I went to lake Coleman today. Wind just about perfect had a nice chop, but not too ruff. Slabbed all day with a few colors. Finnally, at the end of the day after marking fish and bait all day in the mid depths I started to slab over the bait about 15-20 feet over a 30-35 bottom picked up a couple on unders. What is the best way to work these suspended just barely bump a slab fish? I mean one bump and gone fish. What temp was 59 I have notice it is much lower in other lakes posted.

PS this is my winter fishing them...so I am learning

What I have learned is in the winter you slow down the presentation and when you move that slab pick it up very little like a inch or two only. Getting your bait down to the proper depth by pulling your line off the reel and counting down. Pull from the reel to the first eye of the rod (24" usually) and that will get you close once you figure out the depth. Also dead sticking Sassy Shad is a great method, which is getting your Sassy to depth and stick the rod in the holder and let it sit. Like bait fishing hence the name "dead sticking". When they get slow go to bait if you can get some shad, live or fresh dead are good baits.

Al is correct, expecially during winter. Deadsticking works great. Just like live bait fishing just without all the work of throwing the net!!!

I will try the sassy shad, what size? I could watch the lure on the depth finder drifting backward to make sure I had it above the bait pods. Thats how we eventually found that they were suspending so high.

I would use a fluke not sassy shad--I am also going to try tying a large deceiver fly and using it in a drop shot rig--haven't done it before but thought it would be worth a try.

The Dead Assassin by Moe's Tackle works great for this. Just rig it on a 3/4 oz jig head and dead stick. That is a good winter pattern on Hubbard. Try to keep it in the same depth you are marking fish and just keep it still. The boat will add enough action to entice a strike. When you feel the light bump dont set the hook, just keep steady pressure on the rod until you feel the weight of the fish. Then start reeling and give a easy set.

I like a glow with chartuse tail so I use bass assassins-that is for Texoma but I would think it would work for hybrids as well-I think Moe just has 1 color right now.

http://www.moestackleshop.com/estore/details/4033

For right now this is the only color. I like it on Tawakoni and Hubbard, but I spike the tail with chartruese or red. I think the garlic makes the fish hang on to the bait just a little longer than any of the pre colored tails.

I personally witnessed a great day with just that "one" color on TEXOMA. I must've caught 15+/- fish on one Dead Assassin with no rips on the plastic. There were a few scuff marks on the plastic and that was it. I have used Bass Assassins before and was lucky if it made it through 5 fish.

snmcc,
A slab will still produce in the Winter. Like everyone says above, just slow the presentation.
You are in 30 feet of water and the fish are suspended at 20 feet. Downsize your slab and let it fall to the bottom. Stop it if you detect a hit on the fall and hold it still for a while. Keep it dropping if no more hits. Bounce it a couple of times on the bottom and then just slowly reel the bait back to the surface. You will get hit if the fish are below. This method is effective with soft plastics also.
I am going to try some of Moe's lures. Everyone seems to like these baits a lot.

I just try to go by what I hear the guides use(they are up there 100 times more than me) and what has worked for me--and my experience says glow/chartuse

Heck of a deal! Those are made super tough as well--made for redfish.

Speaking of Cabela's I may skedaddle over there here in a bit or maybe go to Barlow's or Texoma so I can do some para-sailing.

You can place several of Moe's single color baits in chartreuse Dip-It with the garlic flavor in a sandwich bag and get very good results. Make sure you remove your sandwich first.
You can also color the backs of the bait with either a black or a red Magic Marker, or use a Spike-It deal from Moe's as well.
They are a very durable bait, I haven't used them on reds yet.

With 59 degree water ,. they should still chase a bait.
I would use long casts with a sassy shad , use the countdown
technique , and crank it SLOOOOOOOW.

One of favorite bait for suspended fish has been discontinued
by Strike King.

It was called the Jiggn Spoon. If anybody knows where
I could find some , Please let me know

good luck
MO