please confirm what I'm seeing

[jbmaine]

I was at a good SM lake yesterday. I fish this quite often and am very familiar with it. Up to now there is no sign of fresh beds. ( during the spawn it's not unusual to see 50 or so beds in my travels).

I checked a few drop offs , points, and there wasn't much on the fish finder. 

What I did see was a lot of SM cruising parallel to the shore in about 3-6 ft. of water. Some times just one, some times three or four, both small and a few really good size ones. I've seen this before and have always taken this to be the last pre spawn behavior. ( kind of like musical chairs, moving around just before the last mad dash). 

 The water temp. has been moving up the last few days. Last week it was in the mid to upper 40's. Yesterday it was 51 early in the A.M. and up to 55 when we left. 

My gut tells me the spawn is coming real soon, within days.

So my question is : Is my interpretation of what I am seeing accurate? I have always assumed this is what is happening, but it would be nice to get confirmation.

                                            Thanks

                                                   Jim

[TnRiver46]

Sounds about right!

[jbmaine]

Thanks I appreciate it.

[Way north bass guy]

I see this all the time on Georgian Bay while pike fishing in the spring. You’ll go into a bay and they’ll be 100s of bass, sometimes in schools as big as 30-50 fish just cruising around the shoreline. Looks like they’re jockeying for position to have the prime bed areas to themselves. Then the next weekend they’ll be on the beds. 

[Will Wetline]

I was out today on my home water in central MA and saw several beds. The surface temp was 62º.

 

I'd say the assessment of your lake is accurate.

[jbmaine]

Thanks everyone,

I'm headed back up tomorrow. I'll be curious to see if they have started towards the beds yet.

[Turkey sandwich]

yep.  Thats early spawn/late prespawn happening.

[TOXIC]

Accurate but remember, the bucks have to get on the bed first.  They don't come in hand in hand.  A buck will either fan a bed or choose an old bed and guard it waiting for a female.  

[jbmaine]

Saw the first sign of the spawn yesterday. A few fresh beds and males in the shallows. However the weather is calling for lows in the mid 30's the next couple of nights. That isn't going to help.

[BassB8Caster]

I'm a little further than you in western Maine. Heading out tomorrow to a new lake (300 acres) that has a good sm fishery. Assuming I'm just behind southern Maine activity (cooler temps up here), Where am I going to find the big females? Just off spawning flats? Drop offs? Are they still looking to fatten up before spawn starts or are they now focusing on spawn activity? What baits are best for the big girls? 

[jbmaine]

5 hours ago, BassB8Caster said:

I'm a little further than you in western Maine. Heading out tomorrow to a new lake (300 acres) that has a good sm fishery. Assuming I'm just behind southern Maine activity (cooler temps up here), Where am I going to find the big females? Just off spawning flats? Drop offs? Are they still looking to fatten up before spawn starts or are they now focusing on spawn activity? What baits are best for the big girls? 

I'm not the best expert, but this is what I'm seeing, In the last few days (including yesterday) I've seen multiple larger SM cruising parallel to the shore in 3-8 ft. of water. I've not seen much on the fishfinder at drop-offs. My best to date (3.7) was caught on a swimmn caffeine shad. 

What part of western Maine are you from?

                                                Jim

[BassB8Caster]

5 hours ago, jbmaine said:

I'm not the best expert, but this is what I'm seeing, In the last few days (including yesterday) I've seen multiple larger SM cruising parallel to the shore in 3-8 ft. of water. I've not seen much on the fishfinder at drop-offs. My best to date (3.7) was caught on a swimmn caffeine shad. 

What part of western Maine are you from?

                                                Jim

I live in norway. Oxford hills area. Lots of small ponds around me. From my (limited) experience cruisers are very difficult to catch. I've committed this year to big swimbait (8" hudds, 7" real prey golden shiner, 9.5" trout glide, a rig, etc). Hoping big bait equals big fish. I'm fine with catching less. Heading out tomorrow. Gonna be cloudy with a chance of rain. Could be a good day.