The water temperature is not far from using Blitz Lures LLC Blades and BFishn Tackle Precision H20 jig heads and Blakemore Casey’s Runner Heads with Authentx PulseR, Moxi and Ribb-Finn, and Natural Forage Baits Swim Bait and Lil’ Killer.
The lowest water temperature in which I’ve caught a bass in open water is 35° and that was on a Slab Daddy jig with Crappie Nibble. The Blades have caught bass at 37°, and all the others have been between 37 and 40 as a start.
With the Blade I’ll let it drop all the way to the bottom, and then rip it upward at different speeds, or use a reel-and-pause retrieve, until I find what the fish are wanting. Rat-L-Traps will also produce in the same way, but seem to be in the 39-40° range to start.
The other soft plastics are used in somewhat of the same way with a couple of changes. A slow, near-the-bottom, sometimes bumping retrieve often works for all of the swim bait types, and finger jigging in different speeds with the Lil’Killer and Ribb-Finn.
You may pick up a few large crappie when fishing this way.
Don’t forget to apply some Kick’n Bass Fish Attractants to the soft plastics. Remember to apply it to the slot area on the belly side of the NFB Swim Bait, and the ribs of the B-Fish-N soft plastics, can be used as great scent holders.
When the water starts to open, and there is enough to fish, start using some of these lures and techniques, especially in the smaller bodies of water.
Until next time, get out on the water, and enjoy a great day of fishing.