Early season lures? 2025

bc106111 reply :

It’s getting to be that time of year! Water temps here in Ohio are getting into the 40s and some small shallow lakes/ponds into the 50s and fish are gonna start moving up and getting active.

My question to you, if you were going to a new location you’d never fished before, with water temps in the 40s-50s and you were stuck on the bank, where would you be casting and what would you be throwing?

I tend to do fairly well in smaller ponds as the fish don’t have many places to run and hide, but when it comes to the larger lakes I struggle until the fish move up shallow during spawn and post spawn.

Thanks in advance!

Fishin' Fool reply :

Cranks, jerks, ned rigs, drop shot, spinnerbait, jig. Keep it slow this time of the year.

Bankbeater reply :

I like bladed jigs, jerkbaits, lipless crankbaits, and shallow running crankbaits. If those don’t work I switch over to plastics.

iiTzChunky reply :

I've only been on the water a hand full of times so far this season, but I've thrown lipless cranks, spinners, chatter, jerks, but the only thing I've got hits on this a chartreuse square bill

NorthernBasser reply :

I just wanna throw this out there to you guys who have open water right now. I hate you.

bc106111 reply :

On 3/19/2019 at 8:42 AM, NorthernBasser said:

I just wanna throw this out there to you guys who have open water right now. I hate you.

I love open water fishing but this was my first full season on the ice and only got out like 3 days so I still sorta wish we had some ice around.

NorthernBasser reply :

On 3/19/2019 at 9:09 AM, bc106111 said:

I love open water fishing but this was my first full season on the ice and only got out like 3 days so I still sorta wish we had some ice around.

Thankfully things are thawing quickly here. I am gonna do some smallie river fishing this weekend I think.

kenmitch reply :

On 3/19/2019 at 8:42 AM, NorthernBasser said:

I just wanna throw this out there to you guys who have open water right now. I hate you.

I got a pretty good sunburn on my legs today if that makes you feel any better.

NorthernBasser reply :

On 3/19/2019 at 9:13 AM, kenmitch said:

I got a pretty good sunburn on my legs today if that makes you feel any better.

*frantically searching for the middle finger emoji*

Boomstick reply :

As it's in the 40s still, I would be using primarily ned rigs, drop shots, lipless crankbaits, jigs and I have white colored 3/8oz spinnerbaits with a large colorado blade (one single, one dual) that I can fish real slow early in the year. For the most part, they won't really quite chase until the water is well into the 50s, so you'll want to fish any moving baits real slow.

bc106111 reply :

On 3/19/2019 at 9:57 AM, Boomstick said:

As it's in the 40s still, I would be using primarily ned rigs, drop shots, lipless crankbaits, jigs and I have white colored 3/8oz spinnerbaits with a large colorado blade (one single, one dual) that I can fish real slow early in the year. For the most part, they won't really quite chase until the water is well into the 50s, so you'll want to fish any moving baits real slow.

I can honestly say I have never fished a ned rig, and only really tried a drop shot a couple of times.

I have read through a few threads about the ned rig but is it generally recommended to fish the ned rig to get the specific ned rig jig heads, or can you use any jig heads. I was thinking of just using one of my regular jig heads and just snipping a Yum Dinger in half and using that instead of the ZMan Finesse TRD. Will this accomplish the same thing essentially?

Thanks for the replies, I learn more and more the more I visit here.

EGbassing reply :

On 3/19/2019 at 8:42 AM, NorthernBasser said:

I just wanna throw this out there to you guys who have open water right now. I hate you.

What about open water and 70 degrees?

PhishLI reply :

My shallow waters are still in the mid to high 30s. Temp was 24 degrees this morning! Slowly working suspending jerkbaits has gotten it done the past several weeks. Then it stalled for the most part. All of a sudden, very slowly rolling paddle tails along the bottom is getting bites. The storm 360GT searchbait in blue has gotten the most play for me. Maybe the rattle in the jig head is making the difference? I've also been working a 1/2oz Dark Sleeper and a Little Dipper the same way, but have yet to drag them past a willing fish. Not a sniff on a spinnerbait, ned rig, or a dead sticked finesse worm.

