Time to get things fired back up... Rods are coming out of retirement!!!

Anyone know if they’ve spawned yet during this period of weird weather? Or if they are still waiting to move up?

3 minutes ago, matthew3 said:

Anyone know if they’ve spawned yet during this period of weird weather? Or if they are still waiting to move up?

Not even close. Water hasn't even touched 50 degrees yet and they don't normally spawn until late April on a normal year.

2 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Not even close. Water hasn't even touched 50 degrees yet and they don't normally spawn until late April on a normal year.

Okay that’s what I thought. A buddy of mine told me he thought they already had spawned and I didn’t buy it. I remember last year they had spawned by the time the schools were out for summer. But thanks for the info. Looking forward to finding girls on some beds in a couple weeks. 

15 minutes ago, matthew3 said:

Okay that’s what I thought. A buddy of mine told me he thought they already had spawned and I didn’t buy it. I remember last year they had spawned by the time the schools were out for summer. But thanks for the info. Looking forward to finding girls on some beds in a couple weeks. 

a couple of the small lakes hit 48 last week.

Yesterday Wyandotte was back down to 45. After today,the forecast does not show any signs of warming much for at least another week.

 

4 hours ago, Weedwhacker said:

a couple of the small lakes hit 48 last week.

Yesterday Wyandotte was back down to 45. After today,the forecast does not show any signs of warming much for at least another week.

 

This is exactly what I've seen too. Saw 48 at a couple little lakes, then 45 was the highest I saw last weekend. 

Last Friday Watkins Mill was up to 46 but that was a bright sunny day. With the recent weather I can't imagine it's even hit 50 yet.

 

I will see tomorrow. I'll be fishing even though it'll be below freezing again. I kinda like it that way now. I like having the lake to myself when the weather is bad!

11 minutes ago, SuperVehicle001 said:

Last Friday Watkins Mill was up to 46 but that was a bright sunny day. With the recent weather I can't imagine it's even hit 50 yet.

 

I will see tomorrow. I'll be fishing even though it'll be below freezing again. I kinda like it that way now. I like having the lake to myself when the weather is bad!

I have been wanting to get out there too, but my IT work has just been beating me to death over the past few weeks.  Very frustrating.

On 4/5/2018 at 11:22 AM, matthew3 said:

Looking forward to finding girls on some beds in a couple weeks. 

Be ready to wait longer than that.

Went to wolf today, fishing was terrible.  The plant has been down for maintenance since last week and will remain that way for the next month.  Water from the discharge to the southern end was 48-49.

On 4/6/2018 at 2:20 PM, conorsixtakc said:

Be ready to wait longer than that.

Probably be a few in a couple weeks if the warm forecast sticks this time, but I'd guess 3 weeks to a month will be the main event. Right now and the next week or two are your best chance at a big fish though. Prespawn is when the big girls are feeding and as big as they'll be all year.

On 4/7/2018 at 8:01 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

Probably be a few in a couple weeks if the warm forecast sticks this time, but I'd guess 3 weeks to a month will be the main event. Right now and the next week or two are your best chance at a big fish though. Prespawn is when the big girls are feeding and as big as they'll be all year.

Yeah you're preaching to the choir here. Although those girls are just as big if you catch em off a bed before they pop. 

 

Males coming up in numbers to make beds, males around beds waiting for females to come up, and females on beds are all different parts of a sequence that depends on stable weather and water levels.

 

My money says you're at least 3 weeks from seeing girls on em, in bigger water at least. Can't speak for the ponds tho.

 

All I can think about when I see bed fishing now is a d**n 3.01lb Spot from LOZ that was 2 drips of water from being a $500 fish. 

17 hours ago, gardnerjigman said:

All I can think about when I see bed fishing now is a d**n 3.01lb Spot from LOZ that was 2 drips of water from being a $500 fish. 

Brutal!!! 

1 minute ago, conorsixtakc said:

Brutal!!! 

It was. Almost as brutal as having a keyed in pattern 2 days before the tournament and then nothing during it.

Ive had a ROUGH spring so far catching fish. They just don't seem to be moving like they have in years past. I've tried the normal spring baits and haven't even had a decent strike. 

 

 

10 hours ago, Drew03cmc said:

Ive had a ROUGH spring so far catching fish. They just don't seem to be moving like they have in years past. I've tried the normal spring baits and haven't even had a decent strike. 

 

 

The moving bait bite has been slow for me as well. A few on a spinnerbait, few on lipless, few on a wart, jerkbait has been the only "moving" bait bite I've had. 

9 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

The moving bait bite has been slow for me as well. A few on a spinnerbait, few on lipless, few on a wart, jerkbait has been the only "moving" bait bite I've had. 

It's been a slow affair, ned rig and T-Rig finesse worm. I'm ready for some stable weather and warmer waters. They should be in prespawn, but when waters haven't hit 52 degrees, they are still in late winter patterns it appears.

30 minutes ago, Drew03cmc said:

It's been a slow affair, ned rig and T-Rig finesse worm. I'm ready for some stable weather and warmer waters. They should be in predawn, but when waters haven't hit 52 degrees, they are still in late winter patterns it appears.

I've been dealing with lots of prespawn fish but not really moving up much, just near spawning areas and feeding on slow moving stuff.

Got on some prespawners in South Central Iowa right near the Missouri Border on Friday and they were choking a moving bait (flat-sided squarebill).

 

Our club also held a tournament at Harrison County Reservoir near Bethany, MO today (April 14th) and a majority of the fish were caught on squarebills in 4 feet of water or less. The for key for all of these fish has been either wind blown rocks or banks near a deeper (6-10) channel swing.

 

 

2 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

Got on some prespawners in South Central Iowa right near the Missouri Border on Friday and they were choking a moving bait (flat-sided squarebill).

 

Our club also held a tournament at Harrison County Reservoir near Bethany, MO today (April 14th) and a majority of the fish were caught on squarebills in 4 feet of water or less. The for key for all of these fish has been either wind blown rocks or banks near a deeper (6-10) channel swing.

 

 

That's a tank. I've heard good things about that lake, but 2.5 hours to fish a little lake is a haul. 

On 4/14/2018 at 10:07 PM, Dirtyeggroll said:

Got on some prespawners in South Central Iowa right near the Missouri Border on Friday and they were choking a moving bait (flat-sided squarebill).

 

Our club also held a tournament at Harrison County Reservoir near Bethany, MO today (April 14th) and a majority of the fish were caught on squarebills in 4 feet of water or less. The for key for all of these fish has been either wind blown rocks or banks near a deeper (6-10) channel swing.

 

 

Were there a bunch caught at Harrison county? I have been there a few times but mostly fishing in the timber on the west side.

This weekend was terrible. Tried to get out on the water Saturday. Only out for 45 minutes before the wind made me question my saftey.

Taking off work to kayak fish Jacomo tomorrow. Thinking of starting at the rip-rap point near the disabled fishing area. Starting with a craw colored squarebill and then moving deeper with a jerkbait. If that fails I'll start searching with an a-rig. At least that is my plan. Any other tips? This will be my first time fishing Jacomo.

3 hours ago, kylek said:

Were there a bunch caught at Harrison county? I have been there a few times but mostly fishing in the timber on the west side.

Not a large quantity caught at Harrison county on Saturday. The fish really seemed to have shut off with the cold front that rolled through. Evryone that caught fish caught them in the same muddy cove on squarebills or jigs in 1-4 feet of water that was about 4 degrees warmer (52-53) than down by the dam (48-49) There were a few big ones though. The big bass was 5-14 And they were at least three others over five.

 

The winning weight was 14-4 and only a few caught a limit.

On 4/14/2018 at 10:07 PM, Dirtyeggroll said:

Got on some prespawners in South Central Iowa right near the Missouri Border on Friday and they were choking a moving bait (flat-sided squarebill).

 

Our club also held a tournament at Harrison County Reservoir near Bethany, MO today (April 14th) and a majority of the fish were caught on squarebills in 4 feet of water or less. The for key for all of these fish has been either wind blown rocks or banks near a deeper (6-10) channel swing.

 

 

 

That is a nice fat fish!  HCR is on my list of reservoirs to hit but I haven't been there yet.