Weather has been up and down and I think its now 3 or 4 times that I have been out and not had a single strike, oof. Don't get me wrong I would rather be on the water and not catching anything vs doing other stuff, I usually go out on nice days so its not nasty weather. I had the same issue last year, when the water temp drops to 40 degrees or lower I can't seem to figure out or get a bite. I usually go out in the afternoon after the sun has been up and warmed things up a little and maybe I should be out at sunrise but again I prefer the comfortable side of fishing. The lake that I am fishing is pretty small lake, 60 acres or so and most of it is shallow, 10ft or less. Towards the dam it does get deeper, I think deepest spots are mid thirties. I have tried quite a few things shallow and deeper water but just not having any luck figuring out what might be the best lure to find them. To make matters worse the only thing I am seeing on sonar is LOTS of crappie, lots and lots plus some smaller shad balls but not the large balls I was seeing earlier. Lake does not have a lot of off shore rock and pretty much the only thing off shore is brush piles, lots and lots of them. I've tried crankbaits through some of the brush piles and no takers as of late. Here are some of the things that I have tried and just looking for other suggestions for water temps around or below 40 degrees, and pretty clear water 4-5ft visibility.

Jerkbaits, shallow and deep styles

swimbaits, small and large

single colorado spinnerbait

fat albert grub on jig head

ned rig z-man trd (really thought I would get some bites on this but nothing so far)

multiple styles of flat side crankbaits, fritts, shad rap, wart, multiple styles of lipless (traps)

5/8 jigs with trailer, tried a couple different trailers through and around brush piles

Probably other things that I have tried but the one thing I had read that thought I may try was a drop shot with a fat albert grub about 16" up and drag that along the bottom. There are a few folks fishing for crappie and they do catch a bass from time to time with a small crappie jig so thought maybe that might work but other than that not sure what else to try. Just thought i would get some additional ideas, thanks!

Before you decide what bait to use, figure out where in the water column the fish are holding. On sunny days, they may be high in the water column mid-day. On overcast days they could be suspended, or sitting on or close to the bottom.

You'll need to experiment if you're fishing from shore using baits that target the different depths. Now is not the time to go big. Smaller spinners, cranks and jigs will cover the different depths.

Fishing from a boat? Rely heavily on your electronics to locate fish. If you don't see activity, concentrate on cover on structure. If you do, choose baits based on their location.

Suspended fish (middle of the water column) are the toughest to catch, so make your presentation as slow as possible with a small bait that will stay in that depth range when targeting them.

9 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

Before you decide what bait to use, figure out where in the water column the fish are holding. On sunny days, they may be high in the water column mid-day. On overcast days they could be suspended, or sitting on or close to the bottom.

You'll need to experiment if you're fishing from shore using baits that target the different depths. Now is not the time to go big. Smaller spinners, cranks and jigs will cover the different depths.

Fishing from a boat? Rely heavily on your electronics to locate fish. If you don't see activity, concentrate on cover on structure. If you do, choose baits based on their location.

Suspended fish (middle of the water column) are the toughest to catch, so make your presentation as slow as possible with a small bait that will stay in that depth range when targeting them.

In a boat and I have electronics but no FFS, I've not really found the bass and assume they are stuck to the bottom. I have seen loads of crappie but thats part of the problem I have not had any luck finding them. Really surprised, I have thrown a jerkbait a good bit and no takers, I caught some when the water temp was in the 50's but after it dropped into the 40's nada. I need to do some more research but starting to wonder if the majority are florida strain and they are just really lethargic when the water is cold but need to talk to some folks and see if they know.

Below 40* I suck.

I hear that blade baits are the ticket in cold water but I prefer the couch watching football.

42 minutes ago, Bird said:

Below 40* I suck.

I hear that blade baits are the ticket in cold water but I prefer the couch watching football.

yea, you and me both....lol. I have tried blade baits but no luck with them either....

9 hours ago, bishoptf said:

Weather has been up and down and I think its now 3 or 4 times that I have been out and not had a single strike, oof. Don't get me wrong I would rather be on the water and not catching anything vs doing other stuff, I usually go out on nice days so its not nasty weather. I had the same issue last year, when the water temp drops to 40 degrees or lower I can't seem to figure out or get a bite. I usually go out in the afternoon after the sun has been up and warmed things up a little and maybe I should be out at sunrise but again I prefer the comfortable side of fishing. The lake that I am fishing is pretty small lake, 60 acres or so and most of it is shallow, 10ft or less. Towards the dam it does get deeper, I think deepest spots are mid thirties. I have tried quite a few things shallow and deeper water but just not having any luck figuring out what might be the best lure to find them. To make matters worse the only thing I am seeing on sonar is LOTS of crappie, lots and lots plus some smaller shad balls but not the large balls I was seeing earlier. Lake does not have a lot of off shore rock and pretty much the only thing off shore is brush piles, lots and lots of them. I've tried crankbaits through some of the brush piles and no takers as of late. Here are some of the things that I have tried and just looking for other suggestions for water temps around or below 40 degrees, and pretty clear water 4-5ft visibility.

Jerkbaits, shallow and deep styles

swimbaits, small and large

single colorado spinnerbait

fat albert grub on jig head

ned rig z-man trd (really thought I would get some bites on this but nothing so far)

multiple styles of flat side crankbaits, fritts, shad rap, wart, multiple styles of lipless (traps)

5/8 jigs with trailer, tried a couple different trailers through and around brush piles

Probably other things that I have tried but the one thing I had read that thought I may try was a drop shot with a fat albert grub about 16" up and drag that along the bottom. There are a few folks fishing for crappie and they do catch a bass from time to time with a small crappie jig so thought maybe that might work but other than that not sure what else to try. Just thought i would get some additional ideas, thanks!

slow roll an a-rig above those brushpiles and through the bait. make sure to burst it especially when going through or under the bait to generate a reaction strike(3 fast cranks--kill, 3 fast cranks-kill). largemouth only lake? if so put a 2.8 or 3.3 keitech on a 1/4 oz jighead and fish it like a jig

When I lived in NC, I live in Fl now.

I would fish when it was cold, snow and ice around the edges of the river. Don’t know what the water temperature was.

The lure that caught the most for me was a green pumpkin jig, (Arkie) with a green pumpkin or watermelon paca craw (Netbait).

I would fish the deep spots in the river, let it go the bottom and ever so slowly work it back with a few slow hops now and then. I carefully would grid out the section of river, fish it throughly.

My numbers weren’t big, but I caught a few.

I also remember putting a cookie sheet underneath my rod and reel standing in the corner to catch the water as it thawed. As I thawed out from numb fingers and toes, the pins and needles you’d get while warming up.

The things we do for fishing.