During late winter, white bass begin migrating up-lake to the river sections of impoundments and into feeder creeks. They’re traveling toward shallow, moving water to spawn. It’s Mother Nature’s way of replenishing a species, but this predictable movement also makes for some of the most exciting and anticipated fishing of the year.
Crappie are the kings of spring because they come to the bank and give everyone a shot at a limit. Plus, they’re bigger at this time than any other time of year. Whether you’re fishing from the bank or boat, you normally can find some spawning slabs, but some lakes are better than others. Whether you’re looking for sheer numbers of fish, size or easy access, chances are there’s a great crappie lake near you. Here are four awesome lakes to catch a limit of big, fat spawners.
Oklahoma’s Jason Christie rode a Rogue to a seventh-place finish in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees. Grand Lake has long been known as a great wintertime jerkbait lake and the perfect place and time to introduce Smithwick’s latest creation, the Perfect 10 Rogue. Here’s how Christie used it and the shallower-running Suspending Rattlin’ Rogue to finish so high among the best anglers in the world.
Slender, minnow-imitating stickbaits work wonders for a variety of freshwater gamefish. From bass to pike and walleyes, few predators can resist the tantalizing twitch, pause and rolling action of a well-presented minnowbait. Of course, as with any technique, a few tricks of the trade can mean the difference between catching two fish and 20 on any given outing. Following are three hot patterns to put more fish in your boat.
What is a wall-hanger crappie? In Mississippi it might be a 3 or 3 1/2-pound fish. On other good crappie lakes it might be just shy of 3 pounds. On some lakes it might be a 1 1/2-pounder. Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder, as is a wall-hanger crappie.
No other lure type is more effective in cold water than the hard-plastic suspending jerkbait. This dependable minnow-looking stickbait has bass-fishing fans across the country, but you need to know how, where and when to throw them.
An angler gets dressed up in a costume -- like a multi-colored laminated shirt with 27 logos and a matching hat -- then goes around to where the bass live and knocks on the door and yells “trick or treat!” Some days you’re tricked and others treated, but one thing’s for certain, both begging children and hopeful bass anglers are proud of a big sack when the day is done.
Smallmouth bass are like coiled springs ready to bounce into the air almost anytime water temperature is above 50 degrees, and there’s no finer sight than a jumping bronzeback against the elegant colors of autumn in the North. It’s even more beautiful if that bass nearly stopped your heart with a shocking topwater strike.
If you’ve ever seen a misdirected grasshopper land in the drink, you know what happens next. The hopper stays motionless for a moment and then scurries frantically across the surface. Most never reach land because bluegills stay on the lookout for swimming land bugs, especially during fall, when grasshoppers abound in shoreline grass and more than a few end up with their feet wet.
