best baits for this time of year?

[dkprofishn]

im just wondering what the best baits are for this time of year i know there are many that will work but whats most effective?

[elnutsmalljaws]

Changes quickly with the water temps but pretty hard to beat a 1/2 oz Red Eye Shad. Sexy Shad, Silver with Black, Silver with Blue or Crawfish pattern. Pretty versatile in that you can fish it several different ways to imitate a shad, crawfish, reaction bite or swimming bite.

[lroberts]

+ 1 on the Red Eye Shad. A black and blue jig is great.....suspending jerkbait is a good choice also.

[sglass]

Norman deep little N crawdad colored hugged close to a rocky bank. Tube black with red flake close #2.

[mtn lures]

#1 jig. Finesse style. If I am up a creek or river a full size. Shad rap is #2.

[Rayman]

I like Jerkbaits and Carolina rig with lizards.

[TroyRalph502]

Lizzards and rooster tails work good. Depends on water temps more than anything though. As of the last week or so, I have had my luck with rooster tails.

[smuckey41]

You can't go wrong with a shaky head or crank bait in Shad color or red crawdad, also a spinnerbait is good.

[cooter 33]

Could someone tell me how to fish the red eyed shad and crankbait in 40 degree water. I figured it was a waste of time.

[stickem charlie]

Could someone tell me how to fish the red eyed shad and crankbait in 40 degree water. I figured it was a waste of time.

I would hold off on the red eye shad for a couple weeks, but take a flat sided spro little Jon md cranked slow over points and off shore structure. Personally I love a X-rap this time of year though jmo...

[OneShy]

Throw it out and reel it in. Change your speed occasionally and see what speed you get the most strikes at. Also you can try yo-yoing a trap type bait. Let it fall slowly while keeping slight tension on your line to feel strikes. When the lure contacts the bottom rip it up fast or slowly pull it off the bottom, again let the fish tell you how they want it. I fished this past weekend and caught several fish on a red eye shad, bandit, and a blade bait. On the bandit and red eye shad it was just a cast and reel method. The blade bait I used a yo-yoing technique in a little deeper water. Water temps were 42 in the morning and got up to 46 late in the day. I hope this helps.

[cooter 33]

Thanks! I figured the fish would be to lethargic for the speed of those baits.