Just wondering with the water temps dropping, how long does it take you to decide what speed to fish? Theres SLOW, REAL SLOW, and IMPATIENTLY SLOW. How many bites and what type of bite are you looking for?

I'm sure I'm missing the boat in some situations, but unless I'm flipping a heavy jig in heavy cover, then I'm fishing what you would call incredibly slow. The fastest movement my worms make is right after they hit the water until they hit the bottom. Then I let them sit for 15 or 20 seconds, and begin barely inching them back along the bottom with lots of long pauses on the way. This is in all temperatures. Unless the fish tell me otherwise. which they rarely do.

When it cools down you can also speed up and cover a ton of water looking for the reaction bite. Thats the winter Trap pattern.

Sloooooooooooow has worked nicely for me but I do a lot of night fishing.

I'm moving a jig so slow right now on Lake Tyler that it's messing with my head....when I do however get a bite its worth it weight wise. I need more bites!

I start out fast first all the time to try and find active fish then I'll slow down if that's not working for me.

If it is the dog days of summer or the frigid of winter, I'm going ultra slow. In the mornings of the summer, ill go faster. In the warmest part of the day in the winter, ill speed up a bit. Any time other than I mention I'm going medium so to speak

depends on the bait that you are throwing, I usually throw a jig or creature bait and a worm, cold water you move the bait slow enough that you can feel the weight or jig bump everthing. Then start different speeds to get bites, usually it depends on weather and water temp. if there has been a few days of warming temps the fish will react to a faster moving bait in areas that the water picks up a degree or two. this will be where they are easier to catch. I like fishing protected areas that have sharp drop offs next to or on the bank the fish will relate to these areas more to feed than in open water. if you like fishing deep you have to test your spots many times while you are out, they feed at different times during the day on deep humps and points. good luck and hope this helps.

Slow was what I thought too.
Went to Lake Jacksonville yesterday and thought I'd try flutter spoon in 30 feet of water. Buddy of mine was out in the same area dropshotting. Wind was so rough I couldn't stay where I wanted. Went north and let the wind push me along the bank. I started throwing a red rattle trap and caught 2 in the 3 pound range. Fished on to the back and when I got completely out of the wind, started throwing a shaky head. Caught a solid 3 1/2 pounder in 4 foot of water..

Depends on the day. I've caught em really good in Jan in 48 degree water at Fork on a Rattletrap reeling as fast I as can with a 7:1 reel. Caught them the same day on a spinnerbait reeling it fast just under the surface.

Don't have preconceived ideas of what you "should" be doing until you get on the water and see what the fish "are" doing. This is the primary reason many guys are not as successful as they could be.

The guys that excel at this sport are the ones that let the fish tell them what to do and adjust quickly to what the fish are telling them on that given day.

Read all you can & watch all the How To videos you can but there is simply No Substitute For Time ON The Water folks.

Be prepared to go all speeds , nature and the fish will let you know , Are the cows laying down ?

If the water is over 45, I fish at normal speeds for the given bait.

I have a hard time getting out when the fishing needs such slowing down. Most of the time you don't even know they've picked up the bait. Am I the only one?

No, you are not....I need to get me a Dobyns, or two, to help with this problem...

I agree with Kena about pre conceived ideas. I always make plans about how I'm going to fish before I go out, I tie on certain baits. The plan never works out, and I wind up fishing different water and using different baits.