I have two Junior High boys that I am a boat captain for and we have a tournament tomorrow. Day after the first real cold front. They have very little experience fishing. I have an idea of what I am going to do but trying to coach them a little. What lure/technique would you suggest using for two youngsters with little experience fishing in post cold front conditions.

I was thinking a dropshot possibly.

Run into the Minnow Bucket or Oak Ridge and grab a few packs of the cylinder shaped drop shot weights (Finch Nasty Skinny Shot ) if they have any left. Those weights have been flying off the shelves. With your team's inexperience and the projected wind, I recommend a heavier weight (3/8 or 1/2). Good luck!

Big Cold Front + Fall = Fish Bite

and the highest forecasted wind is 11 mph

A big nasty cold front in the Spring is tough on fishing generally. A big cold front in the fall, especially after a warming trend, can turn the bite on BIG TIME.

I would put a trap in their hands and hit the backs of every cove you can find. I've had good success with a yellow magic early then a trap the rest of the day. I hope they do well!

This, I would imagine the bite should be on pretty good. Flukes, swim jigs, chatter baits, square bills would be my start.

What Doug said......pay attention to the birds. If you see the gulls sitting in a area or working a area fish it! The bass have been schooled up with the loons and commerant and most of these fish have been solid unders. Have a spoon tied on to get bigger fish underneath the smaller ones. I have been finding them in 16-25 ft. Pretty much any point or cove with birds on or in them have been holding bait and fish hit the likely structure in the area if they are not actively feeding.

I think the bite will be better than you anticipate and the fish will be a bit more active. Another thing to consider is to fish a 3/8-1/2oz jig around stumps on shallow channel swings especially those that have a small flat etc nearby. Good way to catch a big one. November through January are some of the best months of the year there for a jig.

Also....your bites wont be random....if you get bit, slow down and work that area.This past weekend I caught 30+ fish in the area the the size of half a FB field.

Thanks for the info, I just don't have much experience on Fork this time of year. Moving baits are good, they can cast decently and they can wind it back SK we will give that a go.


Swimbait an option? (For me)

I would give them some screaming eagle spinnerbaits and let them grip and rip. Would save you from chasing down lipless or squarebills(treble hooks) out of the stumps. I would also drag a split shot fluke around channel drops/swings.