More of this Feature • Part 1: How Cold Is Too Cold? • Part 2: Catching Icewater Bass

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"Last week I caught one bass in a tournament and placed second. The water temp was 48.  The Tuesday before I caught two with Al and the water was 45.  That is cold for here - I hardly ever see water colder than 45 even in the dead of winter. What is cold water where you fish?  What is the coldest water you have ever caught bass in?"  Ronnie

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The first place we stopped was a rocky main lake point near the dam. I told Al it was the spot where I caught my biggest bass ever, a 9 pound,7 ounce hog that hit a Suddeth crankbait in a February tournament several years ago. After throwing a crankbait on the point, I picked up my jig and pig.

The first cast I made was to the top of the point in about six feet of water. I hopped the jig a couple of times and tightened up to hop it again when I realized the line was slack. Something had picked up the jig and headed to the boat. I set the hook on a solid three pound spotted bass and quickly landed it. It hardly fought in the cold water.

After admiring the pretty coloration of the fish and taking some pictures, I let it go and we continued to fish. For the next couple of hours we did not have a bite and we fished a variety of spots that have paid off for me in the past. I was showing Al places I like to fish and we were looking for something to help him in his tournament.

At about 11:30 we fished down a rocky bank into a small cove. I cast the jig and pig near a dock that had a boat ramp beside it and started hopping it back. When I tightened up to hop it one time I thought I felt something and held the line tight. Sure enough, it went slack.

Another fish had hit and was moving toward me. When I set the hook on this one, a largemouth just a little smaller than the spotted bass came to the top and I landed it.

We fished the rest of the day and I did not get another bite. Al thought he had one strike but missed it. I had taken off my Rattleback jig, the last one I had, because I did not want to lose it. Maybe it was the key.  I just felt real lucky to have caught anything in water that cold.

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