A little "test" with results to follow in  a few days.

Lake temp is currently 40-45 degrees with warmest water being found in small coves in the Northern end of the lake. The lake is a generally shallow (but quite large) with a maxium depth in the Northern end of about 14 feet deep, Southern end hits 20 or so in some areas. The temp in the Southern basin is lower than North.

Two weeks ago and before this nasty cold period, main lake water temp was 49 degrees, backs of coves were 55-58 degrees.

Alot of fish were being caught shallow, less than 2 feet of water, mostly where warmest water was found.

The lake has no significant drop off or ledges, it is mostly sloping banks, flats, gradual declines toward deeper water.

Cover is bascially wood in most areas of the Northern end, stumps, submerged logs etc...

Coves have some small weed growth and some lily pad growth (when warm enough to grow them).

Water visibility is about 1-2 feet in most areas.

Lake contains both smallmouth and largemouth.

You have not been back to fish since the cold front and you have a tournament there this weekend. It's Thursday, weather is predicted to be sunny for all upcoming days including tournament day, highs in upper 50's to lower 60's, lows in mid to upper 30's.

The challenge:

   How do you attack this senerio? A tough one indeed.............

   I will be facing these exact conditions this weekend and will report my results and how they compare to responses to this thread.

   I have a definate game plan and I'm curious to see if anyone else will come up with a successful one.

two very important details were left out, water clarity and level (rising, falling or stable?)  Either way, I would definitely get back in those coves, find the warmest water, hopefully they have snapped out of that cold front pattern.  Shakey Head worms would probably be my choice, only because they are a confidence bait.  Also some TX rigged lizards (color depending on water clarity but most likely something in a more natural color).  Any time you are in wood, its hard to beat a white/Chart spinnerbait if they are active enough, but these are more likely to work as the day goes on and the water heats up even more.  Also, definitely have a rod with a crawfish colored crankbait tied on like a wiggle wart.

It is a tough situation, no doubt, but unless I see the bass spawning in the shallow northern end, I might be more inclined to fish a little deeper.  Maybe there's a little "rise" as you get to the northern end of the lake, or perhaps a nice little channel into those back coves.  If the fish aren't spawning, which it doesn't sound like they are, I'll bet they're getting ready to spawn and will be hanging out looking for a bit of forage along any structure.

If you can find some water a little cooler than the north end, but much warmer than the south end along a slope of any kind, I'd be working tubes, jigs, and worms along the bottom for a while and then slowly work my way up the water column to where the bass are holding.

The conditions you described mean three things to me.

1.  Red ratLtrap search bait

2.  Black and blue jig

3.  Glad I moved to Florida  8-)

two very important details were left out, water clarity and level (rising, falling or stable?) Either way, I would definitely get back in those coves, find the warmest water, hopefully they have snapped out of that cold front pattern. Shakey Head worms would probably be my choice, only because they are a confidence bait. Also some TX rigged lizards (color depending on water clarity but most likely something in a more natural color). Any time you are in wood, its hard to beat a white/Chart spinnerbait if they are active enough, but these are more likely to work as the day goes on and the water heats up even more. Also, definitely have a rod with a crawfish colored crankbait tied on like a wiggle wart.

In the original post I stated the water visibility was 1-2 feet.

Level is normal for this time of year and stable.

Suggest deep diving crankbait in crawfish or shad color thrown about 30 to 40 off the shore and where the drop offs can hold staging bass.  Look for any grass you can find, too.

Also, throw cranks to the shore and reel back to the boat to find where fish are holding and to formulate a pattern.

Spinnerbaits to help locate fish can be helpful, too.  Select color based on sun and clouds and blades based on water clarity.

Carolina rigged lizzard can also be a fish finder.

Don't forget the Chatterbait and jig and pig, too.  Black and Blue jig with a black or blue pig with a rattle may work, too.

If in shallows, go with your shaky head or wacky worm presentations and consider throwing a lizzard at them while they are in the shallows. Match colors with water clarity and forage.  Dip tails in yellow Spike It to add a dash of color to the bait.

Check water temperatures as you fish as the water will heat up during the day and as the water heats the fish become more active.

Remember to park your boat around structure and wood along the shoreline and fish your cranks and spinnerbaits from all angles.  Throw plastics around docks and wood, too.

Pay attention when you get bit or land a bass.  Look around at your surroundings and the water temperature as that is where they are holding.  Create a "milk run" and fish those areas until the fish tell you to try something else.

And listen to the other suggestions as the guys know what they are talking about.

Let us know how you do.

I would go to the coves in the northern end.  I think the fish will be holding out at the deeper areas of the flats 5-10 ft of water, staging to come shallow.  If that prdeicted weather pattern holds out,  I don't think the fish will be in shallow until mid to late afternoon.  In the Morning I would go to drops just out from the flats or deeper areas of the flats and work a c-rig, with lizard,creature or a fluke type baits in dark colors or chartruese and cranks as well.   I would move shallower in the afternoon as I think the fish will too.  I would use t-rigged plastic as described above or jig.

Good luck

Location: Mouths of those northern coves

Baits: traps,c-rig,spinnerbaits

Keep an eye on the temps during the day and depend on the shallower bite being better in the afternoon.

I pre-fished for 3 hours yesterday, had 8 bites in 3 hours, didn't sore mouth em all..

I will post a detailed report after the tournament.

Some of you may be a little suprised, I know I was after prefishing.

You might be surprised to find that the fish didn't move, just got a bit slugish. Any way I'm looking at it, the Northern side( north-western side) sould be the warmest. A drop of 5* farenheid is not that much, and they can't find warmer water. No need for search bait ! They are there!!!

If they moved deeper, I'd start looking in the same area 2-4 ft deeper in/ close to grass or wood, especialy wood that sufaces( heats up and warms water around it).

Traps & spinnerbaits could be good, but my first option would be a 6" T-rigged lizzard (junebug) 1/8 or 3/16 weight, 3/0 EWG Gammy. Fluke or slug-go on the second rod. Some kind of top water bait on my 3rd rod, probably a pop-r, maybe buzzer (probably later in the day). Shallow diver or medium diver cranckbait (Norman Little N, natural colour) on my 4th rod.

But thats just me...