Here on pool 5 I look for the water temp to drop to the 50 degree mark, the magic number for me, and its all bucktails then. As the water temps keep falling and hit the 40 degree mark the plastic will have taken over and will rule thru winter into spring until we see 36-38 degree water again, then hair will pick up again. Blades will turn on somewhere between the hair and plastic in the fall and will work thru the winter if the presentation gets slowed down.
I carry all three types of baits in assorted colors for the waldo/sauger fishing when we have cooler to cold water. A guy has to be prepared because fish can change the playing rules awful fast when we get in that cold water but as a rule the hair works better as the water is cooling and again when warming up, the plastic is the game when the water is the coldest. Blades sneak in there at odd times enough that I won't not have them along. One thing I will not have along is live bait. Gulp/powerbait goodies, yes. Live bait no.