Heading out to Summersville Lake in WV this weekend tomorrow and seeking where to start. I'm expecting low 50 degree water temps on this rocky highland reservoir. Deep winter drawdown. Deep canyon with steep banks. Minimum vegetation. Water clarity clear to slightly stained. Windy. Overcast. 

 

Primary forage is crawfish and gizzard shad.  

 

How would you attack each species:

 

Smallmouth?

 

Largemouth?

 

Spotted Bass? 

Drag a tube and load the boat with all 3 kinds 

Lipless or squarebill parallel to the shoreline...bump them there rocks.

Low 50s water, windy and overcast? I'd be throwing a spinnerbait all over the place. Given the water clarity and overcast sky I'd probably start with a silver and gold double willow. 

I'd first run the main lake body to see if I could find huge wads of Shad with schooled up Bass on them, then I'd run a A-Rig, Damiki Axe Blade, Jackall Deracoup, or if you've got FFS a sonar minnow or similar type bait.  

 

If they aren't there, I'd then move on to main lake points that are close to channel ridges and have some cover on flat areas.  

 

Not there, I'm following creek channels to secondary points.   

 

I highly doubt the fish would have progressed further than that in their prespawn journey, but I'm a rookie on Bass biology.  

I’d throw an A-Rig with the additional blades since it’ll be windy and overcast. I’d start shallow and work my way deeper. 
 

 If that didn’t work, I’d throw a Ned rig craw into the rockiest places I could find. 
 

Good luck, I’m jealous of anyone getting out at this point. 

34 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Drag a tube and load the boat with all 3 kinds 

This

It's this

 

Honorable mention for LM: Carolina rig a creature, do a slow lift and drop retrieve, and haul up some pigs

1 hour ago, thediscochef said:

This

It's this

 

Honorable mention for LM: Carolina rig a creature, do a slow lift and drop retrieve, and haul up some pigs

 

 What areas of the lake?? Give me some specifics on creature and weights?? 

forget the fishing and go climbing instead

4 hours ago, RHuff said:

 

 What areas of the lake?? Give me some specifics on creature and weights?? 

We have very different reservoirs, but I think I would be looking for the warmer shallower water near points and in coves. Probably throwing a baby brush hog or a lizard like I always do. Maybe a craw if that's not doing it. Could also do a lightweight c rig and use a super fluke

Id start out with crankbaits parallel to steep rocky banks, not bluffs. If that fails then just go fishing.