How Quickly Can Things Change?

[Mccallister25]

I'll start off by saying that 98% of my fishing is done in shallow water. I only fish ponds, and have pretty good success targeting banks.

The past week in my parts have been nice weather wise; mid to upper 60's in the day and maybe upper 40's at night.

Iv been out a few times trying to get lucky, but still no fish being caught. My question is, if they're still in deeper water now, how quickly can you things turn around to where they start heading for shallower water?

I believe its suppose to be pretty warm from here on out in the daytime. Hopefully my catching will be under way soon.

[Scott F]

Where I fish in the early spring, it can change big time over night. When the water that was frozen a week or 10 days before hits a surface temp of 50, it goes from being a dead zone to a bonanza. One day, 5 fish, the next 100 all with a surface temp reading that went up by 2 degrees. It's happened the last 2 years when there was a very late ice out.

[Catt]

Pre-spawn fishing can change on the next cast!

When bass make their move from deeper wintering structure towards spawning areas it's done through feeding areas first.

Pre-spawn is about feeding not laying eggs, find the food source, the bass will be near.

[Mccallister25]

Pre-spawn fishing can change on the next cast!

When bass make their move from deeper wintering structure towards spawning areas it's done through feeding areas first.

Pre-spawn is about feeding not laying eggs, find the food source, the bass will be near.

Thanks Catt! How exactly do I go about finding the food sources? I get kinda lost reading up on articles/watching videos. They mostly speak on lakes and deep water. Me being limited to ponds, I'm sure it differs. Maybe even drastically. I know a little, but I'm not quite that good yet lol.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Actually, the same principles can be applied to ponds. Just think in relative terms: Deep may mean 8' instead of 20' and drop off might be 1' instead of 3-4' etc. Look in the water and be observant. Most ponds around here hold bluegill, but may have other bait species added. Bass will bite craw imitations whether the pond has a population or not. While waiting for the water to warm up, throw small slow moving baits out to deeper spots. Check south facing bank in the afternoon for fish sunning in the warmer water. Inlets and spillways often have some current that will attract fish. 

[F14A-B]

If your bank fishing, uh, saturation casting. How intimate is your knowledge of the structure & cover? If, it's limited, then saturation casting with time on the lake/ pond should yield info about the water & food availability. Fish eat! That's what they do. They are either eating, thinking about eating, or moving into position for eating... Food!

What do your fish eat? You gotta find out.. Meaning, what's predominate. Crawfish, shad, or mainly bluegill, sunfish,etc..cover, structure, pads, timber, river, creek channels these are all places for potential food sources to hang out for a few reasons.. Bass follow food! Almost exclusively! Save the spawn..

[geo g]

In south Florida things can change very quickly. An example that happens all the time is, its a hot summer morning with blue bird skys, your having a good morning with fish after fish on top water, and then that sun rises 20* above first light. All of a sudden you can't buy a bite. This happens all the time down here.

I often fish a spot called the Holey Lands south of Lake Okeechobee. Another example of sudden change is, you fishing the H/L and everything is dead calm. You can't buy a bite. This whole place is controlled by massive pumps of the South Florida Water Management system. All of a sudden they turn on the big pumps and you are now catching bass after bass.

[Senko lover]

All of my winter fish have been caught in less than 4 foot of water. I've spent a lot of time fishing deep, but I have found them shallow. That's not saying too too much because I've only caught 5-6 fish this winter, but still, they've all been shallow.

[Catt]

Run-N-Gun!

I want to cover the entire water column before moving to the next section of bank.

[Mccallister25]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I won't be able to make it out today, but hopefully by next week we'll be in business. Supposed to receive a tackle package Monday anyway!!