Hot bass lures for cold-water fishing

Some of the biggest bass are caught each year before the water even warms into the 50s. Looking for lures that will produce at this time of the year? Here are some suggestions from the pros.

▪ SUSPENDING JERKBAITS: These are undoubtedly the king of the cold for bass fishermen. They can be worked in a jerk-and-pause motion, which imitates a struggling shad. And that’s a perfect way to catch the eye of a sluggish bass that’s not quite up to chasing anything very quickly in the cold water.

▪ JIG AND PIG: A black and blue jig with a plastic trailer is another big-bass bait early in the season. Trophy fish are caught each year in pre-spawn conditions. Rocky points, both main lake and secondary, are key spots.

▪ WIGGLE WARTS: One of the first baits pros such as Guido Hibdon go to once the waters starts to warm is a crawdad-colored Wiggle Wart. The bait is especially effective when the bass are just starting to get active but still are reluctant to chase.

▪ RED-EYE SHAD: Pro fisherman Kevin VanDam made this Strike King lure famous after he used it in frigid conditions to win the 2010 Bassmaster Classic on Lay Lake in Alabama. Fishing in water temperatures that were in the 40s at the start of the tournament, he used this lipless crankbait that he designed, ripping it through cover , then letting it settle.

▪ JIGGING RAPS: This unique bait by Rapala has taken the Ozarks by storm. It is especially effective in cold water, where fishermen can fish vetically over dropoffs, deep brush and rock piles.

This story was originally published March 7, 2015 at 7:41 PM with the headline "Hot bass lures for cold-water fishing."