Some days the sun is shining, and the birds are chirping. On other days the furious winds of spring show up and make being outside almost miserable. This week we have had everything from 50-degree sunshine to 6+ inches of dense snow. The Fish don’t seem to mind much. With fresh water flowing into the lakes, and wind churning the water bringing fresh oxygen into the system. The water temperatures are warming, and metabolisms on the rise. You can get into some great fishing this time of year. You don’t need fancy gear, or the latest and greatest fish finder. Just head to your local lake with a trusted spinning rod and a hand full of lures and go enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.
This time of year, a few go to lures will always be a suspending jerk bait in a common baitfish pattern as well as a very contrasting bright pattern like a clown. Throw in a few jigs anywhere from ¼ oz up to 5/8th oz and you will be ready to rock. the lighter jigs give you the ability to work it slower over shoreline structure and keep your presentation in the strike zone in calmer weather. When the weather kicks up it is handy to have a heavier head that gives you the ability to make longer casts in strong winds, as well as feel the jig on the end of your line when the waves start crashing. I have found that when the weather kicks up, working a bait slightly faster will lead to more bites and having that heavier jig head option makes it easier to stay in the strike zone while working a bait faster. When the barometer is dropping, the fish go into a feeding mode chasing bait along wind blown shorelines. Don’t forget your Jerk baits, curly tails, tube jigs and even a few spoons.
Now we can’t forget clothing. When spring winds rise you do not want to be out in a standard T-shirt and blue jeans. Bring along a set of light rain pants and a rain jacket. This gives you a chance to quickly throw on an extra layer that doesn’t clutter up your backpack with bulky clothing, but also gives you wind protection and rain protection. Don’t go into the elements without a pair of gloves. A pair that is limber enough to make quality cast but will keep the weather off your skin can be almost as good as gold. With a little bit of preparation, you can be ready to fish in any condition. Keep an eye on your local weather app and try not to leave when the weather makes a shift because that can be your most productive fishing of the day.
I firmly believe the things talked about above will apply to your local metro ponds, reservoirs, as well as mountain lakes.
With the unsettling reality of the COVID-19 situation, we need to be very conscious of what effect we are having on our local communities. Outdoor recreation is something I would highly advise. Not only to keep moral high but keep cabin fever at bay. Yet we must be considerate, keep your trips local, keep exposure to an absolute minimum and practice your social distancing. The more we can work together on these issues the quicker things will get back to normal. Take advantage of the beauty and simplicity of the spring fishing bite, get your family into some fresh air and enjoy the great outdoors.
-Rhett Feltman,
-Fishing with Bernie
