NathanW Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 If you are living up North and anxiously waiting for your season to start Ive got a question for you. How are you rigged up for your first early prespawn outing? I am shooting for the first/second week in April to realistically start catching limits, but my first days out will be mid March. Our spawn is usually first week in May for Smallies. Here is what I am thinking… Spinning Drop Shot Hair Jig 4” Senko split shot rig Rapala SR5 Casting Rapala SR7/LC slim shad Suspending Jerkbait Hallow Belly swimbait Fluorocarbon Jig/T-rig Medium Fluorocarbon Jig/T-rig MH Devil Horse - Mono (which will double as jerkbait rod if I am not suspending right on my Fluoro setup) Quote
Super User Crestliner2008 Posted February 28, 2014 Super User Posted February 28, 2014 I'll definitely be fishing ice out (or partially out) crappie and northern pike. Won't start bass fishing until the ice is completely off for at least a week, and the shallows start to warm up a bit. 1 Quote
dano3470 Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 The temps. here on Long Island will be around freezing through the first week in March. I'm starting to lose hope. Quote
Super User Scott F Posted February 28, 2014 Super User Posted February 28, 2014 I booked my pre-spawn outing for this year, last year when I was leaving the rental cabin. The only baits I'll need for smallies are an assortment of suspending jerkbaits. I've got plenty of time to prepare, I've still got 2 and a half months before I go back. I seriously hope the ice is gone when I get there. There was still ice on the lake 3 days before I got there last year. Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted February 28, 2014 Super User Posted February 28, 2014 I will fish for smallmouth at ice out, if they don't want to play, I will fish for perch, crappie,and bluegills. I am not going to start largemouth fishing untill the water temps get to at least the lower 40's. Quote
mnbassman23 Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 I'll be chasing green fish but my setups will be: Spinning 1) Senko 2) Drop Shot Casting 1) NSCB New Gill swim jig 2) NSCB Knockout Jig and craw trailer 3)1/4oz t-rigged Havoc craw fatty 4) Aruku Shad 5) Mattlures U2 bluegill 6) BD Shellcracker g2 or Savage Gear glide swimmer 7) Hudd 68 I'l be looking to hook up with one big fat girl. 3 Quote
plumworm Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 Pre-spawn? Lets see, it's -5 with a -17 wind chill right now . The highest temp. in the 10 day forecast is + 19 on the 5th. The long range forecast is a high of +32 on the 10th. Night temps still well below freezing. There is 40+ in. of ice on most of our lakes. I would say, 45-50 temps will hit our lakes about the last week in May and again this year, the smallies will still be spawning on the 4th. of July. Quote
bassboy107 Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 I'm at the point where I have my first trip planned out, where to go, what spot I'm going to fish at and what place to cast. Only if ice-out could hurry up. Quote
B_Gilbert Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 I'm with plum... I'll be happy to be on a lake sometime in April, this winter has been horrible... Quote
Super User tomustang Posted February 28, 2014 Super User Posted February 28, 2014 I will be happy enough to run the boat on open water. Quote
Super User Grizzn N Bassin Posted February 28, 2014 Super User Posted February 28, 2014 Ill be throwing swimbaits jigs, dropshoting ,or ill throw a big spinner and slow roll over some rock piles. Caught a few pigs last year early march on jigs and swimbaits 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted February 28, 2014 Super User Posted February 28, 2014 ~30 this morning. We'll need a 62 degree temperature increase just to get above freezing. Now ask me again why I travel South to fish . . . A-Jay. 1 Quote
ClackerBuzz Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 ~30 this morning. We'll need a 62 degree temperature increase just to get above freezing. Now ask me again why I travel South to fish . . . A-Jay. man this just reads brutal A-Jay. i travel south a lot and people always break my balls about being from 'the north'. i laugh and tell them philly is the florida of the 'north'. (i feel like i should end with one of many Game of Thrones reference here.) 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted February 28, 2014 Super User Posted February 28, 2014 man this just reads brutal A-Jay. i travel south a lot and people always break my balls about being from 'the north'. i laugh and tell them philly is the florida of the 'north'. (i feel like i should end with one of many Game of Thrones reference here.) I'm an "import" to this part of the country, but after talking with several long time locals yesterday (70 years plus) even they are hard pressed to remember a winter like this one. Which makes my wife and I somewhat disappointed with our timing A-Jay Quote
NathanW Posted February 28, 2014 Author Posted February 28, 2014 Pre-spawn? Lets see, it's -5 with a -17 wind chill right now . The highest temp. in the 10 day forecast is + 19 on the 5th. The long range forecast is a high of +32 on the 10th. Night temps still well below freezing. There is 40+ in. of ice on most of our lakes. I would say, 45-50 temps will hit our lakes about the last week in May and again this year, the smallies will still be spawning on the 4th. of July. Brutal... Quote
Super User retiredbosn Posted March 3, 2014 Super User Posted March 3, 2014 I'm an "import" to this part of the country, but after talking with several long time locals yesterday (70 years plus) even they are hard pressed to remember a winter like this one. Which makes my wife and I somewhat disappointed with our timing A-Jay Must have been stationed there and thought how peaceful it was. Now u know why I headed South Quote
swagkid300 Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 everyday is -35 here won't be able to catch pigs until late april Quote
Spotswood Posted March 6, 2014 Posted March 6, 2014 Well up here in Manitoba, fishing is prohibited between April 1 and May 10, so I won't be out until then. But when I do, I'll probably try some shakey head jigs, and xraps. Quote
hillbilly318 Posted March 8, 2014 Posted March 8, 2014 Northwest ontario. 6' of snow 3' of ice. Pre spaw bassin won't be until august Quote
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