New Guy

[AmishFish]

Im new to the site but just wanted to get a question out there. I live in Pa so our waters are still cold around here but weve been having some milder weather. Will the water be too cold to bass fish?

[bytebull]

HI welcome to BFT!

It is never to cold to fish for Largemouth or smallmouth bass.

If your water is still under 50 degrees the bass will still be in pre-spawn mode. The first full moon of the spring spawn is thursday and a few male bass in your area will move into shallower water anyways and start fighting for prime spawn locations.

Right now you should concentrate on water from 10ft to 15ft in your area.

On sunny days with higher temps at sunset you can move into water 10ft to 2ft because the males even in your area are in pre-spawn mode and they will be moving into shallow area's looking for sandy/rocky bottoms to make their nests.

In the next few weeks even the females in your area will be moving into shallower areas too.

Rippin shad (rapala) and any creature bate that is a predator and could possible eat the young bass fry is a good lure choice even up in your area this time of year.

Lizard,snake, HUGE worms,soft plastics and especially SPINNER BAITS anywhere near where the male is making his "bed" will be good for you this time of year.

Now to address your question. To cold to catch bass? answer: NEVER.

I have caught some my best bass when it was snowing and 32 degrees air / 42 degrees water.

The bass are more sluggish and will only expend enough energy to get a meal that outweighs the effort to eat it this time of year in your area.

Slow it down and offer the pre-spawn bass up there something large and slow is never enough, even if you think your fishing it slow enough, slow it down more for the next couple up weeks up there where you live.

Hope this helps.
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[AmishFish]

yes that helps alot. i appreciate it! i plan on going out tomorrow being as though itll be 65, which is really warm for us this time of year. im gonna have to try bulking everything up and going slow. excited to try it out!
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[bytebull]

keep this in mind. This time of year the male bass won't actually STRIKE your lure. They will pick it up and move it out of the nest they are making. So be a line watcher. Any change in your line like, a thump,or it moving to one side or even your line going slack abruptly is a male moving the lure, set the hook.

When the females get on the bed they will hit anything you get "in the zone" of the bed. Drop a large soft plastic lizard on the nest and she will NAIL IT. Even buzzbaits or any topwater that makes noise will get her to strike. You might have to cast that lure over the "bed" serveral times to piss her off and get the strike.

Most of the lunker and record bass are caught this time of year all around the usa. If slow isn't working pop a spinnner bait or buzzbait past the nest and then run it over it again and again.

I sometimes cast to the same area and reel in 10 times and get the strike that many casts over the same area.

good luck.
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[fsh4fun05]

Never to cold to fish for bass. I was out last Sunday, water temp was 43* and we got 6 to the boat. We worked hard for them, but they where there. I was actually surprised how active they were. Typically water on the north end of a lake or reservoir warms up faster as it gets more sunshine. Suspending jerk baits are a good choice, match the forage for colors (bluegill, shad, trout, etc). The kicker on jerk baits is that it's important that they suspend, sometimes depending on water temp. they will rise or fall very slowly but usually the cheap ones float to the surface fast or if they have a BB in it they will sink too fast. Yo-Zuri and Lucky Craft jerk baits are very good for suspending neutrally but are a little pricey.
Weightless senkos on a ewg 2/0 hook are awesome! watermelon or green pumpkin are go-to colors. Cast out in various depths and just let it free fall.
I wouldn't expect any bass on beds quite yet. When the temps get up to about 55* you'll start to see males cruising the shallows.
What type of water are you fishing? Lakes, reservoirs, ponds, deep, shallow, water clarity, etc.
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[gdn443]

Jerkbaits for me as well this time of year. All this bass talk, I need to get the cover off. [:/]
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[AmishFish]

The water I will be fishing are ponds. I'm not 100% sure the depth or clarity of these ponds. This will be the first time fishing them. Also I will be fishing from the bank. The rivers are crystal clear so I dont see why the ponds won't be. My boss an I are going out and he fishes in tournaments so I'm hoping to pick up pointers from him as well. Thanks for the help! [fishon]
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