Top 3 baits for COLD water largemouth and smallmouth?

[juice780]

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.

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

[LTZ25]

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

[basscat tyler]

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

[adchunts]

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.

[Championmac]

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

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

[Big Orange Basser]

Jig, Jerkbait, Float and Fly

[rangered]

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.

[Quillback]

Ned rig.

[headhigh]

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

Hey, stop giving away our NC winter secrets!

[Philly]

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.

[billnorman1]

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.

[Thamelau]

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?

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.

[flipNfrog]

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

[DaveBrabec]

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

[ifishinxs]

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.

[BigFishSteve]

Live minnow under a cork.

[fishon!sc]

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