Spring Fishing Hotspots
Spring fishing hotspots are easy to locate and will provide ample fishing action for the savvy angler. Spring is the season when many bragging-size fish lurk in or very near to shallow water and offer an excellent opportunity to land a true trophy-sized fish.
At this time of year fish generally feed regularly or can be teased into striking. The secret to success isn't so much what lure you use, but where you fish that lure. Let's take a look at a few key spring fishing hotspots that will increase your catch rates.
Fishing Weed-Beds
One of the mist productive areas in the spring can be found in sheltered bays or coves containing stretches of weeds growing in a relatively hard bottom. Many gamefish such as walleye, bass, northern pike, and muskie use tall weeds to hunt for prey and also for shelter.
The presence of fallen brush , logs, or wooden pilings adjacent to the weed-beds makes any area very promising a a potential fishing hotspot. At times, pitching your lures into the middle of the thickest part of the weeds may result in hooking and landing the biggest fish of the day.
Look for points, openings or pockets in the weeds where various lures can be cast and retrieved without continually fouling your lure. Work weed beds carefully, especially at dawn and again at dusk.
Tributary Creeks and Streams
Many fish will use an incoming stream as a staging area during the pre-spawn and post-spawn periods. If the mouth of the feeder stream is deeper than four feet or more, the area may have good potential during spring, summer, and fall. A great deal depends on the additional features found in the immediate area such as water temperature, bottom composition, available forage, cover, etc. If the stream has considerable current, it may draw various species of fish most anytime. In springtime, however, and especially when fishing remote waters, you may find this to be "the best spot". Never pass it up without throughly checking it out.
Below Dams and Rapids
Any barrier that blocks the upstream migration of fish should be fished thoroughly. Pools directly below rapids or structures such as dams and spillways can hold good numbers of fish almost any time of year, but such places are especially productive during the spring season when many species head upstream.
The best holding areas below dams and spillways are often quite small and require careful probing. Don't be in a hurry to leave such an area, even when the fishing action comes to a halt. All the fish you want could be in the pool and within easy casting distance. Oftentimes it's just a matter of waiting for the fish to become active. Be patient and you'll be well rewarded.
Fishing Lure Presentation
There are certain times of the year when some lure presentations are much more productive than at other times. The spring season is one such period.
When searching for fish after the spawning season, and once water temperatures have risen above the mid-60s range, try to eliminate unproductive water around large weedbeds quickly. An effective way to accomplish this is with a topwater buzzbait or spinnerbait retrieved at a fast rate over the top of the weeds.
Always watch for signs of fish bulging the water behind your bait or following it, even when they don't strike the lure aggressively. One or more fish following your lure could be an indication that there are more fish in the immediate area, or that your lure speed or presentation could be incorrect. Each "follow" of the high-speed lure should be accompanied by a slower-moving offering such as a jig dressed with a pork chunk or plastic twister tail.
There you have it. Three key areas to hunt big fish in the spring. Now take these recommendations on the water and give them a good workout!
Fishing Tip
Although lily pads have a sterling reputation as hangouts for trophy bass, the best lily pad beds will have deep water swinging in close or right up to their edge. This gives any fish lurking in the pads immediate access to deep water for safety and security. Find these pads and you've found fish!
