Need advice for fishing opener

[Derekbass02]

Right now fishing opener is about 10 days away. The last week has been mid to high 40s and its supposed to warm up to low to mid 60 from may 2nd until fishing opener. I am just wondering where the fish would be, if they would be spawning, and what to use. Thanks for any help!

[Turkey sandwich]

Are you fishing rivers or lakes?  Any idea on water temperature?  

[wisconsin heat]

It is really hard to tell. I have fished the same body of water the past 4 openers and the fish have all been located in different spots.

4 yrs : Snow on the ground, caught em on a suspending jerkbait along dam wall near deeper water.

3 yrs ago: water was muddy- caught a big one next to shore on a colorado spinnerbait.

2 yrs ago: water was cold, and I caught em on a suspending jerkbait, however no fish near the spot I caught em two years prior, instead they were in the dead middle of a backwater pocket. I'm assuming staging and getting ready to spawn in the shallows.

Last year: couldn't find em, tried the dam wall, tried the pocket. Ended up walking along a long featureless bank with a soft swimbait and caught a handful of nice fish.

 

So my advice for you is:

Be prepared for anything.

For what it is worth, I walked along the bank of a small lake last week and saw a plethora of empty beds. I still don't know how to interpret this information though.

[Derekbass02]

I will be fishing smaller lakes (150-300 acres). The water is mainly clear where I fish. It is supposed to be 68 with 7 MPH wind. Not sure about water temperature. probably high 40s to low 50s but I'm just guessing.

[papajoe222]

I'll be fishing the St.Croix area in northwest Wi opening week.  Water temps on the two lakes I fish (both under 1000 acres) tend to be in the low to mid 50's. I should mention that they are both natural/deep lakes with clear water and hard bottoms throughout. 

Even on shallower lakes with muck or silt bottoms, I doubt if the water temps would be much above 60 which means bass and gills will not be on beds yet.  The good news is the fish should be active if the weather is stable for a few days prior to the opener. They may even be cruising the shallows in the afternoon. More than likely, though, they'll be somewhere close to shallow coves or flats the majority of the day, Either that, or suspending in the warmer upper layer of water in those same areas. 

If by chance there has been a steady breeze from the southwest fo most of the day, or a couple of days, check out the northern coves and flats. They'll likely hold the most active fish.