best baits for this time of year?

[lroberts]

Cold water is a great time for the Red Eye.....its a reaction bite.....they don't want to eat it but they have to!! I caught two five lbers on them last week two-three days after ice out. I was fishing them the yo-yo style mentioned above, ripping it out of the old grass/weeds from last year That being said, I also caught some fishing a jig very slowly.

[walkeraviator]

Small Jig (small skirt, trailer with a little less action). Use a dragging method. Color depends on water clarity. Simply cast out and let it sink to the bottom. Point your rod tip at the Jig and start reeling real slow, dragging it. If you hit a rock, pop it just enough to get it over... im not much on jig fishin, but tried this after seein stacey king doin it at Dale Hollow and am now a believer...

[Bumblebee110]

So out of all those post I saw ;
Jig -lipless crank-blade bait- crankbait-shakyhead-spinnerbait-lizzards-roostertails-jerkbaits-carolina rig-tube. i didn’t see Texas rig or buzz
IMO-try everything but
Spring use smaller baits-usually slower presentations-match the hatch
Jigs are awesome up until 60 degree water then there great again in deep water structure
lipless cranks can be awesome for grass and reaction bites
blade bait usually a target bait i think works best in colder water
cranks are awesome but hard to find the right one sometimes. Good search bait-good target bait. I love crankbaits just hate to have to have 10 different styles and 5 different colors.
shaky head- good go to bait usually a finesse style. is a great bait.
spinner bait is another great bait you can fish these as a search/reaction bait. I like to open them up and fish it about 6 inchs below the surface. you can use them for the suspended fish or the guys on the bottom
lizard-great to use in spawning areas
rooster tail- umm don’t really use anymore but i guess may a mix of blade bait and spinner bait. maybe like finesse spinnerbait fishing. no really sure about that one. Sounds good though
jerk bait- great bait gives those big lethargic bass enough time to come get that bait.
Carolina rig- im a bank beater and usually go Texas rig but I might be missing out on something here not really sure about this bait. I know a lot of people use it on ledges.
Texas rig- I just try about three different sizes- 3 or 4 in creature bait - or 7 inch worm/lizard summer maybe go to a 10inch.
buzz bait can be good on the right day. if one misses it throw a worm of jig or something out there.

I think in spring the weather plays the biggest part in fishing. You need to know if there was a warming trend usually three days of warming will pick things up. Rain can help. a cold front can hurt. Look for warmer nights. Look for water quality. Clear water try more natural if its dirty throw some noise a spinner bait or lipless. When water is rising or has been stable for a few days’ fish close to the banks. throw search baits they should be active in this situation. But if water has dropped they might be a little farther out or even suspending then. So again IMO spring can be tricky but plan before you get to you lake or spot. Try lots of baits and let the fish tell you what bait he wants. I also think once you find a bait you have confidence in you will catch lots of fish on that lure. CONFIDENCE IS KEY