It appears that the spring of 2024 may arrive early. At this time of year, some anglers still see ice on their favorite lakes, but that ice will soon be disappearing. In other areas, anglers are already fishing in open water. Spring is a great time to go fishing, and we can make it better if we keep a few ideas in mind for spring fishing success. Following are some of those ideas.
Many freshwater fish spawn in the spring. In a good number of areas, some species of those spawning fish are protected: We can’t target them. However, in other areas we can target them. Be sure you know the rules where you’re fishing.
In the spring, fish will seek warmer water. The fish in the warmer water will generally be more active and more willing biters. There might be more fish in the colder water, but the ones in the warm water will be easier to catch. Look for the warmer water in bays, canals, and on the north side of the lake. The water in those areas usually warms up faster, and that’s where the biters will be.
A slow presentation will usually be the best in the chilly spring waters. This often means that a jig crawled along the bottom will be appealing to some species of fish, particularly walleyes. Panfish will like a tiny jig suspended under a slip-bobber set-up. Tie on a small feather jig like a Mr. Crappie Shoo Shiner and work it slowly. The feathers wiggle if you twitch the jig just a bit. You want to move the bait. If the bite is slow, add a small minnow and move the jig even less. The minnow will provide all the action necessary.
Different species of fish spawn at different times. In the Midwest, northern pike lay their eggs first and are followed by walleyes, then panfish and bass. However, you might see panfish spawning in one lake and bass spawning in another lake on the same day. Some lakes warm earlier than others. The thing to keep in mind is that it’s best to target the fish species that has already spawned or is getting ready to spawn. Fish that are in the egg-laying process are usually thinking of that and not of eating. A few days after they’ve spawned, though, they’ll be very hungry.
Also, remember that the weather can change very quickly in the spring, and those changes can really affect what the fish are doing. An air temperature drop of ten degrees in the summer might not be that big of a deal, but in the spring, it can push the shallow fish out of the shallows. If you’ve been catching them in the shallows and there’s a temperature drop, try the deeper water near the shallows where you were catching them.
As mentioned earlier, spring is a wonderful time to go fishing, but it’s also just a great time to be outside. Keep these spring fishing ideas in mind when you go fishing in the next few weeks, and you can make the spring of 2024 even more memorable in a good way.
As always, good luck on the water, and remember to include a youngster in your next outdoors adventure.
Mike Frisch is the host of the popular Fishing the Midwest TV series. Visit
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