55-57 degree water temps, need help

[Levi Watson]

I've been out on a local lake a few times in my kayak with barely any luck. It’s a lowland reservoir, with a max water depth of about 17 feet, a ton of trees (too many, honestly), and a lot of grass. It's a great lake in the summer, but I’ve never been able to figure it out during late winter to early spring. I’ve caught a handful on a drop shot and some while slow-rolling an underspin with a 4.8 Keitech. I’d really appreciate any help you guys can offer

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Fish are likely pushing up shallow and doing it fast.   If you're on a warming trend with those water temps, those fish are likely a week or two at most from spawning.   Go up to the bank and start cruising around looking to see if the fish have moved up.   If so, it's really hard to beat a Whacky Rig, bladed jig, or a T-Rigged Creature bait.   A big swimbait can be deadly as well.   

 

Fish will be using major structure to stage up as they progressively work their ways to the spawning locations from deeper water winter haunts.    If they aren't at the bank yet, back all the way out to the major points......not there, go deeper into the coves/creeks arms and try all the secondary points.    After they leave those areas they should be up shallow.   

 

Right before those fish spawn they'll be up shallow feeding up, and that's a great time to use those moving baits like a bladed jig, Squarebill, Spinnerbait, Underspin, bigger Swimbait, etc. and just cover water focusing on areas that aren't too deep. 

 

Once you know the fish are spawning, I like to really slow down and pick things apart with that Whacky Rig or T-Rig Creature bait.        

[TnRiver46]

I’m usually fishing for white bass at that water temp but I accidentally get some nice black bass amongst them. How big is the lake you’re on, and how fast is it moving ? Got shad in there? Our water is colder than that right now but when it gets going up thru the 50s a lot of fish follow monster pods of shad to the upper reaches of the reservoirs. Spoons, traps, paddle tail soft plastics can be great. Grass,trees, and max depth 17ft? I’d have to try some plastic worms tx rig and weightless as well 

[LrgmouthShad]

Fish move so fast in the spring. I often find you have to be prepared for anything. Things change so quick, you might be on one pattern in the morning only to find that it completely empties out by the afternoon. I quite like points outside of major spawning locations during the prespawn. I will look for places that can accommodate many bass spawning and then locate the structural elements that lead up to those locations. Repeat as necessary. You probably have spawners already. The last few trips, I found fish where it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for them to be. So... be flexible. Bring a variety of outfits. You might need them.

[Pat Brown]

2 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Fish are likely pushing up shallow and doing it fast.   If you're on a warming trend with those water temps, those fish are likely a week or two at most from spawning.   Go up to the bank and start cruising around looking to see if the fish have moved up.   If so, it's really hard to beat a Whacky Rig, bladed jig, or a T-Rigged Creature bait.   A big swimbait can be deadly as well.   

 

Fish will be using major structure to stage up as they progressively work their ways to the spawning locations from deeper water winter haunts.    If they aren't at the bank yet, back all the way out to the major points......not there, go deeper into the coves/creeks arms and try all the secondary points.    After they leave those areas they should be up shallow.   

 

Right before those fish spawn they'll be up shallow feeding up, and that's a great time to use those moving baits like a bladed jig, Squarebill, Spinnerbait, Underspin, bigger Swimbait, etc. and just cover water focusing on areas that aren't too deep. 

 

Once you know the fish are spawning, I like to really slow down and pick things apart with that Whacky Rig or T-Rig Creature bait.        

 

 

Yeah you can do all that sensible stuff or if you're like me, when the water hits 55 you can just fish a frog 🤤🤤🤤😂😂😂

[casts_by_fly]

Look at a map of the lake. Mark the spawning areas with a big red x.  Then mark the overwintering areas with a green circle. Now connect the nearby dots noting any structure that would guide the fish between the two. Depending on the warming or cooling trend, time of day, and conditions, the fish will be somewhere along the line. Start at one end and go to the other. I prefer to start shallow and work deeper but that’s just me. When you find where they are along one line, then repeat for others on the lake. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

😆 @Pat Brown, if I could catch them like you on those frogs, I don't think I'd be fishing anything else either.

 

I totally neglected in my original reply one of our shared favorite baits, which is the buzzbait.   You can never wrong buzzing that thing around up shallow once those water temps hit 60.    Once they start spawning it's a must have bait for the fry guarders if for no other reason alone.    

[LrgmouthShad]

@AlabamaSpothunter I felt like Pat Brown fishing a frog through heavy timber a little bit ago but probably looked like this guy

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

@LrgmouthShad  We all can't look like Jordan Lee last year at Heavy Hitters down on Toho 😄

[Swamp Girl]

2 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

Look at a map of the lake. Mark the spawning areas with a big red x.  Then mark the overwintering areas with a green circle. Now connect the nearby dots noting any structure that would guide the fish between the two. Depending on the warming or cooling trend, time of day, and conditions, the fish will be somewhere along the line. Start at one end and go to the other. I prefer to start shallow and work deeper but that’s just me. When you find where they are along one line, then repeat for others on the lake. 

 

Brilliant.

 

Levi, some of the best sticks at Bass Resource have coached you. Apply their wisdom and you'll catch some fine bass. Then share your photos please!

 

Last spring, I found the bass to be on the move. I'd catch them one way one day and then another way in a different place the next day. So, I fished on the move and kept switching baits until I caught one. Then I repeated what I'd just done, and repeated, repeated, etc. Some days they were deep. Then shallow. Then super shallow. Then on a windblown shore. Then tight to wood. And on and on and on. However, the guys above know way more about catching lmbs than me, so listen to them first.