My son is coming to visit on the second weekend of April, {he said I am sure we can find something to do, I said we are going fishing!]  Knowing that most fisherman have an opinion I am asking for some.   The water temps around here will most likely still be in the low 50s then ,maybe, but knowing that small bodys of water warm faster than larger ones, I am considering hitting some small, [15 to 25 acre] lakes in a area where I used to live. They are all old shallow gravel pits, most 25 ft at the deepest.  I know most of them pretty well, fished there when I was a kid, and have fished them some in the last few years since I got a boat.   I ask for your take on this, would you hit smaller shallower lakes, or bigger, deeper lakes given a choice. Whenever he has been here We always manage to get on fish and figure a pattern out before the end of the day, he is pretty depressed about still being iced out in northern Pa. and says he does not feel the ice is safe enough to ice fish anymore this season. Just curious as to which way some of you would go.  PS, a few of the small lakes have great cover and structure 

Go with what you are most confident in. In this case it sounds like the smaller lake is the way to go. Fish in your comfort zone and dissect the places that you are familiar with. Personally I would go to the shallow lake aswell. It's much easier to figure out a pattern on a smaller less pressured lake too. Good luck!

Low 50's? Dang, water has not even hit 50 here. I would go for the smaller lake, because, yes they warm up quicker and they'd probably be easier to figure out, and get a bit going. Just my opinion.

Well, that is why I said maybe on the water temps. Havent been anywhere yet to actually see for myself so It may not be that warm. I know when I had fished these smaller lakes a year agon they were about 5 degrees warmer surface temps than the bigger reservoirs around here. Going to try to get out next weekend to see for myself. Hoping All the rain we have had will help the temps ,also these lakes are also all in residential areas so there is no muddy runoff from fields ect.

I would choose the boat, gives you more quality time on the water and tackle options to use. Pre spawn is a good time to fish.

Tom

I would be fishing from my boat in any case, small or large lake, there are about 3 of the 10 smaller lakes that have ramps that can handle my boat. I havent bank fished in years, I wade or take the boat out.

I too would go smaller.  You have the entire ecosystem right there in a smaller package to dissect.  The northwest corner warms faster then any other section of lake, because of the angle of the sun.   Cloudy water will hold more heat then clear water.  Take a temp gage with you and take some readings.  Its all about water temp for bait fish,  The bass will follow the food source.

 

Good luck, let us know how you do.