My lake has been getting hammered lately. Its usually a good fishery, but at 500 acres, it docent take long for 30 boats to fish it out. I went yesterday to test my new boat, 3' waves and 20 mph winds. I got two bites shallow and super tight to cover. Water temps 54*. Planning on going tomorrow morning at sunrise.

 

Anyone fish early during this time of year (located in pa, fish are prespawn)? I think fish are shallow and tight to cover. Game plan is buzz baits without skirt, small spinnerbaits, big swimsuit, squarebill, etc.

I love fishing during the time just before dawn when sunrise is still way off but I have to leave home by 04:30 to do it.  Spinner baits and buzz baits until the sun gets bright are my go to baits.

This early in the game (at least here in IA), I'd opt for a squarebill and a spinnerbait for moving presentations.  They're still pre-spawn here, so I'd also be trying a jig/craw combo worked aggressively until they tell me that I need to slow down.

Put away the buzzbaits and pick up a spinnerbait. 

54 degree water Pre spawn surface bite is a oxymoron. Jig and worms sunrise to sunset with jerk baits inbetween.

Tom

 

1 hour ago, WRB said:

54 degree water Pre spawn surface bite is a oxymoron. Jig and worms sunrise to sunset with jerk baits inbetween.

Tom

 

Not this year on Table Rock.  The top water bite has been awesome.

10 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

Not this year on Table Rock.  The top water bite has been awesome.

Was the top water bite at Table Rock 54 degree water in pre spawn? Clear water the majority of the pre spawn bass population is usually 15'-25'

Tom

1 hour ago, Jig Man said:

I love fishing during the time just before dawn when sunrise is still way off but I have to leave home by 04:30 to do it.  Spinner baits and buzz baits until the sun gets bright are my go to baits.

i caught 6 on a buzzbait last week, in the early morning, slick water, in the rocky shallows mid 50 degree water. it was a warm day the day before. there's no rules in bass fishing.lol

I'm here in Iowa and our water is also in the 50s. I'm about as big a spinner bait guy as you can be but I will say a swim jig with a menace has been better for me this spring. Although I have thrown it a lot more. Nevermind...throw a spinnerbait..or a squarebill...or maybe a swim jig?

For my second rod I've been using a siebert sniper jig with a zoom ultravibe speed craw and they are smoking that too.

Last but not least I've been getting a few fish on a weightless weedless BPS stick o.

I fish early all times of year. My best bite during the winter was very early in the morning until 8-10AM. Jerkbait has been a solid choice for me almost every day for me so far this year.

Hitting the water a little before sunrise this Friday.

Early bird gets the worm, I suppose.  Go for it.  Sounds like similar conditions out here in Western PA.  I've been on a pretty good spinnerbait bite this "spring".  Specifically the War Eagle Finesse in 5/16oz.  Got one jig bite in April (luckily it was a 6+) but it seems to be picking up over the last week or two.  Curve 55 finesse and DT-4 have produced as well.  Took the buzzbait for a spin and learned pretty quick it wasn't happening.  Not wearing a swimsuit yet, still in my gore-tex with some of the wind we've had haha.  Underspin w/ swimbait could be an option if the spinnerbait bite falls off. 

 

Not sure if that helps or even applies but that's been my recent experience.  Have fun, be safe and enjoy the new rig!

The weather here has been crazy...one front after the other. I went last night after work to a small natural lake. Partly sunny, fairly clear water, 56 F and the shallows looked dead. No minnows, no bluegills, no birds and I sure didn't find any bass. I flipped the pads and drug a swim jig through the holes and on the edges and I couldn't buy a bite. I had a couple of gills (or something) nip my jig trailer on the deep side of the weeds and that was about it.

 

I don't think these fish have moved in yet.

 

 

Weather has been crazy here also and when it's nice, the fishing pressure has been crazy. 

Nobody works and everybody owns a boat, I'm guessing. 

10 hours ago, WRB said:

Was the top water bite at Table Rock 54 degree water in pre spawn? Clear water the majority of the pre spawn bass population is usually 15'-25'

Tom

Yes

we got skunked at two lakes