Spring Fishing

Fishing in the spring time can be very productive. Here are the ins and outs of spring fishing. First of all, you want to make sure the water temperature is around 45 degrees before you start fishing, especially for bass. As the water temperature gets warmer the fish become more active. Cold water temperatures mean lethargic fish that might not want to bite. If you are fishing for walleye, pike, or musky the water temperatures are not so important. In fact, pike are the first species to start spawning. They have been to known to spawn before all the ice has melted. The next thing you want to think about when fishing in the spring is what kind of bait to use. The best bait to use really early in the season is live bait because the fish like it when they are still lethargic from winter. The general rule for lure selection is go smaller in the spring and larger in the fall. For walleye fishing I like using a jig with twister tail tipped with a minnow. Vertical jigging seems to be the best way to use it. My favorite bait to use for bass is the Rapala X-rap. This has a great action and can be worked slow because of the suspending body. Working baits slow is key for spring time fishing. For crappie fishing I like using live bait. A minnow and bobber is your best choice. I also like using a lure called the road runner. This is a lure that flashes like a minnow would do. This attracts crappie and can be deadly when they are spawning. There are Ryan's spring fishing tips. For more fishing tips check out some of the websites linked to my blog.