cold-water smallmouth tips?

Alright...I'm gettin mighty weary of just catching trout.  Usually I have no problem catching smallmouth bass via plastic worms and ripbaits when the water is above 50 degrees F, but this year the water is being stubborn and is hovering in the low 40s by the afternoon.  I've caught a few bass when it's this cold, but the bite is sporadic at best.

Does anyone have any tips or techniques they like to use on smallies when it's this cold?  I plan on taking the 'yak out this weekend to specifically target bass.  Since I don't have a depthfinder, I want to be able to cover water until I find a concentration of fish.  Would ripbaits worked slooow be the ticket?  Or do I need to plow the bottom with a jig-n-pig?  I was thinkin crayfish imitations and ripbaits, but if anyone has other ideas I'd love to hear em.

Since you seem to know Almanor well, I would target rocky areas with drop offs from 5' to 15' and work a live 'dad nose hooked fairly slow in those areas.  I would stick to 'dads that are medium to medium-large size, as that is the size the fish are likely finding right now.  I would also suggest a trip to Butt and work the upper end of the lake where all the structure is.  If 'dads are tough to get, jumbo shiners worms should work as well.....

If you are adverse to live bait, try medium swim baits worked with no weight verrryslow in a wounded/jerking fashion right next to or on top of the structure.

2c
Jim

Of course, follow all local regulations concerning the use of bait, fishing hours, color of PFD, etc... over any suggestions I may have 

Hey Clay, as I'm sure ya see, RF's write-up is solid!!!! That's exactly what I'd do. Plus, I'd carry a thermometer; sometimes, the slightest rise in temp on a rocky point, with the depths RF spoke of can trigger a feed that'd surprise a lot of people. Look/find that slight increase in temp and you'll find fish that are eating.
Lastly, there's some fly fishing craw imitations that if fished drop shot or trolled really slowly can produce when other artificials are drawing blanks.
Good luck; I miss your reports on those Browns.

In cold water if the fish are suspended i Like to use a small jig or drop shot, or jig a fluke with a belly weight. If they are on the bottom a nail rig or a shakey rig both on floating worms.
Sorry for the short post but its to the point and its lunch time.

Good luck

Since you seem to know Almanor well, I would target rocky areas with drop offs from 5' to 15' and work a live 'dad nose hooked fairly slow in those areas.  I would stick to 'dads that are medium to medium-large size, as that is the size the fish are likely finding right now.  I would also suggest a trip to Butt and work the upper end of the lake where all the structure is.  If 'dads are tough to get, jumbo shiners should work as well.....

If you are adverse to live bait, try medium swim baits worked with no weight verrryslow in a wounded/jerking fashion right next to or on top of the structure.

Thanks Jim, solid advice.  I have some rocky dropoffs in mind that should fit the bill.  Haven't checked on Butt for quite a while, I wasn't intending on going down there until Memorial Day but perhaps I'll give that standing timber in the north end a shot.

Crawdads might be a little hard to come by unless I find someone with a trap.  No live or dead minnows are allowed as bait in Plumas County, so those are out of the question.  But I have swimbaits  .

Hey Clay, as I'm sure ya see, RF's write-up is solid!!!! That's exactly what I'd do. Plus, I'd carry a thermometer; sometimes, the slightest rise in temp on a rocky point, with the depths RF spoke of can trigger a feed that'd surprise a lot of people. Look/find that slight increase in temp and you'll find fish that are eating.
Lastly, there's some fly fishing craw imitations that if fished drop shot or trolled really slowly can produce when other artificials are drawing blanks.
Good luck; I miss your reports on those Browns.

I've been dragging a thermometer from my kayak everywhere I go.  In the mornings the temps are 38-39 degrees, then by 1pm or so it'll creep up to 41-42.  Warmest I found was in the back of a shallow cove on the east shore, a balmy 45 degrees  .  There was a bass tournament here last weekend, and I heard guys were catching some fish, but most boats were zipping all over the lake all day.  When I see the same bass boat zip between the north and south ends of the lake multiple times, it indicates to me they’re not doing too well.  Trout fishing's been holding steady like last month, that crazy rainbow bite off the east shore has tapered off a little but the browns are still going strong.  Haven't reported on my recent outings because they haven't been terribly different from last month's reports: same gear, same size fish, etc.  Nothing over 22 inches lately.

In cold water if the fish are suspended i Like to use a small jig or drop shot, or jig a fluke with a belly weight. If they are on the bottom a nail rig or a shakey rig both on floating worms.
Sorry for the short post but its to the point and its lunch time.

Good luck

Thanks man, I'll dig out my flukes and see what they do.  It's gonna take some searching to find where these fish are holding....really wishing I had a depth finder about now!

