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More
thoughts on Spring Fishing
If
you want to catch a big bass now is the time. As the
weather warms the water temperature each day, big bass
are turning to the shallows to forage on shad and crawfish
while looking for spawning areas. Our biggest problem
has been cold front after cold front and the shallow
water temperatures have been seesawing up and down.
The bass are following suit - shallow when it's warm
and backing off when it's cold.
Remember
one thing it's spring and the big bass want to come
to the bank with just the slightest warming trend. Three
techniques for big bass at this point are spinnerbait,
shallow crankbait, and the Carolina rig. If I find a
good flat with a creek channel running through it or
a deep cove with a flat near the mouth of it, you're
in business. One other good sign to look for is fish
birds as this means bait fish in the area.
I
will usually start out slow rolling a 3/4 oz. Ledgebuster
spinnerbait on 17 lbs. Stren Super Tough line along
the edge of the channel or flat. If it's a good looking
area and I feel I have overlooked fish, I will go back
through with a shallow running crankbait like the Suddeth.
I like a flat bait in the early spring (red is a good
color). Pay close attention to your Raymarine L470 and
try to find a contour line to follow. In other words
don't look at the bank, look at your electronics and
keep the boat in on the depth zone. I usually try to
start in 10 to 12 foot and if this doesn't work I will
move in shallower. If I cross a point or hump I will
fan cast it with a Carolina rigged Zoom lizard usually
green pumpkin with the tail dipped in Spike-it chartreuse
or red dye about 1 inch. Alternate between 6 and 8 inch
lizards. There is no finer plastic bait in early spring
than a lizard for big bass. Spray with Jack's Juice
crawfish scent. Use a little longer leader in early
spring about 40 inches and a 1/0 or 2/0 Mustad Ultra
Point hook. You don't want to use too big of a hook
because it will not let your lizard float around naturally.
One
key is to work an area thoroughly, if you feel it is
good. If you catch fish on one technique and they stop
biting try all three techniques before you leave.
One
other really good pattern in the early spring is to
fish nothing but secondary points leading to spawning
areas. You need to concentrate on three sides of these
points more so than on the ends. The other thing to
remember is with all these fronts coming through, the
bass are backing off when its cold and moving in when
its warm. So make adjustments with the weather, thinking
all the time the fish haven't left the area, they have
just moved shallower or deeper.
If
it's colder, slow down your retrieves and pick up the
pace if it warms up. This applies to all three techniques.
I believe the water temp is the most critical thing
to pay attention to this time of year and vary your
depths and retrieves according and you will do ok.
Good
luck in your fishing and try a Gator Grip Pro Series
handle on your reel. It will give you not only better
grip but a lot more power.
May
God bless you and take a kid fishing!
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