PaulVE64

A canoeing 4 day with my old dog and new wife. Bass fish by day, camp out by night. Likely drunk in a full moon. That was always the best.

I am with you on this. I think a number of factors dictate the spawn. My experience is that the median spawning time changes every year

If water temps have been steady and I would assume a reservoir would be then it sounds like the spawn is really just beginning. And I havent noticed big females to be early spawners but I'm way up in Canada, your results may differ.

I have no favorite fluke brand. Anything pearl white and 3 to 5" long. I like that elaztech plastic for flukes/swimbaits because I can have trouble with pike and elaztech holds up to the knawing.

I remember the first time I could consistently catch smallies on a fly I had made. Before that experience was over i lost that black marabou jig in lip of a 1# smallie. But that smallie stayed right there and I tried everything afterwards to get that jig back. Never did.

I didnt mean I'm only braid. I use braid on all my setups and a mono leader.

If your using an elaztech soft plastic bait dont try to texpose the hook. The hook often wont break free of the bait and you wont stick the fish.

Jig Fluke Rattletrap

Texas rigged weightless senko Spinnerbai Bill Lewis ATV Squarebill 1

On the river I throw topwater as soon as it'll break thru any icy crust.

Im not saying its Magic But its magic

With feather/hair the magic happens when the jig has stopped moving

Rising water means erosion on the banks, which to a smallie is like new hunting grounds. If the water drops they're first concern is finding depths to suspend in.

Water temps in my local river have been in the low 40s but this week the sun finally came out and its tshirt weather. Since runoff in March the river has been very high and very dirty so I decided to try some creek fishing assuming the water will be warmer and clear. Knowing the water would maybe 1 to 2 feet deep I was targetting small fish and was carrying a light spinning rod. Instead of creek chubb I caught 2.5# smallie on a 1/16oz hair bug. He was very slow and hardly fought but it was very satisfying to know the bass have started staging already.

Throw in some soft plastic flukes and you are gold

Lucky for me I can still catch them just junk fishing. Smallies are both aggressive and unpredictable.

Prespawn river smallies I have found no definative study or article but I believe a smallie that's made it thru winter has got to be stressed. So without any other factors I would assume that theyll winter as close as possible to spawning grounds and spend prespawn at the closest and easiest feeding area as is available. Local features will apply and your results may differ

I can say that I believe that behavior or patterns during spawn are totally not about feeding. Before and after spawn they are feeding but not during

My local river empties into the great lakes without dams so alot of my summer smallies probably winter in lake huron. I bet theyll travel 20 miles/day in spurts during the prespawn. And the resident (river) smallies run up the local streams and creeks which warm up soonest. Just need to get through the spring runoff so the bass feel safe and the water can get some sun.

7' mf StC Avid Daiwa BG 3000 10# braid to a 12# mono leader

Retired you will look back and wonder how you had any time to go do a job everyday.

I am all spinning, all braid. Just sayin

Honestly, I normally bring 5 presentations. A few in a 2nd colour. Its versatile and "finessey"

Once again I will try a Fluoro leader, but only for trout. Smallies hitting topwater seem like a reaction bite. So violent

As a young and restless lad I and my brothers and cousins would round up chickens for our Moms to butcher up. Even without heads they can run.