Just 40 miles east of me and in very shallow water, my brother has been wrecking them on a No.2 Mepps, so go figure.

Boomstick reply :

On 3/19/2019 at 10:34 AM, bc106111 said:

I can honestly say I have never fished a ned rig, and only really tried a drop shot a couple of times.

I have read through a few threads about the ned rig but is it generally recommended to fish the ned rig to get the specific ned rig jig heads, or can you use any jig heads. I was thinking of just using one of my regular jig heads and just snipping a Yum Dinger in half and using that instead of the ZMan Finesse TRD. Will this accomplish the same thing essentially?

Thanks for the replies, I learn more and more the more I visit here.

I would get proper neg rig heads. They are flat on the back so the head is designed to put the back of the head on the bottom and stand up the trailer. Also while you can cut a yum dinger in half, the TRD's are super stretchy and not only do they stay on the hook really well but they generally last for quite a few fish as well so you'll get your money's worth.

The X-man ned rig heads are fine but they generally lose their paint, so this year when I ordered a few more I decided to try the owner brand as they were recommended to me.

Honestly the ned rigs are so highly effective and easy to rig that I rarely bother with a shaky head or a drop shot anymore when most of the time the ned rig will outfish them anyway especially on a sandy buttom where you aren't trying to fish above a grassline -- and is certainly quicker to rig up than a drop shot!

I should also add you can bass fish for trout on ned rigs as well!

bc106111 reply :

Well I’m gonna have to give a shot for sure then. I’ll have to make a trip to the store and get the stuff I need. I’m hoping to get out this weekend and get on some bass!

FCPhil reply :

I caught a 19 inch bass today in the same type of situation you are describing. Try a fluke on a lightly weighted belly hook. Try to find the warmest bank you can. Probably the north or west bank. Look for a bank where the sun can easily penetrate down and warm the bottom. Cast parallel to the bank and work the fluke along the bottom. Bass moving up shallow to feed may pick it up off the bottom.

Bluebasser86 reply :

I've been doing really well with a small jerkbait early this year, specifically a Yo-Zuri 3DS Series Minnow in the 2 3/4" size.

papajoe222 reply :

Not knowing the type of cover, if any, I'd say a 1/4oz jig with a compact trailer, a tube (you can always rig it stupid style for timber an such) and a fluke style soft plastic jerk bait.

roadwarrior reply :

Alabama Rig

scaleface reply :

I fish a lot of the same lures as the rest of the year just s-l-o-w-e-r . I skip top waters .

Jigfishn10 reply :

Definitely a craw pattern soft plastic of craw lipless crank.

A-Jay reply :

Small jerkbait

Medium jerkbait

Slightly larger jerbait.

A-Jay

Mr. Aquarium reply :

jigs and swimbaits! shallow ponds, muddy dark bottoms. I've caught many large fish this time of year. Even on topwater just after ice out. Fish slow. Fish jigs in shallow wood. swimbaits slow. near drop offs. or shallow warmer areas. Glide baits, cranking swimbaits and soft plastics. I hunt for big fish. I dont really fish many other baits.

Bluebasser86 reply :

On 3/19/2019 at 10:26 PM, A-Jay said:

Small jerkbait

Medium jerkbait

Slightly larger jerbait.

A-Jay

I don't know if it's because it's the first good bite of the year, or if I'm really that addicted, but I don't think I enjoy anything other than jig fishing as much as I enjoy jerkbaiting.

thinkingredneck reply :

On 3/19/2019 at 8:42 AM, NorthernBasser said:

I just wanna throw this out there to you guys who have open water right now. I hate you.

This summer, when the heat and humidity nears 100, we will hate you. Right now, though, life is pretty good.

NorthernBasser reply :

On 3/20/2019 at 8:14 PM, thinkingredneck said:

This summer, when the heat and humidity nears 100, we will hate you. Right now, though, life is pretty good.

Believe it or not, humidity in WI can get pretty brutal. Granted, not on your level though.

9738

Early season lures? 2025

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