Getting Ready for Spring Fishing

  With warmer temperatures creeping in here and there, it's evident that springtime fishing will be here quicker than we realize. That means that fish will be coming to the more shallow waters to spawn. Spawn means that fish will come to lay their eggs. When temperatures start getting close to the 60s and 70s, we can expect the spawn to take place soon.

  Springtime is my absolute favorite time to fish. It's not too hot and its not too cold. You start your day off wearing a jacket and by the end of the day you're in a shirt and shorts. There are several advantages to fishing during the springtime. I will share a couple of those reasons with you today. These are things that have helped me in the past and will hopefully help you.

  With fish coming to spawn, it should be obvious as to where you might find people fishing. If you are thinking close to the banks, then you are right. I have found that trolling in a cove, casting onto the banks and then dragging my bait down the bank is an effective way of fishing during the annual spawn. By doing this, the bass think that the bait is coming to attack their eggs. In return, this makes the bass attack the bait. This basically doubles your chances of catching a fish. That is why so many people get excited around springtime for fishing. 

  My favorite bait to throw during the springtime is a lizard. The lizard and salamander are both natural predators of the bass. These little guys are especially fond of the bass eggs. You are going to have a pretty good chance of catching something during the spawn if you know what you are doing and find some good spots to fish. I have had really good luck by throwing lizards during this time. Another bait that really helps me when fishing rivers during this time is a chartreuse (lime green) rooster tail. You simply throw this lure downstream and bring it up at a moderate speed. If you are fishing from a bank (not wading) then it's good to throw upstream and reel in the lure as it floats downstream. 

  I hope these tips have been helpful today. Give them a shot and let me know how you do.

Listed below is a  1) lizard and a  2) rooster tail.