Top 3 baits for COLD water largemouth and smallmouth?

We've been working on that cold water fishing pattern hard the last...well, too many years :laugh: living here in the northeast, trying to get better in that sub 40 degree water temp. We've been very successful with it the last few years and have had quite a few people ask what our go-to's are for this time of the year. Threw together a video going over our top 3 choices for both largemouth and smallmouth in 45 degree or colder water, would love to hear what you guys think!

Or, for those that would rather not watch the video, these are our go to choices.
Smallies: 1) Finesse jigs 2) Blade bait 3) Damiki rig
Largies: 1) Spiderjig/jigs 2) Jerkbait 3) Ned rig

Let's hear it, YOUR top 3 choices for each. I know I'll get some light heat about not having a hair jig specifically stated in OUR top 3, but it's OUR top 3. Not THE top 3 based on a census or something :laugh:. I've been working the hair jig more and more but I still don't have anywhere near the same success with it that many others do.

https://youtu.be/4WPN7wc5WgQ

You forgot a crankbait. It has to be in the top 3. Mine would be crankbait jig and jerkbait. Screw the finesse stuff.

You completely whiffed on live bait. :laugh:

At least 100% better than your choices.

Tannerite



https://youtu.be/osrWmQtyatw

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Originally Posted by juice780

You forgot a crankbait. It has to be in the top 3. Mine would be crankbait jig and jerkbait. Screw the finesse stuff.

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Maaaan if I had $100k for every fish I've caught on a crankbait this late in the year...I'd be broke. :roll:

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Originally Posted by 188Musky

You completely whiffed on live bait. :laugh: At least 100% better than your choices.

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We don't want to take that away from the ice anglers or they'll never catch anything.

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Originally Posted by basscat21

Tannerite



https://youtu.be/osrWmQtyatw

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:roll: Man anything with guns and tannerite just reminds me how much I miss FPS Russia's channel. Just some dude from Kentucky with an insane gun collection and one hell of a fake Russian accent constantly blowing chit up!

Both species jig, jerkbait, spoon/damiki rig

Completely agree with the largemouth.

smallmouth I’d use a jerkbait or finesse swimbait instead of Damiki.

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Originally Posted by juice780

You forgot a crankbait. It has to be in the top 3. Mine would be crankbait jig and jerkbait. Screw the finesse stuff.

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Are crankbaits productive below 40? I know they are good cold water baits, but the temp range he was talking about seems to be extreme cold. A crankbait isn't something I would think about, but may have to try it out in the spring.

A-rig, jerk bait, ned

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Originally Posted by ECobb91

Completely agree with the largemouth.

smallmouth I’d use a jerkbait or finesse swimbait instead of Damiki.

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Once water gets this cold we have a hard time getting them to come up even for a deep diving jerkbait, most of our smallmouth are living 40+ feet down and won't come up very far for us. I always have one tied on just in case but hasn't panned out yet.

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Originally Posted by Cbump

A-rig, jerk bait, ned

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A-rig would absolutely be higher on my list if I had more places I could throw a real one. NH sucks about it, we're allowed a max of 3 arms on the rig with only one real hook. Vermont and Mass are a bit better, can use a 5 arm rig but only with two real hooks. New York and Connecticut we can use 5 real hooks thankfully, but I never get over to NY this time of the year and trips to CT are rare.

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Originally Posted by Thamelau

Are crankbaits productive below 40? I know they are good cold water baits, but the temp range he was talking about seems to be extreme cold. A crankbait isn't something I would think about, but may have to try it out in the spring.

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Yes they are. Some days are better than others but they are still good in cold water. Do you think bass stop eating shad in cold water?

Crankbait/jerkbait/big spinnerbait

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Originally Posted by juice780

Yes they are. Some days are better than others but they are still good in cold water. Do you think bass stop eating shad in cold water?

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How cold does the water get down there in the winter? Genuinely curious, I don't have any close friends I can ask that question of that live down in the Carolina's.

Jig, Jerkbait, crankbait.

All I have to say is put some hair on it!

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Originally Posted by Thamelau

Are crankbaits productive below 40? I know they are good cold water baits, but the temp range he was talking about seems to be extreme cold. A crankbait isn't something I would think about, but may have to try it out in the spring.

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I caught them steady on silent squarebills late last winter over submerged pre-emergent spatterdock (lily pad like plant)

Lipless cranks will catch them in cold water as well.

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Originally Posted by 188Musky

You completely whiffed on live bait. :laugh:

At least 100% better than your choices.

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And also work's for the largest fish in the lake.

Caught them this week in 37 degree water on jerks

A rig Jerkbait and LV 500 for me. Caught more big January fish on a LV than anything

For smallies: crawfish, bull minnows, nightcrawlers
For Largemouth: nightcrawlers, bull minnows, crawfish

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Originally Posted by 603bass

How cold does the water get down there in the winter? Genuinely curious, I don't have any close friends I can ask that question of that live down in the Carolina's.

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Mostly low to mid 40s. Sometimes the 30s if we have a long cold spell.

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Originally Posted by juice780

You forgot a crankbait. It has to be in the top 3. Mine would be crankbait jig and jerkbait. Screw the finesse stuff.

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:bows:

In my experience when it’s cold (36-45 degrees)
smallmouth- ned, blade bait, wiggle wart. Hard head honorable mention
largemouth- jig, jerkbait, big spinnerbait

Swing head jig, Ned, and ?????

Those two have been good to me for both largemouth and smallmouth over the last handful of years in cold water.

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Originally Posted by DaveBrabec

A rig Jerkbait and LV 500 for me. Caught more big January fish on a LV than anything

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You Clear Lake guys throw the hell out of that thing!:smile:

Jig, Jerkbait, Float and Fly

Well I catch more Largemouth the month of November than
I do all year. And they all come on Crankbaits in water that is
between 40-50 degrees. This year my brother and I boated
Between 200-250 Largemouths. Didn’t bother throwing anything
other than Cranks.

Ned rig.

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Originally Posted by juice780

You forgot a crankbait. It has to be in the top 3. Mine would be crankbait jig and jerkbait. Screw the finesse stuff.

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Hey, stop giving away our NC winter secrets! :laugh:

A-Rig for both species hands down in my opinion. Blade baits (Silver Buddy) would be a distant 2nd and then a tie between a spybait and a Damiki Rig if I’m chasing LiveScope fish.

I think a Silver buddy is about the best bait in really cold water. I do not throw one. I throw a weighted Rapla 05 Shad Rap. I add the weights. You could fish it all day long and never catch a bass. It's all about weight, speed and sensitivity. I fished one yesterday for about 2 hours on the wrong tide. Caught 4 bass, largest was 21", 2 large pickerel 20+ inches and 1 large crappies.

It's about the right equipment, speed, experience and sensitivity.

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Originally Posted by juice780

Yes they are. Some days are better than others but they are still good in cold water. Do you think bass stop eating shad in cold water?

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We don't have shad in any of our lakes I fish regularly. That being said, I know they will eat our forage through the winter.

I was out Friday. Water temp was 40 and I caught some largemouth on a 2.8 keitech on a 1/4 head.

ABA here yesterday. Winners had only 4 fish. 1 on a A rig. 1 on a LV 500 2 on a underspin

Its always been a Jig for me.

Now it’s a Deeks dead spin with a TRD pinned on it. It’s out fishing every other bait by a long shot. If your not throwing this bait right now you should be.

Live minnow under a cork.

Jig, crankbait and a blade bait when I run across schools of them.