait rod for glides 1-4 oz

1 ML 6'9" jerkbait rod for jerkbaits

1 7'6" H rod for 1/2 oz - 1oz jigs

 

Oops

Post deleted 

This is what I’ll have tied on for my first trip post ice-out, projected late March as of now. 

-Rapala X Rap

-Rapala Rattlin’ Rap

-Rapala DT-10

-Strike Pro Gill Raker 

-Strike King Tour Grade 3/4oz spinnerbait 

-Z-man 1/2oz chatterbait w/ Rage Craw 

-Savage Gear line-through Trout

-Siebert brush jig 1/2oz w/ Netbait Chunk

-Zman Baby Goat ned rig 

-4” YCB Senko wacky rig 

I have a bit of a wait myself.

But I'll be ready when the time comes.

Very first trip, is perhaps my easiest bait selection dilemma of the entire season.

Boils down to some type of jerkbait and some type of vibrating jig.

And if open water is 'early' enough, water temps stay cool enough and I get some reasonably fisherman friendly weather conditions, that one to punch can (and has) accounted for many plus size brown bass for me for several weeks. 

#fishhard

https://youtu.be/o9xew3tWuuU?t=1398

A-Jay

 

My first trip will be in early to mid April unless mother nature decides to remove the ice early. Regardless my starting lineup in no particular order will be:

Jerkbait

Lipless Crankbait

Chatterbait

Jig

Boot Tail Swimbait

Blade Bait

The low tonight will be 19 degrees.  I have time to think on it.?

I think it's gonna be a bit for me as well - this morning out the front door...

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

I think it's gonna be a bit for me as well - this morning out the front door...

I gave your post a grimus, but a good snow is kind of a treat here in Tulsa.  

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

this morning out the front door.

Here's my deck.  Quite a snow drift out there at the moment.

Last several years, I've only focused on 4 baits in the colder months.

Swim jigs

Jerkbaits

Swimbait on an underspin

Spinnerbait.

 

Buzzbait

spinnerbait

crankbait

T Rig.

3 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

This is what I’ll have tied on for my first trip post ice-out, projected late March as of now. 

-Rapala X Rap

-Rapala Rattlin’ Rap

-Rapala DT-10

-Strike Pro Gill Raker 

-Strike King Tour Grade 3/4oz spinnerbait 

-Z-man 1/2oz chatterbait w/ Rage Craw 

-Savage Gear line-through Trout

-Siebert brush jig 1/2oz w/ Netbait Chunk

-Zman Baby Goat ned rig 

-4” YCB Senko wacky rig 

Love it, you can feel the enthusiasm to get back on the water in this post.....I can tell you've been pondering that lineup for some time, the anticipation to throw it all must be great.    

 

The break you yanks have to take sucks I'm sure, but that priceless feeling of getting to do something that you haven't for sometime is a drug unto itself. 

 

Well, despite the snow I've been doing maintenance on my reels, deciding on which reel on which rod...which is fun considering I picked up 7 new reels and 6 new rods over the 'buying season' - some are replacing other rods/reels. This coming season I'll have 10 baitcasters and 3 spinners for bass - plus 4 spinners for crappie.

 

First bass outing - tentative lure selection

Jerkbait

Spinnerbait

Lipless crank

Soft swimbait

 

Course as it's 2-months, 20-days until season opener, that might change.

 

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Love it, you can feel the enthusiasm to get back on the water in this post.....I can tell you've been pondering that lineup for some time, the anticipation to throw it all must be great.    

 

The break you yanks have to take sucks I'm sure, but that priceless feeling of getting to do something that you haven't for sometime is a drug unto itself. 

 

What makes it worse is that we’ve had an extremely mild winter, both temperature and snow-wise, but are getting our most winterlike weather this week. Nasty ice storm last night, temps dropping to single digits, and getting whacked with huge snow storm Monday into Tuesday.

Really struggling to contain my enthusiasm to get back out there, especially since my reels just arrived back from DVT. ?

5 hours ago, gimruis said:

Jerkbait, chatterbait, and maybe another jerkbait.

 

But I'm still almost 3 months from being able to bass fish, both legally, and realistically.

On the bright side turkey season is coming 

This is easy for me.  We have a powerplant lake that opens on 3-1 so I'll be there on the Saturday.  Water will be in the high 50s to 70 depending on where I go.  Here's what I'll have tied on:

Chatterbait, spinnerbait, a couple different swimbaits, rattle trap, Ned, Neko, and a dropshot (trying out a new rod).   I'll fish fast-moving baits in several spots before moving to slower stuff if the bite is slow (it shouldn't be).