In the small lake I fish, the water has thawed except some of the coves.  There are often shad and small fish frozen in the ice.  I know cat fish will hang around under the ice to feed off of these fish as the ice is melting.

Would bass do this or would they tend to go to the warmer northern sunny sides?  I have some swimmin' minnows that look allot like these frozen fish.  I thought I would try tossing them towards or onto the ice and let them fall and see what would happen.

What do you all think, is there some other things you would try in these conditions?

Thanks, Q

Well it sounds like the worst that could happen is you get to catch some catfish.  

I'd think a deadsticked or twitched fluke would be a good idea.

a jigging spoon.

Find the warmer areas.

I'd think a deadsticked or twitched fluke would be a good idea.

Good idea!

A trick often used is to fish the ice/waters edge.  Toss a jerkbait onto the ice and then drag it off.  Shad this time of year get over stressed from the cold water and start dying off.  These are the ones you see on their sides barely swimming.  Those are easy pickings for lathargic, cold water bass.  

Find the warmer areas.

X2

A trick often used is to fish the ice/waters edge. Toss a jerkbait onto the ice and then drag it off. Shad this time of year get over stressed from the cold water and start dying off. These are the ones you see on their sides barely swimming. Those are easy pickings for lathargic, cold water bass.

x2

I read somewhere that bass won't eat something thats already dead.  But they will hammer something that is just barely alive.  But then again, they will eat something that is being deadsticked sooo... I would try the jerkbait thing that is being reccomended just b/c I've never heard of it for a little bit and then go to the warmer water.

A little off topic, but in the winter once my ponds are frozen I do a lot of trout fishing because the rivers stay unfrozen. In the slower areas ice will accumulate, and I've noticed that often trout gather under the edges of the ice and eat the bugs that get pushed up against it, especially after a hatch.

On the other hand, I don't know if fishing iced areas would be best for bass. I would tend to go to the warmest, ice-free areas first, but you never know.