SPRING IS ON THE waY
transitioning int B o y John Barron
SpRING
I
t’s that time of year when bass begin to yawn
in their deep, dark holes and feel the pangs
of hunger. They are also starting to feel a bit
amorous. Spring is on its way and the fish are hungry and ready to reproduce.
On the bank, anglers are dusting off their rods,
polishing up their boats and performing the many
maintenance tasks one must accomplish prior to
launch. Reels need to be greased, line needs to be
strung, and hooks need to be sharpened. It’s also a
good time to remember to check rain suits for leaks.
When all the tasks are complete anglers head for the
ramp to try to outsmart a few
bass, but the problem is where to
go and what to use.
What must be remembered
is that the bass have been sitting
in the depths for quite a while
and they are cold. One of the
first things a bass will attempt to
locate is warmer water. Early rains
can bring warmer water down
the natural creek channels. These
channels also provide an avenue
to future spawning flats and are
excellent for leading the fish to
deeper water when cold fronts
blow through.
Since bass are structure oriented, they will jump
from structure to structure, up and down the channel,
depending on temperature, to stay warmer and locate
food sources. Flats along these channels can heat
up faster and provide plankton growth and enhance
insect numbers, which bring in baitfish and stimulate
the bass to eat. At this time, their bodies are using a
lot of energy. The females are working to produce egg sacs and the males milt glands are enlarging. Warmer water will help provide the nutrition they need to reproduce.
When the fish are moving up and down the channels it’s wise to use a variety of baits and keep an eye on the graph. Once fish are located take note of the water temperature and depth of the fish; this will help establish a pattern. Keep in mind, patterns during the spring may not last long. The rapid rise and fall of temperature this time of year can force bass to change their tactics quickly. After a cold front, anglers
will need to slow their presentation
down to a crawl. Jigs, worms,
spinnerbaits and even swim baits
can be most effective when fished
slow and methodical. Once the
right structure has been located,
anglers will find that many times
the bass will need to have the bait
placed in front of their face for quite
a while before they will strike.
As the water warms closer to
the 60-degree mark, fish can be
found on or near the flats. Males
will move in first to feed and look
for nesting sites. The females will
come onto the flats occasionally to feed then retire back to the depths. When the temperature is right and the male has located a suitable site, he will build a nest and immediately begin to actively defend that nest. When the males are actively defending a nest anglers can catch them with almost anything. They are not striking out of hunger; they are striking out of defense.
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