Where would the bass be on here?

[Fred Allen]

https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/clnlkmap.pdf

 

Been 70 degree for few days biggest warm period so far this year and trees just starting to bud here today. Will the fish be spawned yet on this lake? Where do you think they would be swimming on this lake right now on a sunny 70 degrees day? Going here on kayak tomorrow.

[MN Fisher]

Air temp doesn't matter as much as water temp for spawning.

 

Checking my water-temp website - the closest lake they have readings for is Duane Lake over by Duanesburg... 54 degrees today...so I don't think Collins will be much warmer.

 

They're probably setting up in pre-spawn mode now - spawn will happen when the water temp hits around 60.

 

Here's the link to Duane Lake temperature monitoring so you can keep an eye on it - https://www.beachtemp.us/beach/948713/

[Finessegenics]

I think it sets up nice for you. A nice warm streak and a small body of water usually equal good fishing. I won't pretend to know where the fish will be but I believe the majority of the fish are a long ways away from spawning. 

[Fred Allen]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Air temp doesn't matter as much as water temp for spawning.

 

Checking my water-temp website - the closest lake they have readings for is Duane Lake over by Duanesburg... 54 degrees today...so I don't think Collins will be much warmer.

 

They're probably setting up in pre-spawn mode now - spawn will happen when the water temp hits around 60.

 

Here's the link to Duane Lake temperature monitoring so you can keep an eye on it - https://www.beachtemp.us/beach/948713/

Thanks alot for that site it will come in handy. 

1 minute ago, Finessegenics said:

I think it sets up nice for you. A nice warm streak and a small body of water usually equal good fishing. I won't pretend to know where the fish will be but I believe the majority of the fish are a long ways from spawning. 

Thats good I hope I catch a bunch. I got 3 bass so far this year all with in the past week or so. They just wouldnt bite before then. I got my first 2 on a smaller lake after only 2 days of warm 60s temps. 

[Ski]

Carry a pool thermometer in your tackle bag. 

[BigAngus752]

Ok, having no useful knowledge of this place...and since I do this all the time anyway with lakes near me...here's the first places I would start.  Assuming the water temp is lower/mid 50's the first thing I would look for is rock.  Especially rock with bright sun shining on it.  I would fish the concrete boat ramp, especially the side edges and where the concrete ends in the lake.  Is that a sand beach?  Does the sand extend into the water?  Start on the deepest edges of the sand and throw a mover over the entire sand flat.  I would fish the shallow end of that island and the sides and top of any underwater point that extends east.  Looks like there are two in or outflows on the east side?  I would definitely fish those very thoroughly, especially if the water is moving or has been recently.  Most importantly look for rip rap/rock or other objects that warm up in the bright sun.  

 

Good luck. I wish I could give it a try with you.  I love fishing new places.  

 

If you end up catching a bunch of fish in the deepest part of the lake on a dropshot please don't tell me.  I don't even want to know.  

 

 

 

 

 

[Fred Allen]

10 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

Ok, having no useful knowledge of this place...and since I do this all the time anyway with lakes near me...here's the first places I would start.  Assuming the water temp is lower/mid 50's the first thing I would look for is rock.  Especially rock with bright sun shining on it.  I would fish the concrete boat ramp, especially the side edges and where the concrete ends in the lake.  Is that a sand beach?  Does the sand extend into the water?  Start on the deepest edges of the sand and throw a mover over the entire sand flat.  I would fish the shallow end of that island and the sides and top of any underwater point that extends east.  Looks like there are two in or outflows on the east side?  I would definitely fish those very thoroughly, especially if the water is moving or has been recently.  Most importantly look for rip rap/rock or other objects that warm up in the bright sun.  

 

Good luck. I wish I could give it a try with you.  I love fishing new places.  

 

If you end up catching a bunch of fish in the deepest part of the lake on a dropshot please don't tell me.  I don't even want to know.  

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the tips. I do think the sand goes in a way I was on that side once probably 25 years ago when I was a kid to swim on the beach. I used to always fish from shore when I was a kid that was on the east side only though. I have memories of guys in small jon boats with the floor covered in big bass they caught coming to shore. I didnt even realize there was a boat launch there I was just going to put in on the east side shore but maybe the ramp was not there 25 years ago because people used to always put in on the east shore. 

 

Ill probably start fishing that outlet then work to the island and work around it over the north then down south the other side and to the beach and ramp. 

 

 

[scaleface]

56 acres, I'd fish it all .

[Fred Allen]

Just got back an hour ago. Got out there at like 10am launched from the east side and head for the north side of the island first. Hooked my first ever pike on a crank bait and freaked out. Thing fought like crazy I thought it was a 10 pound bass. It was a good size pike probably almost 2 feet long. Never got a picture because I froze in terror at the treble hooks and his teeth. I had my fish grips ready but he would NOT open his mouth. Tried to grab him by the back and he was so slime he struggled and spit the trebles into my hand and swam away. A little bleeding but I was fine.

 

I fished almost the whole shoreline and got nothing until 4-5pm when I got the bass in the picture on the north east shoreline very shallow. Then I got another almost in but he escaped (this one was pretty big). When I gave up and started heading for the car I got a bunch more bites too. A lot of them were probably blue gills though as I started seeing them at that time. 

 

I learned its probably best to start fishing 2-3pm and stay until dark. I was beat and ready to go right when they were biting! 

 

Is it a good sign that the bass were so shallow? Were they probably pre-spawning yet?

 

Looks colder tuesday but I think im going to go again and its my next day off to fish.

[BigAngus752]

15 minutes ago, Fred Allen said:

got nothing until 4-5pm

Not unusual for the bass to start getting active in the afternoon on a sunny day after the water has been warming all day in the spring and fall.  You asked if it's a good sign that the fish you caught was "shallow", did you fish a variety of depths?  Perhaps there were more or bigger fish at a different depth if you didn't try that?

 

Congrats on your catch.  Don't worry about what the temp is on Tuesday if you're going to fish on Tuesday.  The fish don't know what the air temp is.  The weather/air temp on Sunday and Monday affect the fish on Tuesday.  

[E-rude dude]

In the water?

 

Its a little  funny