BY Chris Erwin
[dc]O[/dc]ne thing we can say about this winter, it has been up and down temperatures, and it has been wet. According to the National Weather Service, spring is going to bring us some warm weather by the end of the month and fishermen and women have been sharping their hooks waiting for the time to get here.
Every spring is different, and this one will be a challenge. We must first look at the lake conditions, water temperatures, and the color of the water to decide what baits we should tie on as we hit the lakes this spring.
I always look at Cave Run Lake first because it will give me a good reference as to what lake levels are doing. I say this because it recovers from high or low water the slowest. It has the most fragile downstream watershed, so the dam holds water longer than any other local lake in our area.
As I write this column, Cave Run Lake, is 22 feet over summer pool that is near a record for this early in the year. At the same time, Yatesville Lake is just about a foot over winter pool and Grayson Lake is about the same.
Cave Run is going to be about five degrees warmer (lake temperature); however, the water is going to be in the trees. The warmer temps are due to the color of the water both Grayson and Yatesville lakes are somewhat less stained. When the sun hits muddy water, it warms quicker than clear water.
Coming back to the question; what baits are going to be the most productive? In my forty years of fishing, 25 years of fishing competitively and ten years of guiding fishing trips. I have found that three bait groups stand out as fish start to migrate to shallow water; they are Jig and pig, spinnerbaits and crankbaits.
Now if we move our location to say Cumberland Lake or Dale Hollow Lake, the choices would change, but locally I believe these three baits have the highest chance of success when water temperatures make it to 50 deg that is the magic number for bass action to begin.
I usually start with the jig &kicker since I rarely really use a chunk of pork; however, the pig still works if you want to pack them jars around with you. This time of year you want to move the bait with the rod, not the reel. Look for 45dreg banks, like points or outside bends these are known migration areas where the fish will move from the channel into the shallow water. Position the boat parallel to the bank, so your retrieve is moving down into deeper water as it also travels horizontally covering the most area possible. Strikes this time of year may be nothing more than a “tap tap” If you are moving the bait with your rod they will be easy to feel. When you feel the strike drop the rod tip down and set the hook.
I like to use light colors, this time of year; white, silver shad, or chartreuse if I’m using a spinnerbait, I will do a slow-roll with the reel just keeping the bait off the bottom with my rod tip at about 10 o’clock. If I go to the crankbait, I want something that is going to make contact with the bottom even stir up and little mud trail. The first thing that bass look for in the spring is emerging crawfish.
The other piece of advice I would pass along is don’t waste too much time on one spot. Look for an area where the sun hits the bank early in the morning. Fish slow, this time of the year nothing is moving to fast. As the clear water pushes in from the creeks, it may make some better-looking water, try fishing the mixing water.
These three baits, in the spring, have won many tournaments for me in the past. They just may put a few fish in the boat for you. If you catch a big one, this spring send your pictures to me. May God bless you and keep you safe on the water.
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