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I am not on the East Coast, but I'm in Wisconsin, which also has the same cold winters. Water temperature is key when you're looking for spring bass. When the temps get about 45 or better, the largemouth will start to stage - to get ready to come up and spawn. Smallmouths will start to stage when the water temps hit the 50s. Keep in mind that even warm rains can raise the water temp in the shallows.
Usually the northwest corner of the lake warms up first, so that is usually a good place to start. Prespawn bass can be a lot of fun - look for them off the first drop of what would likely be a good spawning flat. Smallmouths prefer gravel with smaller rock around. Largemouth look for a protected spot - maybe near bullrushes or some other cover. The males move up first to make a bed and hopefully attract a female. When you see they are up, it is likely the larger females are not too far away.
Prespawn fish can be looking to fatten up before the spawn and recover from a long, cold winter, so reaction baits can work well. At the same time, if you can find out what then forage is in the lake you would like to fish, the old adage, "match the hatch" will go a long way toward helping you succeed!
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Having fished CT for most of my life, I can tell you to start the spring with stick baits fished very slow and pausing for at least 5-10 seconds before giving a tug on the line. Worms just let them sit on the bottom for 5 seconds before a lift on the rod then letting it settle again. But the long and short of it if you think your fishing slow, your probable going to fast. Look for rip raff and gravel as they will heat up first as well as shallow areas. Spring can be a challenge, but you'll get some big fish if you hookup. Good luck.
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When you say Stick baits, you mean, top water stick baits?
What about frogs and poppers during this time? Do you think they could trigger some attacks, even considering the water is still not warm enough?
I'll probably fish this weekend. thank you for helping.
[fishon][fishon]
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[quote Rafatic]When you say Stick baits, you mean, top water stick baits?
What about frogs and poppers during this time? Do you think they could trigger some attacks, even considering the water is still not warm enough?
I'll probably fish this weekend. thank you for helping.
[fishon][fishon][/quote]
In my experience, I leave frogs until the water warms up. For me, that's a summer bait., when the water is hot and the fish are hiding under lily pads, etc.
As far as top water baits, I do know some people who use them early in the year, but I prefer a jerk bait early in the year - the trick is deciding what jerk bait will work the best and if suspending or floating is the key.
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FISHGIRL IS CORRECT. You can use a stick bait or top crank baits, just run it slow. Poppers and frogs are better in hot time of year like July and August. But I always have a worm hooked up as a backup. Some folks like fishing a grub this time of year also. Again just a slow action and small hop. Again watermelon and black in color seems to work better in the NE.
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There is now a new multi-holiday bait is a good choice, you can search on the AMAZON "Himenlens"
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