Tricks to early spring success

A friend recently called and shared stories of white and hybrid bass congregating in the creek channels, just downstream of the rapids where they spawn every spring. Another friend recently shared stories leading me to believe that the walleyes and striped bass have already begun their annual spawn.

This is the time of the year I have been anticipating for several months. And even though I have been too busy to wet a hook during the past weeks, I hope to have my ducks in a row and be on the water in a matter of days.

That being said though, I do realize that the spawn is short lived. But with a little luck, the stories I have heard are accounts of the very beginning of their quests to repopulate their native waters.

Even if the peak of the spawn has yet to transpire, success is not guaranteed. There are several pieces of this proverbial puzzle that must fall together to ensure the most productive of times.

Timing will be of the essence. Even if the spawn is at its peak, one must have a hook in the water when the fish are most likely to feed. Let's begin with the species that are reported to already be running.

Both walleye and striped bass appear to be most active during specific times of the day. In fact, I have experienced the greatest success at boating these species, during the spawn, just before and during dark, and immediately after daylight.

One is apt to coax a few into biting with just about any presentation. However, there are a few choices that have proved effective time and time again. I've been known to experience success with soft-plastic tubes, hair-jigs and in-line spinners. However, I, most prefer casting jerkbaits. And although I usually have a suspended model tied on during the remainder of the year, the floating models are often most effective during the spawn.

And why floating models? Well, let's just say these fish can often be found in waters that are far more swift and shallow than one would usually consider fishing. And one will notoriously lose non-floating lures in these particular conditions.

That all being said, I occasionally resort back to casting suspended jerkbaits in deeper pools later in the mornings when the sun has climbed higher into the sky.

Now, how about that magical time when the white and hybrid bass begin their annual spawn. Although I failed to mention lunar effects on striped bass and walleye, they are no different from white and hybrid bass in the sense that they appear to be most active during a full moon.

I can recall night fishing for whites and hybrids and boating a limit of 25 keepers within an hour. These two species are obviously active during the same times of day as are the aforementioned species. However, they do not seem to be as light sensitive. In turn, one can catch white and hybrid bass during pretty much any time of the day, especially when the sky is overcast. Let alone immediately after a heavy rain raises the water level.

Although I have caught my share of these particular species during the spawn on jerkbaits, they are far more apt to hit smaller lures. Hair-jigs are effective. But slowly retrieving an in-line spinner usually drives them stark raving mad.

All of the species we have mentioned thus far congregate in tributaries during the spawn and gravitate upstream toward swift water to disperse their eggs. Now let's talk about a fish with habits that are totally different. That's right, I'm referring to the black bass. It's time to move away from the rapids and find calm waters when the black bass begin their annual tradition of replenishing the waters with their kind.

In fact, black bass go through a totally different process. Unlike walleye, striped, white and hybrid bass, the back bass appear much more methodical about the breeding process.

The males choose locations in still waters, where they fan nests in the substrate. The sow (female) then disperses her eggs in the nest where they will remain until hatching.

In lieu of casting lures that are retrieved swiftly, one will find the most success in floating a soft plastic or other slow-moving presentation directly over the nest, as the adults are inherently protective of any potential predators.

Yep, that magical time of the year has finally arrived and the various species will continue to spawn throughout mid to late April. Of course, there are a lot of variables facing the angler. But those who are persistent are apt to see their fair share of success in the weeks to come.

Sports on 03/18/2018

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