staging

Hi Folks, Ran the boat this afternoon with a client chasing pre-spawn smallmouth bass.  Interesting weather day with the arrival of a cold front.  Big steady northwest wind and the air temperatures dropped by 20 degrees from the previous day.  If you don't like the weather wait a minute!  Water temperature was between 61 degrees and 64 degrees.  We searched out the warmer water all afternoon and tried to fish in the sun.  Like the sun for early spring fishing for smallmouth as the bass are seeking out warmer water to crank up their metabolism in preparation for spawning.  With spin equipment we landed 7 male smallmouth bass.  We hooked fish on a perch rapala, a crawfish colored shallow running crankbait and a 5" watermelon red magic Senko.  The crank baits were the most productive lures in the stained and choppy water.  Tough fishing soft plastics in really windy conditions.  It appeared to me that the bass are staging to spawn and that the next full moon will really get reproduction going.  I did not spot one spawning bed in places I have seen them for 20 years.  We could still use some rain as our local rivers have dropped significantly since our last rain fall.  Trout fishing should really come into its own with the current weather pattern.  I will be on the water for the next week straight guiding and I am looking forward to chasing some trout.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy