Ice has melted from rivers in my area

[Otter17]

Now that the ice has melted and the rivers are pretty high right now in Chicagoland, when can I start fishing for smallmouth? Can the temps be “too low” for them to strike. 

 

Thankyou

[rod snapper]

People catch fish through the ice don't they? Which means the water is really cold, so its possible when the ice is off for sure, just use some really slow bottom presentations fished really slow (drop shot, finesse jig, ned rig), and you have a good shot.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Hair jig time 

[Dwight Hottle]

Usually in the spring after ice out it’s pretry slow until the water temps reach 39 degrees.

[Otter17]

Thanks guys! It’s just a stream, but there are a few deep holes where the water isn’t moving through fast at all when the water comes down a bit. Will look to probably focus on those areas with the methods you guys have suggested or live bait.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

If it rains and you get warm runoff try tight to the bank with Colorado blade spinners. 

[Otter17]

Thanks Deleware family Tackle.?

[NYWayfarer]

I'll be venturing out to my local river in the next week or two. My first choice at this time of the year would be live bait.

 

Worms on a split shot rig thrown to deep pools or drifted downstream seem to work best after the ice first melts.

 

I usually don't have luck with artificial bait until sometime in April.

[clayton86]

43 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

I'll be venturing out to my local river in the next week or two. My first choice at this time of the year would be live bait.

 

Worms on a split shot rig thrown to deep pools or drifted downstream seem to work best after the ice first melts.

 

I usually don't have luck with artificial bait until sometime in April.

Agreed I’ll be out to scope some spots locally as well. Careful using live bait for bass early in the season it’s illegal in NY up till the 2nd or 3rd Saturday in June when season opens 

[J Francho]

47 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

I'll be venturing out to my local river in the next week or two. My first choice at this time of the year would be live bait.

 

Worms on a split shot rig thrown to deep pools or drifted downstream seem to work best after the ice first melts.

 

I usually don't have luck with artificial bait until sometime in April.

Hope you're fishing for trout.  No live bait for bass until 3rd Saturday in June.

[NYWayfarer]

2 minutes ago, clayton86 said:

Agreed I’ll be out to scope some spots locally as well. Careful using live bait for bass early in the season it’s illegal in NY up till the 2nd or 3rd Saturday in June when season opens 

Thanks for the info.

 

If anyone asks I am targeting catfish and suckers. Can't help if a Bass bites my line.

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Hope you're fishing for trout.  No live bait for bass until 3rd Saturday in June.

Catfish and suckers. That's all that's in the area at this time of the year. Trout are stocked mid-April around here.

[Crestliner2008]

Rivers in March - 1/2 oz. hair jigs and 3/4 oz. Silver Buddies.

[Jleebesaw]

On 3/14/2019 at 9:54 AM, NYWayfarer said:

Thanks for the info.

 

If anyone asks I am targeting catfish and suckers. Can't help if a Bass bites my line.

Catfish and suckers. That's all that's in the area at this time of the year. Trout are stocked mid-April around here.

Crappie, perch, and bluegill. Slip bobbers and worms looks more like crappie fishing than bass fishing anyway. As long as the game warden isn't a member of bass resources! Ha, ha! He probably wont recognize you.