Cold water period of spring

[spindog]

The funny thing about the early cold water period is that nobody's fishing for LMB. The bass haven't seen a lure in
a while and are easily coaxed into biting when you locate them. Mostly I have the whole lake to myself.
Remember bass are programmed to do only two things and both of them will bring them shallow. Eat and reproduce.
Early season cold water is a good time to be on the water, alot of big fish move in and out checking out the flats and docks adjacent to spawning areas.
Fish movements are determined by water temp, available forage and the need to reproduce. I fish cranks, jerkbaits and drag football head jig and pork combos around these shallow water areas. I allways sneak a peak at the shallow docks, I've caught huge largemouth early in as low as 38 degree water, where big bass are suspending under low docks or floating docks. This is where I shake baits or use an almost dead-sticking approach, key is to cover and recover as much water as you can to locate the bass.
Mid March, no matter what the weather conditions is definitively the time to breakout the tackle and raingear.
Looking back through fishing journals from years past, early or late spring, snow on the shoreline or not. Regardless
of water temps, surprisingly, lunkers to be had during this early cold water period. March brings out some of the biggest bass in the lake, don't let the weather fool ya I know different.

[Jigking Fishhead]

Spindog, lets not be giving out all of our secrets..

[spindog]

Spindog, lets not be giving out all of our secrets..

Yo Jigking, notice I didnt say which lakes to look for us at......LOL

[edge540]

Lets go spinner dog

[racfish]

Im going to throw some plastics this weekend. I'll assume in general that bass are in the deeper warmer water this time of year? I also presume that we should use a slow retrieve? Are my assumptions correct? If youre a tight lipped fisherperson dont need to answer.

[Amx]

Im going to throw some plastics this weekend.

yes

I'll assume in general that bass are in the deeper warmer water this time of year?

yes no

I also presume that we should use a slow retrieve?

yes

Are my assumptions correct?

yes no

If youre a tight lipped fisherperson dont need to answer.

Soft plastics, jigs, and crankbaits will work.

Not all the bass will be deep, this time of year some will be up thinking of spawning, be sure to try/look shallow, even at 2' depths. Some bass will even live shallow all year around.

The water is still cold so yes a slow retreive is best, but doesn't hurt to try a slowish crankbait.

Carolina rig, splitshot rig, dropshot. 1/8 to 1/4 oz jigs with worms, grubs, tubes. 3/8 shallow to 1 oz football heads in the rocks deep. Crankbaits DEEP and shallow, in crawfish patterns and trout patterns. Points, docks close to points. Even go back in the bays to see if any are checking out those areas. Use scent if you like to, some people do, some don't.

[spindog]

Im going to throw some plastics this weekend. I'll assume in general that bass are in the deeper warmer water this time of year? I also presume that we should use a slow retrieve? Are my assumptions correct? If youre a tight lipped fisherperson dont need to answer.

In March I go shallow for LMB.
Surprisingly you can find some biters around shallow docks and cover during this cold water period. Big Bass!
In the report section for March you'll see proof positive of shallow Big Bass cruising and Bass pulled out of 4' of
water from under a dock recently by a couple savvy WA Lakers.
I am dying to get out, why, because Bass can be caught right now!
Personally I've nailed lots of Bass shallow during this cold water period, the Bass are programmed to eat and
reproduce. They are full of eggs and come in looking around and hold on shallow docks or structure, no matter
what the water temp is doing. They tend to shift in, and back out. The bass's desire to reproduce pushes them
shallow to check it out before the water temps are warm enough to spawn.
Slow and small are the ingredients for success.
This is the cold water period prior to the pre-spawn movement and it can be killer. Remember not all the Bass
are doing the same thing, and some are using and holding on docks and shallow cover during different times of
the day. Coolest part, nobody is there!!! You own the lake.

[racfish]

Excellent info. Thanks Gents. I'll hopefully take a few pics if I can. I'll be on Lk Wa. Fishing the shallows.Thanks again.

[Amx]

There is an open tourney on Sat, and a club tourney on Sun. Both by the Puyallup Hog Hunters. If you want to see some bass go to the weight in at Coulon boat launch at 3pm, if I remember correctly. Look up Dez if you go.

[dea]

I would bet your cranks are straddling the bottom. Ya gotta fish the bottom and slowly for success this time of year.

[racfish]

I take it that the tourney is on Lk Wa? My boat isnt tourney ready. No live well.

[Amx]

Yes, you don't have to enter, just telling you so you know there will be quite a few bass boats on the water, and trailers in the Coulon parking lot. Maybe even the Newport and Atlantic City parking lots. But you can also see where they are fishing.

[racfish]

I'll be up north. I doubt they will travel up there. Im a nice fisherman till .........

[Amx]

Oh I'm sure SOME of them might go up there. Even I know of a couple spots up there, and most people know more about WaWa than I do.

[racfish]

If I see tourney boats out there I'll move to another spot and let them have at it. Usually tourney boats have some kind of identification. If I see Dez then I wont move and cast over his line just to tease him. LOL..

[Amx]

Yup, the tourney boats will have the yellow banner around their motors.

Dez won't mind.

[spindog]

The fishing ought to be picking up, with warmer daytime temps. The daytime temps along with continued
lows of night time will keep us in the early cold water period for awhile. Right now is prime time water temps
mid 40's and rising!
Don't be fooled by water temperature!
There is no magical temperature to bring bass shallow,the bass are programmed to come shallow.
Reproduction instinct pushes bass shallow "way before" temperatures are suitable or stable for pre-spawn.
This is not the pre-spawn movement but the cold water period and LMB are moving in and out and are shallow
right now. Savvy Bass anglers are taking advantage right now!!
Definitely going out Saturday, got a date with a Largemouth!
Cast first, worry later.

[racfish]

Ive got a question for the basser pros in here. When there is a tourney,you bring your fish to be weighed in and then the fish are released.Thats the awesome part. What happens to those fish? do they eventually make it back to their logs and old stomping grounds or for a week is the best fishing at Coulon and nowhere else on the lake?Seeing that lets say 100-500 hawgs are taken from their areas in which to spawn. Do they just end up as Rogue bass ? I guess my big question is What happens to the areas where these fish are taken from? the 2nd part is if they already built their egg laying area do these fish now have to compete for room to spawn? I hope this makes sense.

[Amx]

Ive got a question for the basser pros in here. When there is a tourney,you bring your fish to be weighed in and then the fish are released.Thats the awesome part. What happens to those fish? do they eventually make it back to their logs and old stomping grounds or for a week is the best fishing at Coulon and nowhere else on the lake?

some fish will make it back, depending on the size of the lake, and forage in their 'new area'.




Seeing that lets say 100-500 hawgs are taken from their areas in which to spawn. Do they just end up as Rogue bass ?

some do, some will take up residence in the area of the release, some will take up residence somewhere along the route back to their 'home waters'




some will make it back I guess my big question is What happens to the areas where these fish are taken from?

it CAN be depleted of bass



the 2nd part is if they already built their egg laying area do these fish now have to compete for room to spawn?

sometimes, if the 'new population' over inhabits that area. If there is limited spawning areas, then you'll find nests acually touching each other.





I hope this makes sense.

[racfish]

Are fish ever tagged before released? Just to see where they go? Just curious. Thanks Tom. It does make great sense. Are all the released bass ,released in front of Coulon or do they disperse the fish some? I know some of my questions are only answered by Mother Nature.