Author Topic: A Question? Spring is almost here! (Read 1409 times)

btmidwest · « **on:** March 06, 2010, 12:03:15 PM »

Those of you who fish early spring and pre-spawn - What setups do you go with? What lures? What approach? How much do you follow water temperature? Please share. bt

Zulu · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2010, 12:31:04 PM »

btmidwest,
I think water temperature is everything. When temps hit in the 60's, the bass start moving towards shallow water. Once they hit shallow water I think you can catch them on anything you throw at them. I like 8" lizards in green or light brown.
Below 60's, they are staging in deeper water and can be hard to find.
Zulu

btmidwest · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2010, 02:45:51 PM »

Thanks Zulu, I'm looking to be out there soon after ice out (North Indiana). I see alot of information about suspending baits in the early spring months but I haven't tried it, at least not on purpose. I'm thinking that last year I was probably working my lures too fast for the water temperature at that time. Thanks Again, bt What do the rest of you guys do in early spring?

Zulu · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2010, 04:06:41 PM »

Northern Indiana? Bummer! I'm In south Texas. Spring is now.

Zulu

btmidwest · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2010, 04:51:11 PM »

We have a 500 acre lake a few miles a way. Hoping for the start of ice out I drove over today to take a look see and there they were - sittiIng out there on 5 gal buckets in 45 degree (most of this week) weather about 3-400 yards from shore sooo I guess this little warm spurt has not weakened the ice yet. I was a little amazed though. But then I'm not an ice fisherman. Probably another two weeks and I may be able to get out. Hopefully they all got off the ice safely. I saw from your other post you seem to be doing good - nice catch! That's why I'm asking what others are using in early spring - cuz I know the fish are out there. Regards, bt

Savage .250 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2010, 04:57:48 AM »

How did I miss this? Ice in the spring? Come to think of it. that`s why I`m in Florida.
Spring bass fishing is all about the pads and grassy areas. Other areas as well but for me those are it. The St John`s has plenty of pad fields. Big and small. I usually have my boat off the pads a tad, then just fling and crank. Get that spinner bait way back in there and hang on. This time of year, the entire pad field can deliver, where as in the summer months, the front edge is better.
My set up is a 6-6 heavy rod. My reel is an old abu 5000 (slow speed plenty of power) loaded with #50 braided Spider wire. You hang onto a big bass way back in the pads and you`ll be glad you had it. That`s the only way to stack the odds in your favor...kind of.
You do get "misses" but the "blow-up" is the next best thing to a hook-up.

btmidwest...........enjoy looking at those 5 gallon buckets.

btmidwest · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2010, 05:07:01 PM »

Savage, I checked that same lake today at sunset. It was 60 deg. today, and the ice is starting to breakup a little. Hopefully I can start chasing smallies and pike soon and then move on to the large mouths. The ice is a pain when you have spring fever! I got a DNR E-mail today listing the '09 Indiana records. They only give the verified length when they do this yearly thing. For pike the '09 record was 30 inches which really isn't that big compared to the all time state record - I guess I should have paid more attention to that 35 incher I caught last November. Oh well I didn't want to tell where I caught it anyhow! Thanks for sharing your experience in the pads. I fished braid for the first time last year so I know I've got a lot to learn about using it. I mainly used the zoom toads over the pads and while it worked I want to add to it. Caught a lot but not many of good size. It would be nice to pull a hog out of those pads. Please feel free to share what works for you. Blessings, BT

Savage .250 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2010, 02:52:02 AM »

btwmidwest:
Have you checked the Indiana DNR web site to see if they have a "Records" site?
Some states do. That way you have something to shoot for as far as size/weight
goes. They may even have a "certificate" size on certain fish. It`s worth a look-see.
Who knows, maybe that 35 incher would have qualified for something.
Those Zoom Toads are a good bait. Made sure you`ve got it on a big hook designed for Toads(big plastic baits.) That`s a mouth full so a big hook is very important.
You said in part." I don`t want to tell where I caught it anyhow." Good thing, as I`m thinking Zulu would fish the -place dry..........

