Reeling off a few spring fishing ideas

I drove by the lake this weekend. It was alive with anglers. People were fishing from shore, some were on docks, there were a few anglers wading, and there were lots of boats on the water as well. People were going fishing, and that’s a good thing.

Spring brings new excitement about going fishing. Spring is when everyone can experience a good fishing opportunity. Shore anglers have just as much chance for success as the angler with a fully-rigged boat. Following are some things you should keep in mind when you go fishing in the next couple of weeks.

The water is still pretty cold in the spring. Fish are cold-blooded, which means the water temperatures affect their metabolism. Cold water usually means the fish will want a slow moving presentation. Maybe not as slow as we once thought, but still pretty slow. A jig dragged across the bottom with frequent stops will usually be better for walleyes than a jig hopped aggressively.

A spinnerbait rolled slowly through bassy water will be better than a spinnerbait burned just under the surface when the water is cold.

Cold water in the spring usually makes smaller lures more productive. By smaller, we’re talking bulk, not weight. An eighth ounce jig with a two inch Power Grub body will be better for walleyes than an eighth ounce jig with a four inch Power Grub body. The weight is the same, but the body size is different. Go small in the spring, bigger in the summer and fall.

If you’re fishing walleyes with a jig and minnow, use a jig with a short-shanked hook. Hook the minnow in the mouth and out the back of its head. Get the minnow’s lips right up next to the jig head. Some anglers hook the minnow through the lips. When the minnow is hooked through the lips, the minnow is farther away from the jig head, making the bait appear bigger. Fire-Ball jigs are the best live bait jigs available, as they have a short-shank, wide-gap hook.

Fish where the fish are. That’s always good advice, but in the spring the fish are often quite concentrated in a particular area. Later in the year they’ll spread out and be wherever the food is: You can stumble onto a fish or two almost anywhere.

In the spring, most fish will be getting ready to spawn, spawning, or just finishing the spawn. Most of them are spawning close to shore. Concentrate your efforts near shore in spawning areas and you’ll increase your chances for getting bit.

Don’t get locked in one species of fish. If the walleyes aren’t going gangbusters, find some crappies or northern pike or bass to chase. It’s more fun to catch crappies than to not catch walleyes.

Spring is a great time of year to be fishing, and it’s a great time of year to be outside. Take advantage of spring fishing the first chance you get.

To see the new 2010 episodes of Fishing the Midwest television on-line, go to fishingthemidwest.com or visit MyOutdoorTv.com

Tags: outdoors, fishing, spring