Pre-Spawn Bass Fishing - Right Around the Corner

[Dave_W]

Hard core bass guys who gear fish look forward to the early spring months, knowing that this is perhaps the best time of year to catch large fish.
FFers - even those that love smallies - tend to overlook this season as they are more likely focused on upcoming trout fishing.

I usually start targeting smallies with a fly rod around mid- March, depending on weather. In my experience, a water temp of 40-42 degress F. is the magic number. At this point, bass really start to wake up. Most years, this tends to be around March 10th-20th, with smaller rivers hitting it a bit sooner than bigger rivers.

With the warmer weather we have had this winter, I would not be surprised if the game starts in the next few days, if it hasn't already (I have not been out much and have not taken any temps). The next week is looking mild in central PA with not a lot of precip. I'm hoping to start bass fishing any day now!

 

[JeffK]

I couldn't find temps on USGS for PA smallie spots (all I checked showed no available data), but my local smallie river, the Raritan River at Manville, NJ, is up to 45F. Maybe I should head out. Shad may be early this year as well.

 

[Fly-Swatter]

For Upper Susky above Danville: It seems like we are going to have a colder-than-average March. https://epawaweather.com/long-range-outlook/

The Danville gauge has a thermometer for the Susky. It was into the low 40s in February. It's below 40 now and will likely stay in the 30s for much of March. The only positive is the increasing length of daylight.

Check the highs & Lows on this chart (lots of lows in the 20s) https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/wilkes-barre/18701/march-weather/330293

 

[krayfish2]

Yeah, that flush of water and low night temps caused river temps to dive. You're getting a shot of melting snow from southern tier of NY shortly. I think they got hit from last 3 fronts and there's a few more coming

 

[Beweav]

Does anyone have any flies or presentation styles that work best for early spring smallmouth? Or is it similar to fishing for them in the fall?

 

[Fly-Swatter]

I've found them (and walleye) in shoreline eddies that are about 3-6 feet deep when flows are higher. When the water temps are moving up and nearing 50, they'll hit most minnow imitations. As far as temps and presentation: lower = slower. Remember, baitfish tend to be bigger in early Spring.

 

[jifigz]

I used to be a hardcore bass guy. Attached is a picture of a fish I caught in 2012 at the tip of a submerged island. It is a nice smallmouth that was around 21" and chunky but not overly spectacular as I've caught many this size in March. But it's hard to get em bigger than this outta the Juniata. They kind of hit a wall and stop. Anyways, I think a mild warm up and you can fish fast, not low and slow. Fish are aggressive and hungry and will often pounce a bait as soon as it's in the water in a likely spot. Fish are still relating to structure that offer big current breaks as the water is cold and they need to find big eddies if the river rises rapidly, but the fish aren't hard to catch. It's all location, location, location. Almost any bait resembling a bait fish will work.

 

[jifigz]

Anyways, March and April is prime time smallmouth fishing. Big fish, hungry fish, and great fishing. Go after em. My only problem is I started chasing trout and hatches with a fly rod instead.

 

[Dave_W]

Well, my prediction for an early bass season may have been over optimistic with the return of cold weather and the snow melt from NY.

We posted a blog article I wrote a few years ago about pre-spawn bass fishing on the home page if you're new to the game.

 

[C_kreek17]

Anyone getting out there for pre-spawn? Looks like the creek temps in south central pa are warming up now (barring a big flush of cool run off from the predicted rain)! Haven’t had a chance to get out yet but I’m starting to get the itch! I know I probably missed the first good bites of the year but this sustained warmer(ish) weather should really get things going.

 

[jifigz]

Anyone getting out there for pre-spawn? Looks like the creek temps in south central pa are warming up now (barring a big flush of cool run off from the predicted rain)! Haven’t had a chance to get out yet but I’m starting to get the itch! I know I probably missed the first good bites of the year but this sustained warmer(ish) weather should really get things going.

I have not. All of my upcoming fishing ambitions have been focused on my trout trips. That is the problem with being surrounded by good trout water. I am tying soft hackles and dries and thinking about the salmonids. I generally won't bass fish until mid-June anymore. Smallmouths used to get 100% of my focus year round, though. I kind of miss those days.

 

[C_kreek17]

I have not. All of my upcoming fishing ambitions have been focused on my trout trips. That is the problem with being surrounded by good trout water. I am tying soft hackles and dries and thinking about the salmonids. I generally won't bass fish until mid-June anymore. Smallmouths used to get 100% of my focus year round, though. I kind of miss those days.

Nothing wrong with that! To each their own. To be fair, summer smallmouths are hard to beat. I’d argue it’s some of the most exciting dry fly fishing around

 

[jifigz]

Nothing wrong with that! To each their own. To be fair, summer smallmouths are hard to beat. I’d argue it’s some of the most exciting dry fly fishing around

A foam gurgler is the only top water bug I carry for bass. I do most of my smallmouth fishing on the surface, too.

 

[C_kreek17]

A foam gurgler is the only top water bug I carry for bass. I do most of my smallmouth fishing on the surface, too.

Same! I’ve tried the mr. Wiggly that’s all the rage right now but nothing beats the gurgler

 

[jifigz]

Same! I’ve tried the mr. Wiggly that’s all the rage right now but nothing beats the gurgler

I am not familiar with a "Mr. Wiggly." I have never heard of it. I will look it up.

 

[bdhoover77]

I am interested in taking my son(s) bass fishing this spring and summer. I prefer to fly fish but my kids prefer spin fishing. I’d like to find some southern PA (or MD) streams that can be waded for smallmouth (and any other species really).

Has anyone else taken their kids wade fishing for smallmouth?

 

[tstooge26]

The smallmouth bite is definitely starting to heat up…been doing well on my local water bouncing crawfish jigs along the bottom

Love this time of the year of the six I landed the other day the smallest was 14inch, seems like the bigger fish are out to play

I would definitely check out the mr.wiggly especially in late summer when the water gets low it’s hard to beat

 

[Silent Ocelot]

I have not. All of my upcoming fishing ambitions have been focused on my trout trips. That is the problem with being surrounded by good trout water. I am tying soft hackles and dries and thinking about the salmonids. I generally won't bass fish until mid-June anymore. Smallmouths used to get 100% of my focus year round, though. I kind of miss those days.

Pretty much summarizes the time frame I fish for trout and bass, though when I say I am going for bass it actually means bluegill.

 

[jifigz]

Pretty much summarizes the time frame I fish for trout and bass, though when I say I am going for bass it actually means bluegill.

Why don't you just say you are going fishing for bluegill then? Where are you fishing for bluegill? If in a warmwater stream in the Susquehanna drainage those "bluegill" that you are catching are most likely redbreasts. Redbreasts are one of my favorite fish to fish for and they are an actual native fish to the Susquehanna/Juniata drainages.

 

[Schaefer406]

Anyone getting out there for pre-spawn? Looks like the creek temps in south central pa are warming up now (barring a big flush of cool run off from the predicted rain)! Haven’t had a chance to get out yet but I’m starting to get the itch! I know I probably missed the first good bites of the year but this sustained warmer(ish) weather should really get things going.

I've been out wading the edges of the Susquehanna near Wrightsville for roughly 4 hours this past week and have had no success. Maybe I just suck. I'm also new to smallie fishing. Was fishing a floating line with crayfish bouncing bottom in side eddies and soft pockets with no luck