Need Help! Time to Fish Yet?

[NallyFisher]

Well here in Maryland the weather saturday is gonna be mostly sunny and around 70. I'm dying to get out fishing for the first time this year and I was wondering if the fish will be biting or is it too early??? and also, I will be fishing a reservoir, up in coves with some cover and also open water. What are my best tactics to catch the fish this time of year? As in bait and all. ANY help is great. Thanks!

[Wild Bill [NY]]

Fish are already biting here in NY, and considering we are about two hour's drive [at least] from you, yeah, you're fish should be receptive.

Now you got to find them , and then figure out a bait to work.

Try a suspending jerkbait, with loooong pauses between jerks. Sometimes, they will dang near jerk the rod from you; other times they will just seem like dead weight as they hit on the pause and just hold the bait in their mouths, which you then feel there when you go to make your next jerk.

Jigs would be my second choice of lure. Work them slow, especially near wood or rock. Use brown or black ones.

[DeanFishesNY]

I agree with Bill, start off with a jerkbait and jig. I have been catching bass here in NY for a week now and my friend caught 18 bass just yesterday(8 on jerk, 10 on jig). Work them slooow, long pauses with the jerkbait. Some other lures that have worked for me this early would be blade baits, slow rolling spinnerbaits, crankbaits and you could even use a t rigged plastic worked very slow. Good Luck and anytime there's open water it's time to fish!

[basspro215]

i went fishing yesterday and caught 6 diff bass all on a really slow retrieve lip less crank bait and rattle traps

[backpain...]

If the boat will float it is time to fish! Seriously, get out there! I went for the first time Monday for a few hours. It was the first opportunity I have had since November, and boy was it a needed excercise. The conditions were wreched, had torrential rain for three days prior,  41* water temps, muddy and thick like chocolete milk, wind howling around 20-30mph. I didn't get a nibble, but I went fishing! lol 

It was a great feeling to be out on the water and getting the lines wet. But in the NE area of the country as the waters clear and warm from these recent storms, it will be ON! I just wish I had a day off or two coming up in the near future. :-/

[WVBassHunter]

I agree if the ice is gone...fish er' up!  I'm going out this afternoon when the wife gets home and trying out the new setup on the boat....can't wait!

[brushhoggin]

spinnerbait spinnerbait spinerbait. did i say spinnerbait?

[NallyFisher]

Ok thanks everyone. I am heading out saturday so hopefully I can return with some good news!!! If not, I will still have fun just getting out.

[basspimple]

i know kentucky is quite far from you, but i have been fishing quite shallow with good sucsess. tubes and swimbaits. slow is your best bet.