Have many of you fished lakes around beginning of April in the Northeast? How is the fishing?

I'm gonna have the boat up and ready to go April 1st. However, I don't have much experience bass fishing this early in the year in lakes. I consider myself an avid fisherman, but not in lakes. I just purchased my first boat last fall.

I have a Nitro 700, humminbird side sonar 898c, and all the fishing equipment you could ask for......but.......I need some help with where to start on these early season bass.

 

Any suggestions, tips, or tricks are greatly appreciated!

thanks everyone!

My first tournament of the year is the 24th of this month

Where are you located?

 

Went fishing yesterday right after the snow storm and managed to catch one on a Pointer. I'm also fishing a tournament the same weekend as jhoffman. Mine is on the 23rd.

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

I am currently located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

I'm out of waynesburg, just north of ya. I think the prespawn will be happening soon. Currently, I think the fish aren't very active but will eat if the presentation is right. You are pretty close to Cheat Lake and you are right on the Mon river, which holds many small jaws. I fish out of kayak and have a blast, but it's too cold for me to take out right now.

Western MA ponds are still covered with ice. Will probably be that way for another couple of weeks (at most!). I'm watching them every day! At first ice out, I'll be casting hard jerkbaits, 4" wacky rigged Senkos, jigs and the drop shot. It's amazing to me how quickly the water warms after first ice is partially out. Will be up in the low 40's pretty quick. And it will be in the 50's before you can blink, providing the sun stays out. Can't wait!

April is a great time of year to catch some hogs!  I recommend starting with a spinnerbait or chatterbait really really shallow.  Cover as much water as you can and read up on fishing during the spawn.  If your body of water is clear you may see bedded fish and a drop shot is the way to go.  If all else fails you can always fall back on the t-rig or shakyhead.

 

Jay

The waters around you in MD, WV and PA should be generally free of ice at this point.

 

The fish will be eating more very soon.

I really appreciate all the input guys. I can't wait to get out!

For the folks that said they were fishing tournaments in PA, is there a circuit you're part of? Or are they open tournaments to anyone? I would like to get into some this year just for the experience.

 

Thanks again!

There is Washington bass masters in pa. http://www.washingtonpabassmasters.com/default.asp. They also have an open on the 23rd of this month. You can get an application from the site. The club has all kinds of tourneys through the year. I'm sure there are other clubs in Wv also.

There is Washington bass masters in pa. http://www.washingtonpabassmasters.com/default.asp. They also have an open on the 23rd of this month. You can get an application from the site. The club has all kinds of tourneys through the year. I'm sure there are other clubs in Wv also.

Awesome! Thanks!

jerkbaits and jigs, usually start off slow but let the fish tell you how they want it

I start fishing local around this time each year with jigs and jerkbaits working the best. Now I do spend more time on the river in March because of the large SM that can be catch this time of the year. Of the 10 biggest SM I have caught in the past couple years 9 of them were caught in March.

 

Allen