Pre-Spawners

[bassmaster3000]

hey, me again

I was wondering if any of you had some tips on pre spawn smallmouth. most lakes around here that are hot smallmouth lakes are open year round or open march 1st. any advice would be appreciated!! THANKS!!!  ;D

[Crestliner2008]

What are the water temps? Do the lakes freeze over? I always fish ice out by using a blade on the deeper drops, close to shallow flats. You can also use jigs or the drop shot. We're talking 20'+ here. Once the water temps get up to 48 - 50 degrees, focus on shallow pre-spawn flats, adjacent to the same deep water. Hard jerks rule this time of the year, but keep a tube rod handy. Lots of variables, but this should get you into some fish.

[Md]

What are the water temps? Do the lakes freeze over? I always fish ice out by using a blade on the deeper drops, close to shallow flats. You can also use jigs or the drop shot. We're talking 20'+ here. Once the water temps get up to 48 - 50 degrees, focus on shallow pre-spawn flats, adjacent to the same deep water. Hard jerks rule this time of the year, but keep a tube rod handy. Lots of variables, but this should get you into some fish.

x2 When you find them, they are usually piled up. Dragging grubs and tubes works also if they are super finicky in deep water. But you still can't beat a blade deep or a jerkbait/craw crankbait on the flats to load the boat. 100+ fish days are not out of the question. I have found they usually school by size, so if you are catching dinks but want size, start searching elsewhere.

[justfishin]

My first choice on the lakes around here---I like river fishing the best---are sharp dropoffs, as in those 45 degree ones. I like to stair step a tube or grub slloooowly down these drops. Its critical to line watch at first ice out. I also like deep creek channels with a lot of trash ( wood, rock piles, etc) in and around the main lake area before they start moving up to mid lake. The toughest scenario during first ice out---at least for me---is when they suspend in the thermal areas. That is what makes the float and fly so popular from all I have read. This will be the first year I am going to attempt a fly rod for this same purpose. Remember, fish slow at temps like 35 to 40 degrees. Most of the time you will only feel a mushy feeling when you lift up, or just a small tick on your line. Good luck.

[BARON49_Northern NY]

Two other lures that I have had a good deal of success with have been lipless crankbaits and jerkbaits.  Great cold water baits.

[roadwarrior]

Jerkbaits rule early!

The GYCB 5" Single Tail Grub or Hula Grub rigged on a 3/16 oz

jig head are other options, but it's hard to beat a 3 1/2" tube.

8-)

[BUCKEYEone]

Jerkbaits have done very well for me, and I've had some good early season bites on lipless cranks, too...even with chunks of ice floating by!

[Guest Grandfather]

  I agree with all that has been said but I will add that spring smallies will be on deep edges near spawn flats. Position your boat in shallower water and cast into the deep. You want to work your bait up the slope. Let blade baits fall all the way to the bottom and hop them back allowing them to fall to the bottom on each stroke. Drag tubes and never lift them off the bottom....Just DRAG them slowly....If fish become more aggressive, throw a nose hooked superfluke on a 1 or 2/0 wide gap hook.

[Crestliner2008]

I agree with all that has been said but I will add that spring smallies will be on deep edges near spawn flats. Position your boat in shallower water and cast into the deep. You want to work your bait up the slope. Let blade baits fall all the way to the bottom and hop them back allowing them to fall to the bottom on each stroke. Drag tubes and never lift them off the bottom....Just DRAG them slowly....If fish become more aggressive, throw a nose hooked superfluke on a 1 or 2/0 wide gap hook.

I prefer to work that in reverse....casting shallow and walking my jig down toward the deeper water. This way I can vertically jig prior to re-casting. Sometimes this yields some pretty big boys where we fish, including a laker or two!

[bassmaster3000]

I hope the lakes that open on March 1 here aren't frozen over by then. I've been Icefishing through 18 inches of ICE!!! people have been pulling bass through the ice on swedish pimples! THANX FOR THE ADVICE. i'll put it to work in about a month or 2 when the bass start movin! THANXZ AGAIN!!! ;D

[reo]

What are the water temps? Do the lakes freeze over? I always fish ice out by using a blade on the deeper drops, close to shallow flats. You can also use jigs or the drop shot. We're talking 20'+ here. Once the water temps get up to 48 - 50 degrees, focus on shallow pre-spawn flats, adjacent to the same deep water. Hard jerks rule this time of the year, but keep a tube rod handy. Lots of variables, but this should get you into some fish.

I have zero knowledge on blades other than I have heard they are effective on early season smallies in lake Erie, soooo, Could you elaborate on the blades? Size, color. make, type of retrieve?

Thanks in advance

reo

[Crestliner2008]

reo - I think it was mid year last year that we have a great discussion on this technique here. RW can probably direct you to the link, but if you do a search, you'll get all the info you need.

[reo]

Crestliner2008. thanks, i found about a four pager that ran several months and had the info that I was looking for.