Kevin Van Dam Forums

After seeing nextlevel’s pictures, I’m ready to break out the bass gear. Looking at the paper, the water temp of the miss river was 36 yesterday and I’m sure its warmer now (high of 49 today). Its going to rain tonight and tomorrow but I’ll make it out sometime this week, what would you suggest I throw? I’m going to fish a sand bar that drops from 6” to 13ft with a few rocks on them. The water is pretty clear this time of year, 2-3ft visibility. This time of year I think the bass would be feeding on the thousands of pounds of dying shad floating down the river.

Was thinking about slow rolling a swimjig/spinnerbait and fishing a shakey head along the drop. Heck maybe even a crank or jerk.

Any suggestions?

You’ve got it all figured out BBK. The only other thing I would suggest is to try a chatterbait along with the spinnerbait and swim jig. I would also try a jig too.

Forgot that I have some of the nextlevel finesse jigs to try I’ll give those a try for sure.

When water is that cold I always go finesse…have you considered a black/blue flake tube?

Warmer water and shad. Thats all i’d be thinking about finding. Usually the creeks will warm up first, id check around those.

i agree with stevens. the drop off sounds like a good back up plan though. but yeah man i would look for the warmest water.

Creeks are still frozen, so are the backwaters. All I have to fish is the main river and the boat is still put away for the winter.

I would use the jigs,  I can vouch for them . Seriously jigs crawled on the bottom or give the jigs you make tipped with a grub and minnow.  Also try a lipless bait yo yoed since the water is warming.

Main thing could be to take your time and fish slow. Mess around with diffrent rates of fall. Worky your kister off and you’ll get on fish.

36 degree water is going to be tough BBK. I would throw something small and work it slow…..I wish you luck my man.

I know that I am a little late on this but water is not water at 36 degrees. It has started to crystalized into ice and this starts at 38-39. The saying that water freezes at 32 if a myth. It is already ice at that stage. Water is at its most dense form at 38-39.

BBK - 07 March 2010 03:47 AM

After seeing nextlevel’s pictures, I’m ready to break out the bass gear. Looking at the paper, the water temp of the miss river was 36 yesterday and I’m sure its warmer now (high of 49 today). Its going to rain tonight and tomorrow but I’ll make it out sometime this week, what would you suggest I throw? I’m going to fish a sand bar that drops from 6” to 13ft with a few rocks on them. The water is pretty clear this time of year, 2-3ft visibility. This time of year I think the bass would be feeding on the thousands of pounds of dying shad floating down the river.

Was thinking about slow rolling a swimjig/spinnerbait and fishing a shakey head along the drop. Heck maybe even a crank or jerk.

Any suggestions?

i’d go with a shad rap fished very slow and pause it. the longer the pause the better the bite