It’s been a long winter here in Canada but spring is finally on its way. The snow is melting, the geese are flocking back and I have one thing and one thing only on my mind… open water fishing!
LOCATION
The first thing to remember when targeting fish in the springtime is that they do not move far from their spawning areas. Walleyes, Bass, Crappie and Northern Pike will all be in shallow depths this time of year and can be fairly easy to locate. Targeting shallow bays, shallow basins, neck-downs, creeks and small rivers will increase your success this time of year, so be sure to pull out your map and review it well before heading out to go fishing. Find the area with the warmest average water temperature; this is where the fish will be. They are scattered down shorelines, on subtle points and in back bays, usually in ten feet of water or less.
PRESENTATION
Fish are usually spread out and not very active. One of my favorite techniques is slowly fan-casting shallow points, bays and shorelines to cover water. Although it is important to cover as much water as possible, you have to remember to use a light presentation and move slow during the spring as well as early summer months. Pay attention to your sonar, it will show you structure, changes in bottom and where the fish are sitting. Often we will troll down shorelines, keeping the boat in about ten feet of water and cast slowly towards shore. If we notice a few fish sitting on bottom we will mark a weigh-point and continue on our route. Once we are done trolling, we then go back to our weigh-points and do a vertical presentation with a 3” or 4” soft plastic minnow bait or twister tail on an 1/8oz or 3/16oz jig. Using this technique I have been able to land Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Crappie. I try to choose lures that appeal to multi-species, it’s always fun never knowing what your next bite will be. One of the most targeted species this time of year is Walleye. They are up shallow usually when the fishing season opens and will continue to hang around the shallow basins for 2-3 weeks after they spawn. Before they transition to their summer structure they stay to feed on the shiners that are coming in to the shallows to spawn. There are a few go-to presentations that continue to work year after year. 1/8oz jig with a 3” or 4” plastic minnow bait in realistic colours, such as the TriggerX Minnow in “Smelt” or “Shad”, is probably my favorite ways to fish because I can cast it and jig it, which means less time switching lures, more time in the water and more chances of catching fish. The longer your lure is in the water the better chance you have to get a bite. Learning how to be quick and efficient with tying knots, lure selection and being prepared overall, will help you to become a better angler.
My personal favorite species to fish for all season long has to be Bass. Early season they move shallow and become more active as the water warms. Start on points leading into big shallow basin areas, sometimes they school up on the points before heading in. Gravel bottom, boulders and wood are great structures to target. For Smallmouth Bass: I never leave home without jerkbaits, my favorite being the Albino Shiner XRap, size 8 and 10. I use jerkbaits all year long and find they work especially well in the spring and fall. Use a smaller size and work it slowly this time of year, Bass cannot resist the action.
Casting small crankbaits and popper-style topwaters with slow retrieves always works well too. As for soft plastics, well, that’s an article in itself. You have endless presentations to choose from, from worms to craws to bugs and lizards, keep experimenting and you will find a pattern that works for you.
Using your electronics is so important. In addition to using your sonar/GPS unit to mark fish and depths, there are other technologies to help make fishing easier. The new MinnKota Talon now deploys to depths of twelve feet. If you approach a point or weed bed you want to fish you can keep the boat in deeper water and that means a lesser chance of the fish seeing the boat and being spooked. This feature is also great when you pull up to a dock, have to stop and retie your rods or if you are fishing with kids, it allows you to keep the boat in one position and be completely hands-free. Another great tool is the “spot-lock” option on the MinnKota Terrova. This feature acts like an anchor and will keep the boat on the exact GPS location you tell it to. This is another great option is you are fishing with kids or are on a hot-spot and want to keep the boat in the fish zone. We talked earlier about trolling slowly up and down shorelines… well the Terrova also has an option called “record a track.” This allows you to not only save specific trolling routes, it will drive the boat for you at the speed you choose which again allows you to be hands-free. We use these options throughout the entire year and it really helps with our success.
Remember when it comes to spring, light is right. Present the fish with small easy meals that move slow, cover water and target shallow basins and most importantly, do it with confidence, and I guarantee you will put more fish in your boat this year!