I have a tournament coming up in 2 weeks here in Virginia on a large reservoir with very little cover - lots of points and rocks.  Lakes around here are frozen around edges right now, but today was warm - into upper 50s.  I am going to assume water temperatures will be in the upper 30s to very low 40s in 2 weeks for the sake of my question.  

I have more confidence, generally speaking, in a Texas rig worm than a jig, on this reservoir (not flipping cover, the only part of jig fishing which is my strong suite - swimming it in deeper water - I'm still on the learning curve) and so for this tournament want to stick to what I have the most confidence - a Texas rig worm.  My question - is this a good lure choice in the winter and what am I sacrificing by choosing it over a jig?

Thanks,

Batman

Don't use a worm with very much action, and fish it very slow.

Whatever you fish, fish slow.  Plastics are at their worst in the winter.  However, if that is your confidence, like it is mine, fish it slow.  I would rather fish a bait that I have confidence in than a bait that I didn't think I could catch anything on, but if you can fish a jig, slow roll a spinnerbait, yo-yo a lipless crankbait/swimbait or jerkbait with any confidence I would consider those better options.

If you're fishing a tournament in Va. I'd toss the worms and buy some jigging spoons. The water is just under 40 here on Smith Mtn,  the fish are following the shad around and are suspended most of the day.

If the sun comes thru strong and the air temp gets up you may get a jig bite going later in the day but it would probably be a good idea to locate the schools of shad before making your first cast.

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] five.bass.limit.

Agree with the others but would like to add that you should maybe try a t-rig craw instead fished very slow.

Not a lot of cover but lots of points and humps? Drop shot could be a good option also.

Jigging spoons or spinnerbaits will be best. They will put out a big flash and they will get down deep enough.

I prefer plastics myself but keep an open mind. As everyone says, sloe is the key. Finesse worm on 8lb. line? Jigs will work also so don't be afraid to switch. One surprize bait I do pretty good on in early season is the Redeye Shad lipless crank. You can burn it for a reaction strike or stop and go also. Made a believer out of me!

Texas rig a craw worm, lizard, or creature  

Use a fish shaped body, or shad colored worm or big grub and fish it t-rigged in hops under the balls of shad...should work.

When the weather got cold here (RI) in the late Fall, I started experimenting with swimbaits. Fished them SLOW at different depths. My last time out, caught a 5 lb. LMB and a 2 lb 11oz SMB. Here's one of the baits I used:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Akita-5-in-BASS-STRIPER-MUSKY-SWIMBAIT-FISHING-LURE_W0QQitemZ220347407289QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item220347407289&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Good luck!!!

ajr

This is great. From jigging spoons to swim baits. I think the general consensus is low and slow. Except for the lipless crank. I'd probably throw a jig with a basic trailer, not too much action. Followed by a slow rolled lipless crank.

You will need at least 20 rods to use all of these suggestions.  

I'll add one more.  We are fishing water in the mid 30s right now and catching bass in less than 20 fow.  They won't even look at my jig no matter what size, color or trailer I have used.  The 4" tube has been out producing all other baits for us with melon/pepper and pumpkin seed being the best colors.

Good luck.  I hope you win the T.  Let us know.

For cold water like that I would try a lipless crank bait first, then a jerk bait, followed by a jig with a real pork frog, or a tube.  If all of the above fail to catch a bass try a wacky rigged soft stick bait fished dead slow.

Use some dynamite and blow a big hole in the dam, stand beside the hole with your dip net and catch the big bass as they fly by.  ;D

Just kidding. I mostly sit at home and order too many lures on line. I can't take the real cold weather fishing. :'(

I would stick with what you are confident using. A suggestion I would make is to t-rig a grub (blue pearl or smoke) if the shad bite is on. Light weight for a slower fall.

I love t rigged worms but i have caught more and bigger bass in cold water with a jig and pig then a worm BTW im in maryland almost the same temps here but i only fish ponds and smaller lakes

T-rig, fished very slowly. If you are not getting bit try a 180* and rip some small crankbaits or lipless baits around the edges of the ice.