Zulu · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2010, 11:36:48 AM »

I can't fish anything dry

Went out with the wife today to Lake Somerville about 1 hour 15 minutes away. Launched the "slow" Ranger at 6:20 (first light). Temperature was 48 degrees but warmed to 80 when the sun got higher. water temp was 60. 6 hours and thousands of casts later I had one bass at 1 1/2 lb and a 1 lb catfish. Both on a rattletrap in 5 feet of water. The wife had 1 bass at 3 lbs 1 oz. no other strikes! Conditions were perfect. I saw no signs of activity or beds. I guess the temp has to get a little warmer.
We used rattletraps, lizards, crawfish, spinnerbaits, and Rapalas.

She smoked me again.

$:-\$

Zulu

Savage .250 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2010, 01:40:27 AM »

Zulu

You said," She smoked me again." From what I can tell/read, that`s par for the course..

" I can`t fish anything dry." Just an old expression. Roughly meaning, you`d catch all the fish(dinks) and leave nothing.

Going out tomorrow. Going to be windy and around 75 degs. My boat, so I`ve got to do all the work while my son enjoys the "back-seat." He is buying the gas so it`s not all bad.

Zulu · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2010, 11:29:54 AM »

" I can`t fish anything dry." Just an old expression. Roughly meaning, you`d catch all the fish(dinks) and leave nothing.

I knew what you meant. I'm not a good enough fisherman to fish anyplace dry.

Dosen't keep me from trying though.

Zulu

btmidwest · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2010, 01:54:26 PM »

Savage, With talent like that I guess we can all be glad for catch and release, just so he gives the rest of us a chance! Concerning toad hooks I now use skip gap hooks - I think 4/0 or 5/0. They seem to stay in place much better than the EWG did. The state record is waay bigger than my little 35 incher(30lb. vs 9.2 lb) but mine could have got '09 fish of the year if I'd done the verification process. No biggie - the learnin and the catchin was the fun! Regards, BT

Savage .250 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2010, 01:49:46 AM »

Had the boat hooked up and ready to go but then the weather man said,"20-30 mph winds today." To counter that he also said ,next week is going to be "nice." Warm, in the 70`s. So I un-hooked the boat and now we`re (my son) and I are off to the BPS on the other side of Orlando. There having a big sale. Going to look at a new Fish-Finder.
They show one on their web-site that has GPS/Map Capabilities. Good price as well, so if it does what I want, I`ll get it. I need a new one as one of my older ones went belly up about a week ago. Always something.

Zulu, my apologies! You smater than I thought you where...............

btmidwest: Hope the 5 gallon bucket falls through the ice .............soon.

btmidwest · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2010, 02:22:20 AM »

Rest easy Savage they will not be ice fishing now, only ice swimming - clinging to their 5 gallon buckets. 20-30 mph winds doesn't sound like much fun. If the lake isn't open enough here I may go to the St. Joe river in South Bend - it's fished alot but it is open. Good luck on that fish finder. You might want to casually pick up a side scan and down scan model while your there?

They are not a casual purchase.

Hope you find what you want. Thanks again for the tips and advice. Hope to hear more. BT

Zulu · « **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2010, 06:08:57 AM »

20 to 30 MPH winds? Doesn't sound like too much fun. Nothing like pitching your lure out as hard as you can and have it come back and hit you in the face.

The local fishing reports say the bass are in shallow water and biting but I can't find them. I'm skeptical of those fishing reports anyway. They are all written by fishing guides and they never say fishing sucks.
I'll keep trying. Even a blind pig finds an acorn every now and then.

Zulu

btmidwest · « **Reply #15 on:** March 13, 2010, 01:47:19 PM »

Zulu, The last two springs I have had good luck with zoom trick worms fished wieghtless on a 1/0 gamakatsu worm hook. It swims on top with a light hook and hangs well if you need it to. In warm weather I will snap, pause, snap snap, pause, snap it back to the boat. alabama craw, june bug, watermelon and water melon red have been my best colors. Pre-spawn they have worked well. bt