What end of the lake do you fish in pre-spawn?

[John J.]

Looking at a lake map and deciding what end would be productive is difficult. Each end all have their unique characteristics for holding bass.

And being the early season many factors play in as to where bass will be.

I know in the early season shallow, northly facing waters tend to warm up quicker, but according to lake reports around my area, the water tends to be warmer in deeper water areas. (For instance, Uplake 38, Midlake 43 and downlake 46). I know bass hit the shallows to spawn (which would be ideally uplake) but what about shallow pockets, bays and creeks in the mid to uplake regions?

The good thing about these is they have quick access to deeper water.

My question is what do you all fish? Do you spend time running up or downlake? or do you spend your time midlake? What is more productive to you and why? This year I'm challenging myself to fish colder water, I am usually a warm water fisherman, but I've found I've caught bigger fish the earlier I fish.

(Last year I caught a 5 lber, the one in my avatar, in March), in the late pre-spawn.

I just want some ideas of where I should be focusing.

Thanks,

John J.

[Dwight Hottle]

Wind driven side first.

[WanderLust]

Wind driven side first.

Indeed. Closest to the most likely holding pattern.

[Nice_Bass]

I dont worry about running uplake if the right conditions are available.  For instance, in Lake of the ozarks I mostly fish the Gravios Arm and some north bays that are about 5 miles from the dam for spawn and prespawn.  If there are arms or bays that are suitable for spawing- then no need for me to take an hour boat ride anywhere...

Also, Everything is on the north side in LOZ that I fish if that helps.   

[Andy C]

I usually find the warmest water near the lakes inlets, unless there is a cold front which cools that shallowest water first.  Wind driven coves and warm incoming water sources are the first places that I target.  Look for areas with deep water nearby early in the spring.

[Lund Explorer]

In other words, you plan on chasing the coldest water to extend pre-spawn -vs- spawn or post-spawn?

That's different.

Just using the reverse logic that most people use would most likely work.  Might take a little time running with your temp gauge to find colder temps, but it could be done I suppose.  I would suggest keeping a good log book so you can use it for future reference.

[John J.]

Well no what I was stating was that shallow waters tend to warm up faster, but then they also tend to cool off much faster during a cold front. Deeper water slowly rises in temperature, but when a cold front hits, there's minimal decrease in temperature.

What I am asking is this:

Is it better to run uplake and fish shallows, or better to run downlake into deeper water and fish shallow bays, pockets, coves etc?

[Andy C]

I would fish the warmest water you can find. Some fish will be shallow, shallow water coves near the main lake will fish well.   

My biggest fish of the year so far (7lbs even) was caught on a 8ft deep flat off of a creek channel with standing timber.  Water temp was 45.  Main lake/dam area was 38.

[Catt]

Neither, I follow the bait

[5bass]

Neither, I follow the bait

I agree. This time of year I think it's very important to be around the shad. Once the water temps warm to 50+, they'll break away from the shad and spread out a little more in a search for places to spawn. Until then, if there's no bait around, I dont have much confidence in a spot.

[John J.]

Neither, I follow the bait

I agree. This time of year I think it's very important to be around the shad. Once the water temps warm to 50+, they'll break away from the shad and spread out a little more in a search for places to spawn. Until then, if there's no bait around, I dont have much confidence in a spot.

Yeah that's a good idea! Gizzard shad are abundant in many of the lakes around my area.

[slonezp]

How early in "pre spawn" are you talking? It is recommended  to fish the wind blown shoreline. Here in IL after ice out that would mean the northeast side. That doesn't mean there is food or ideal structure on the NE side. What if the ideal habitat is on the south or west end? That's where I would fish. As the water begins to warm I would concentrate on deeper areas and points near the spawning grounds as well as the "highways" the fish use ie. riverbeds weedlines and dropoffs. Current is always good for something.

[John J.]

Well here in central virginia, the spawn usually doesn't hit us until April. It all depends though.

So like right now most the waters around my areas (i've been looking up fishing reports) are in the mid 40s to lower 50s.