Where To Fish Prespawn?

[Brian6428]

Hey guys, this winter I got my first ever fish finder and have done a lot of reading on structure fishing and pre-spawn fishing for the upcoming season. That said, I am still stumped where the fish will stage, and where they will spawn, especially on my home lake. I will link to a topo map of the lake but any info related to pre-spawn/spawn fishing in general is welcome!

 

Thanks,

Brian

[joetomlee]

Wow, tough call. So much of the lake is symmetrical as far as drop-offs and flats are concerned. Can I see an image of the west end of this lake please? 

 

Usually in the spring I will just fish from shore seeing as how the bass stage so shallow; it is easy to pick them off fishing shallow flats with a sudden drop-off somewhere nearby. I had the most luck using this method last year and hope it continues throughout 2014. I don't really see much of that structure on your map however.

 

If I had to tackle this with the information given, I would hit up the north shoreline where it seems most shallow before suddenly falling. Also the southmost point throughout the shallows I can picture them staging their nests.

[joetomlee]

Also, just my .02. But take this spring to get accustomed to your depth finder. They are surprisingly difficult to master. Go out and spend time just messing around with it. I wouldn't however, use a depth finder on this lake in the spring for catching fish. I feel that you will spook the fish before you get a chance to actually see them. 

[geo g]

One thing to keep in mind when looking for fishing spots in a lake. Winter to early spring concentrate on the northwest corner of a lake. Warmest water will be in this area becuase it is somewhat sheltered from the winter weather blowing down from the northwest.

[WRB]

The below the dam looks a lot better!

Looking at this small lake with steep banks, you have a few spawning areas, find those first. The arm that is cut off in your attachment looks like the area to start with 3 small coves, the points that separate the coves will hold staging bass. The opposite arm has a interesting deep pocket that creates a bench, bass should stage there or on the rounded adjacent points.

A small lake doesn't offer a lot reasons for bass to stage, the docks become spawning sites as they provide wind protection and shallow structure/ cover.

Tom

[senile1]

The below the dam looks a lot better!

Looking at this small lake with steep banks, you have a few spawning areas, find those first. The arm that is cut off in your attachment looks like the area to start with 3 small coves, the points that separate the coves will hold staging bass. The opposite arm has a interesting deep pocket that creates a bench, bass should stag there or on the rounded adjacent points.

Tom

 

I see the same areas as being good.  I also see a deep hole in the east arm just north of four docks.  That would be a good staging area before the bass move up to spawn under those docks or on the nearby points. (This may be the bench Tom is speaking of but I am not familiar with that term.)

[Catt]

Agree with senile1 & WRB (see it can happen!)

[Sam]

Check the water temperature. The bass will stage and start up to spawn based on water temperature.

 

65* is the spawning temperature. As the lake gets warmer the bass will start to move towards spawning flats and grasses. And they will use the same "underwater roadways" each year.

 

So do what Senile 1 and WRB suggest and watch the water temperatures for the bass to start their prespawn movements.

 

The ladies will be full or eggs and be fat and juicy. Be sure to release them so they can go on their way, unharmed, and head to the spawning areas.

 

Good luck.

[WRB]

The lake below this is Jacomo, post a link to this lake and we can tell you more about where bass will during pre spawn.

The saddle or bench is the shallower water at the mouth of the small cove on the east arm, the west arm end, not shown on the attached map is the obvious spawning area to me on Paraire Lee.

Steep banks make this a good football jig and crankbait lake, there isn't any outside humps or creek channel that is visible on this good map. Jacomo has lots good topography to fish, why don't you fish there?

Tom

[Nitrofreak]

Agree with senile1 & WRB (see it can happen!)

 

LOL !!

 

Hope it didn't hurt ...much.

[Brian6428]

The lake below this is Jacomo, post a link to this lake and we can tell you more about where bass will during pre spawn.

The saddle or bench is the shallower water at the mouth of the small cove on the east arm, the west arm end, not shown on the attached map is the obvious spawning area to me on Paraire Lee.

Steep banks make this a good football jig and crankbait lake, there isn't any outside humps or creek channel that is visible on this good map. Jacomo has lots good topography to fish, why don't you fish there?

Tom

Thanks all for the advice! Here are some pics of jacomo. Only reason I don't fish there is that I haven't ever had much luck there, but it is supposed to be a better lake.

[WRB]

Lake Jacomo is another small lake however it has classic pre spawn water; a major center point across from the dam area, creek arm to the right and main lake basin with river channel and a few more arms or bays.

The launch ramp is located in good looking area with a few main lake points and coves where bass will locate.

The arm or bay across the lake from the ramp has a mother major point that will hold staging pre spawn bass that use this bay to spawn.

The fish tail shape bay up lake (away from the dam) on the same side as the ramp is similar to the spawning bay across the lake, has a good looking point . The creek channel Is interesting in this area and up lake with excellent ledges and breaks.

The arm to the right of the dam has spawning coves and ends in a classic fish tail shape that wherever this occurs holds spawner's.

I have not studied your attachments in detail, however use the same tactic as before; study 10' to 20' depth* lines looking for sharpe turns and wider separations in depth between this depth indicating holding areas or small flat zones within sloping banks. This how I study deep structure lakes.

Tom

* actual depth depends on what depth you meter bait and fish, 10' to 20' is about average during pre spawn.

[Brian6428]

Lake Jacomo is another small lake however it has classic pre spawn water; a major center point across from the dam area, creek arm to the right and main lake basin with river channel and a few more arms or bays.

The launch ramp is located in good looking area with a few main lake points and coves where bass will locate.

The arm or bay across the lake from the ramp has a mother major point that will hold staging pre spawn bass that use this bay to spawn.

The fish tail shape bay up lake (away from the dam) on the same side as the ramp is similar to the spawning bay across the lake, has a good looking point . The creek channel Is interesting in this area and up lake with excellent ledges and breaks.

The arm to the right of the dam has spawning coves and ends in a classic fish tail shape that wherever this occurs holds spawner's.

I have not studied your attachments in detail, however use the same tactic as before; study 10' to 20' depth* lines looking for sharpe turns and wider separations in depth between this depth indicating holding areas or small flat zones within sloping banks. This how I study deep structure lakes.

Tom

* actual depth depends on what depth you meter bait and fish, 10' to 20' is about average during pre spawn.

Thanks a ton for the help. I cant wait for the ice to melt!