Pre spawn cold front?

[Willie88]

The weather here in Wisconsin was unusually warm a couple weeks ago shooting the water temps up early into the mid 50s. Now we have had a cold front or I should say our normal 48-50 degree highs. Will this affect where smallmouth are located?

 

I am planning on taking my boat out to a local lake tomorrow, the highs are supposed to be around 50. I'm just wondering if I should focus shallow or if the cold snap would have pushed them back out deeper?

[PaulVE64]

The water should hold the heat, so start on the shelves and then work the pools

[MickD]

It is my experience that they move in and out, often a couple times a day, and I cannot predict it.  Unless you can find some warmer water, then I would expect the fish to be there.  Otherwise I think you just have to keep looking, keep moving.

[A-Jay]

13 hours ago, Willie88 said:

The weather here in Wisconsin was unusually warm a couple weeks ago shooting the water temps up early into the mid 50s. Now we have had a cold front or I should say our normal 48-50 degree highs. Will this affect where smallmouth are located?

 

I am planning on taking my boat out to a local lake tomorrow, the highs are supposed to be around 50. I'm just wondering if I should focus shallow or if the cold snap would have pushed them back out deeper?

Hello Willie and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

While there is some water between us, this area has seen the same deal weather wise.

I was on a decent bite before the cold & snow and expect to be back at it when it clears out.

Hard to say where they'll be but it might not be too hard to believe that 

they want to be shallow a lot more than they want to be deep.

So that's where I'll be.

I prefer to be fishing where they are coming to rather than where they want to leave. 

Plus shallower fish seem to chew a bit more for me.

Good Luck & Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

 

[Willie88]

Thanks for the tips, looking forward to the search!

[TnRiver46]

We get the same thing every year, there are even several different names for it. Right now we are in dogwood winter haha. Fish are accustomed to it by now, it’s why they don’t jump on the first chance to spawn and they don’t all do the same thing at the same time

[cdlittle]

Dealing with the same thing here in Chicago. Was sunny and 75 last week, caught more bass in two days than all of last fall. Now it's cloudy and in the 50's and they're shut down. Been trusting in the jerkbait and it's been alright. 

[Fat Ika]

I second that Baitcasting/BFS Nut. Those last couple 75 days had them partying in Chicago. Same here during this cold front. Light twitch > stare at whatever for 5-15 seconds > twitch twitch > pause and reflect a little more on life > hmmmmm.....should a jerk it, barely twitch it, slow pull it, rip it?!!! Caught a few jerks and missed a few line jumps LOL. April in Chicago. Always a teaser. 

[cdlittle]

1 hour ago, Fat Ika said:

I second that Baitcasting/BFS Nut. Those last couple 75 days had them partying in Chicago. Same here during this cold front. Light twitch > stare at whatever for 5-15 seconds > twitch twitch > pause and reflect a little more on life > hmmmmm.....should a jerk it, barely twitch it, slow pull it, rip it?!!! Caught a few jerks and missed a few line jumps LOL. April in Chicago. Always a teaser. 

 

This is my first time fishing prespawn this far north and I've about had it. Couldn't keep them off my line last week and now I'm contemplating why I enjoy fishing, as I take 5 minutes to work my jig back to shore.

[Fishin' Fool]

On 4/14/2021 at 9:14 PM, Willie88 said:

The weather here in Wisconsin was unusually warm a couple weeks ago shooting the water temps up early into the mid 50s. Now we have had a cold front or I should say our normal 48-50 degree highs. Will this affect where smallmouth are located?

 

I am planning on taking my boat out to a local lake tomorrow, the highs are supposed to be around 50. I'm just wondering if I should focus shallow or if the cold snap would have pushed them back out deeper?

Find yourself the shallow flats that have access to deep water drop offs nearby preferably the deepest holes you can find. Those will be classic wintering holes and the fish should be coming to the flats during the peak warming hours of the day usually afternoon in the spring. Jerkbaits, Ned rigs, blade baits.