I hear alot of people saying, use the jerkbait and use the jig, but alot of the time they are on a boat and can see what is down there. If you were just walking the shoreline looking for bass in the 40 degree temp. range what would you. I have only caught around one a day on a jig, but I really think that there are more out there to catch. So what would you do in this situation.

Use a jerk bait, tube or jig! I have to fish from the bank sometimes Because the landing is iced in. I still catch a good load of them from the bank with these lures. The bass are usually schooled up in cold water and you have to work along the bank casting out until you catch a bass. When you do remember where your cast landed and make several cast to the exact same location, you will be surprised at how many bass you can pull out of one location. I heave my lure out as far as possible because when I'm fishing from the boat I usually catch these schooled bass in 6-8 foot of water.

If you happen to have any largemouth I usually catch mine tight up against bushy or boggy banks anywhere from 6 inches to 3 feet of water using a jig. I believe they are up tight because they are looking for the warmer water and sunning themselves, look for sunny banks.

Thanx MEBAssman, I will deffiently keep that in mind when going all day sunday. I went out today for 2 hours and caught 2 largemouths and 1 smallie. Which I believe is decent for that much time.

Thannks again

Chris

I agree with using hard/soft jerkbaits this time of the year for sure. However, I would not go with the more expensive hard baits, i.e.: L.C. Pointers, for instance. Fishing from shore, I've lost way too many!

Don't over look the drop shot and/or Senkos either!

i love to slow roll spinnerbaits this time of year (boat or bank)...you can cover a lot of ground and they cast a mile...good luck

I would suggest anything small, light, and something you can move slow.  A 1/16 weighted senko or just  a small grub or tube.  Most plastics can typically work, but you need to move it sloooow....  And you need to be near fish too because they will not move to far to eat the bait.  

We've had similar temps here.  From shore and boat, I've had excellent results with big ripbaits, like Pointer 100, Flash Minnow 110, X-Rap XR-10, and shallow crankbaits.

If you're shore bound, don't be afraid to chuck a bait out there.  Make your casts parallel to the shore, casting to water you haven't trampled by.  Most of the larger, active fish we've caught have been shallow, very shallow.  Deep water cranking has only resulted in dinks.

Here are two recent reports that might give you an idea of what to do:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1238721369/

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1238973903/0#0