May Temps In March

[IL2MI_basser]

Chicago and the rest of the Great Lakes region is expected to see temps in the upper 60's and 70's over the next week and a half. Any chance these unusually warm temps mess with the spawn season?

[Marty]

Winters like this have many negative consequences, such as endangering crops and plants, more mosquitoes, more algae and numerous other things. The warm days are extremely enjoyable, but I'd much rather have more normal conditions.

[Clint C.]

I got out today and it seems like the small males are getting ready. Caught a few in the 7-10" range. No big females that I saw yet though. My fear is that if they spawn now and we get a cold spell that'll be it for the fingerling.

[ww2farmer]

An above normal warm week to 10 days is not going to ignite a bedding frenzy here, it will accelerate the transition from late winter to prespawn patterns, but unless it stays like this for the next 6 weeks, most everything will be normal, to slightly early. I don't imagine we'll be fishing post spawn patterns on Easter LOL. I got my boat in the water today, water temps here are still in the mid to upper 30's, low 40's in protected dark bottom area's, other than a few crappies, bluegills and small bass, nothing much happining yet. Heck, the last of the ice just melted yesterday. I am more concerned about the lack of water, the lake is low, not much snow melt this year, and the idiot who runs the gate on the dam, felt it nessecary to keep them open all winter to keep the lake in a semi drawn down state, they are still letting water out today. IDK what they are thinking.

[bassnleo]

ww2farmer, just out of curiousity, what lake are you speaking of? Your description sounds exactly like the situation at Pymatuning in NW PA.

BTW, head to Presque Isle if you're itchin to bend the rod.

[ww2farmer]

No, it's not Pymatuning. It's a small lake in WNY.

[Nice_Bass]

Water temps are in the 48 range here in central IL, and already catching big females. Still relating to deep water mostly 10ft plus. That was on Sunday- with 58 lows and 80 highs that water temp will spike up a bit, but most of the fish will not be making the move early even still. Sun angles i do believe have an effect on when to do it- Based on my graphs the bait fish are were balled up at 6 ft, and the big ones were just hovering below them still. They are more active than I have seen them this time of year no doubt about that.

With the winter around these parts, Seems like the farmers are going to be planting in March!!

[Clint C.]

We've had some high 60's getting mid to high 70's today and tomorrow (I'm about 35 minutes south of Chicago).

What are you catching them on in the 10ft range? Are they suspending over deeper water? The small males I caught yesterday were all suspending in ~3ft in about 8ft deep water. Caught them on a X-Rap (XR06S). I think I'm gonna try doing some shaky head fishing today. See if I can get any big females to bite!

[Nice_Bass]

We've had some high 60's getting mid to high 70's today and tomorrow (I'm about 35 minutes south of Chicago).

What are you catching them on in the 10ft range? Are they suspending over deeper water? The small males I caught yesterday were all suspending in ~3ft in about 8ft deep water. Caught them on a X-Rap (XR06S). I think I'm gonna try doing some shaky head fishing today. See if I can get any big females to bite!

They were suspended over deeper water however right off of points...very close in fact. - Caught them at about 2 in the afternoon however slow rolling 1/2oz rattle traps with a swim and let sink back down retrieve.