Hit the lower J. for my first real effort at pre-spawn smallies this season.
WEATHER: Sunny, calm, fifties.
WATER: About 7' at the Newport gauge; stained with about 2' visibility, flooded shoreline vegetation with substantial flotsam and woody debris floating in eddies. Water temp was 43 degrees F confirmed in two spots via thermometer.
INSECTS/FORAGE: Some midges early, and brown stoneflies in afternoon, heavy in some places. No fish activity on them. In my experience, early season bass are not interested in stoneflies.
It was a beautiful day to get out with significantly fewer anglers than I'd expected. Saw a couple boats in the predictable spots (and in the Susky) but for such a nice Saturday before trout season there are usually more anglers out. I hit my usual milk run of shoreline spots that I hit every spring. The water was a bit higher than I'd like, but I'm usually confident this time of year when the water is muddy and high. . . but today flopped as I hooked only one fish. The sudden rise in levels yesterday combined with somewhat colder weather lately may have put them down. Whatever the case, with a water temp well into the 40s now, the springtime bass bite should be on - get out soon if you can.
WEATHER: Sunny, calm, fifties.
WATER: About 7' at the Newport gauge; stained with about 2' visibility, flooded shoreline vegetation with substantial flotsam and woody debris floating in eddies. Water temp was 43 degrees F confirmed in two spots via thermometer.
INSECTS/FORAGE: Some midges early, and brown stoneflies in afternoon, heavy in some places. No fish activity on them. In my experience, early season bass are not interested in stoneflies.
It was a beautiful day to get out with significantly fewer anglers than I'd expected. Saw a couple boats in the predictable spots (and in the Susky) but for such a nice Saturday before trout season there are usually more anglers out. I hit my usual milk run of shoreline spots that I hit every spring. The water was a bit higher than I'd like, but I'm usually confident this time of year when the water is muddy and high. . . but today flopped as I hooked only one fish. The sudden rise in levels yesterday combined with somewhat colder weather lately may have put them down. Whatever the case, with a water temp well into the 40s now, the springtime bass bite should be on - get out soon if you can.
