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[cool]Low and slow. The fish are still in cold mode and seldom move fast to chase a moving bait. Think jig and pig, or slow crawling plastic baits. The takes will often be only slight pressure on the line, or the merest tick. This is finesse fishing. Sometimes they won't even respond to big baits at all, but will suck in small tube jigs being fished for crappies or trout. Try 3" or 4" worms, on 1/16 oz heads, moved in little hops, with a bit of motionless in between.
Early season colors can be black, black and chartreuse, chartreuse or white. Purple or dark blue work well in bright light conditions. It is early for the crawdads to be coming out, but sometimes crawdad colors are good early.
Check the water temp. Until the water goes over about 55, the above info will be valid. Then the largies start waking up and thinking about grabbing some groceries before playing the "Dating Game". That's the time to break out spinner baits, crank baits and jerk baits.
Early season bassin' is a thermometer watching game. These fish are definitely sensitive to minor temperature changes. Fish the north banks a lot in the early spring...where the sun hits and warms the water fastest. Also look for spots where runoff brings in murky water. This absorbs the sun's rays and warms faster than clear water. If you can find a south-facing cove, protected from water-mixing breezes, the temperature will often be that magic two or three degrees higher and you will find more active fish. There are lots of times in the early part of the year when you can see bass (and other species) just laying near the surface...soaking up the rays. These fish are seldom in a feeding mode, but it will help you to locate areas where they hang out.
Another consideration, along the same line, is that fishing in the late afternoon, after a warm day, will usually be better this time of year than will the early morning, when surface temps have dropped overnight. That reverses during the hottest part of the summer, when bass move shallow early but retreat to the depths during the hotter parts of the day.
Just a little bassin' 101. But be warned. About the time you begin to think you have them figured out, they will find 10 ways to restore your humility.
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I like to use double tail Hula grubs in pumpkin color with red or green flake. There are a lot of things that work, but this is my early season go to bass bait in Utah. I fish them on a 1/4 oz. weedless jig head rather than Texas rigged. Fish tight to cover and very slow. Try to fish after at least the second day of a high pressure front. Try to use at least 12 pound test on a very stiff casting rod. You want as little line stretch as possible to put the hook home on those light biters. I start catching largemouths in march, and don't stop till the ice sets up.
Good Fishing, Kayote
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Thanks for the pointers. We usually fish that pond real fast along the weedbeds and near the top. Yesterday we didn't catch a thing until we slowed way down. Our water temp is still pretty low too, about 44 a week ago. Hopin for some more sun soon to help. Thanks again.
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I used to fish a private bass pond in Cache years ago. It's not Pelican Pond you're fishing, is it?
Good Fishing, Kayote
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I shudder to think what 100 acres would cost in Cache valley these days. That is a really cool pond. I have some fond memories. They used to let the public in there. We never caught two or three pounders there though. Lots of one plus fish though. Thanks for the response.
Good Fishing, Kayote
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Would this same advice be applicable for SMB waters as well? Or do I need to do something different this time of year.
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[cool]Smallies are more of a cold climate species. You can knock about 5 to 8 degrees off the preferred ranges of the LMB. They wake up sooner in the spring and stay active longer in the fall.
Almost as soon as smallmouth become active at all, they will hit small spinners and crankbaits...as well as the standard plastics. They tend to like bright colors in the colder water though...like chartreuse and hot orange. In fact, the "fire tiger" finish on various lures is one of the best for smallies early...and does some good things for largies too on occasion.
Wherever smallies depend on perch for a big part of their groceries, you will do well to serve up some perch colors in your lures...and/or tip your jigs with a piece of perch meat (where legal). As soon as the water warms enough for crawdads to be coming out of their winter holes under rocks, start dragging small crawdad colored plastics. In some waters the smallies seem to key in mostly on fish dinners. In other ponds they dine on freshwater lobsters more.
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SoUtDuckHntr,
Early season I've had great success with suspending jerk baits on smallmouth. Use a stop and go retrieve. They can't resist it. For some reason, the bigger smallies really react to jerk baits. Mid summer, I like to use 5 inch Kalins in pumpkin. The bigger grub will keep the little guys at bay. I have found that if you want to catch the bigger smallies in the summer, you can't get on the lake too early. I launch in the dark, and the best action is over by 9:00 am. This seems to be much more important that the specific lure. These are Basin and Gorge techniques, not Powell or Jordanelle. Just my $.02.
Good Fishing, Kayote
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I hate to even speculate on the cost but most of it was purchased as farm ground. In regards to the size of the bass the landowners on the pond have instituted an unwritten catch and release program so there is very little harvest going on. The fish seem to get bigger every year now. We have seen them upwards of 5 pounds and there are lots of fish tales about some bigger than that.
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Early season smallmouth usually fall to typical reaction baits. I like a wide wobbling crankbait in a red or crayfish color. Try Wiggle Worts or Fat Raps. I also enjoy throwing supending jerkbaits like Husky Jerks in silvers. With a stop and go retrieve I have seen bass come up from the depths of 40 ft to hammer them. Both of these would be reaction baits that I would use to search for fish. Another new bait that I have gained a lot of confidence in for early season bass is the Yamamoto Senko. Fish it weightless on a 2/0 or 3/0 offset shank hook. I like to use the laminated red/black, blue/black and green/white colors. Don't worry about not having weight, they are a dense bait and cast efficiently. The enticing part is how they fall thru the water column, slow and with lots of wiggles and darts. Enjoy!
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Thanks so much for everyones input. I'm going to fish for them next week. I have only fished for them during warmer months but it sounds like I have been missing out on alot of good opportunities.
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hey there fire,
i didnt see anyone mention dropshotting. you may want to try that if the fish are holding deep. go to yoru sport shop ask them about a drop shot rig. simply put a sinker on the end of your line and the hook about 8 incehs or so above the sinker. use a plastic worm and youll have to vary colors. then get some smelly jelly or whatever for scent. cast out from shore and periodically pop it up. the sinker should keep the line stationary and the worm should just move up and down. the fish will usually be on the hook when you pull up since it is cold. sometimes come up and mouth it so when you drop your rod tip you will have slack just before it hits bottom. hope this helps too.
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