5" hula grub (pumpkin or root beer) on a 1/4 to 1/2oz football-head jig. Worked very slowly over rocks (give it a couple hops every 3rd turn) with 8lb mono.
There are probably a ton of other creature baits that could work, but I still prefer hula grubs. In general, you want to mimic a crawdad...and work it slowly.

5" hula grub (pumpkin or root beer) on a 1/4 to 1/2oz football-head jig. Worked very slowly over rocks (give it a couple hops every 3rd turn) with 8lb mono.
There are probably a ton of other creature baits that could work, but I still prefer hula grubs. In general, you want to mimic a crawdad...and work it slowly.

Sweet, maybe now I can finally put those hula grubs I've had for years to good use!  Thanks Sin_Coast!  Do you add any crawfish scent to them?

Since you seem to know Almanor well, I would target rocky areas with drop offs from 5' to 15' and work a live 'dad nose hooked fairly slow in those areas.  I would stick to 'dads that are medium to medium-large size, as that is the size the fish are likely finding right now.  I would also suggest a trip to Butt and work the upper end of the lake where all the structure is.  If 'dads are tough to get, jumbo shiners should work as well.....

If you are adverse to live bait, try medium swim baits worked with no weight verrryslow in a wounded/jerking fashion right next to or on top of the structure.

2c
Jim

4.30 of the freshwater regs. Using finfish dead or alive in either of those lakes is a big nono. We had some luck at Butt last year on river2sea craw imitations.

Hmm, now I'm getting torn as to whether I want to hit Almanor or Butt for bass.  I'd be almost guaranteed to have the lake to myself at Butt...maybe that's where I'll go.  Or hell, maybe I'll just hit them both for a Sat-Sun combination.  Decisions, decisions! 

Since you seem to know Almanor well, I would target rocky areas with drop offs from 5' to 15' and work a live 'dad nose hooked fairly slow in those areas.  I would stick to 'dads that are medium to medium-large size, as that is the size the fish are likely finding right now.  I would also suggest a trip to Butt and work the upper end of the lake where all the structure is.  If 'dads are tough to get, jumbo shiners should work as well.....

If you are adverse to live bait, try medium swim baits worked with no weight verrryslow in a wounded/jerking fashion right next to or on top of the structure.

2c
Jim

4.30 of the freshwater regs. Using finfish dead or alive in either of those lakes is a big nono. We had some luck at Butt last year on river2sea craw imitations.

Yeah, I knew the reg stated no finfish dead or alive - so is it illegal to use anchovies, as is commonly done, for the landlocked salmon then?


Chris - I'd try to mimic the two key prey for the smbs - craws and pond smelt.  Lots of good tips on craw imitations.  From what I understand the pond smelt will be moving up to spawn when water temps get around 44F.  Might try drop-shotting appropriate robo mimics, or using tubes.  I'd start low and slow with everything because of the cold water. With the heavy snowpack, the coming run-off may keep temps cool for awhile. I've got to work in Quincy/Chester next week, I'll give a call and maybe we can hook-up.  John

Good question Bird. I always thought it was legal to use dead saltwater fish in freshwater lakes&rivers. As long as they aren't transported in a container of potentially-mussel-infested freshwater....

I'm not looking at the regs at this moment, but there IS an exception to the "no finfish as bait" rule when pertaining to saltwater fishes like anchovies.  I remember reading it in the reg booklet some time ago.

Bird, if you want to hook up, give me a holler (I'll PM you my phone number).  I'm leaning more and more towards Butt Lake for this weekend.  I have no idea how the ramps or lake levels are looking, but I figure if it's too crummy-looking then Almanor can be the fallback option since it's so close.  And if we really can't get the bass to cooperate, there's always trout.  Lots and lots of trout  .

They say the north end of any lake warms faster, just what I read.

4.0 (f) freshwater regs. Dead ocean fish are ok statewide for use as bait unless otherwise stated.

I'm not looking at the regs at this moment, but there IS an exception to the "no finfish as bait" rule when pertaining to saltwater fishes like anchovies.  I remember reading it in the reg booklet some time ago.

Bird, if you want to hook up, give me a holler (I'll PM you my phone number).  I'm leaning more and more towards Butt Lake for this weekend.  I have no idea how the ramps or lake levels are looking, but I figure if it's too crummy-looking then Almanor can be the fallback option since it's so close.  And if we really can't get the bass to cooperate, there's always trout.  Lots and lots of trout  .

4.0 (f) freshwater regs. Dead ocean fish are ok statewide for use as bait unless otherwise stated.

Thanks for that guys, didn't know that one.

I'll give you a call next week Chris when I know what day I'm headed-up.