It may just be me but the bass fishing has seemed slower this spring than normal. Any thoughts?

Yeah I've been thinking the same. I'm wondering if they spawned early this yr and have gone to a post spawn pattern already. Which even then it shouldn't be this slow.

Many waters are well into the post-spawn slump. The dinner bell should start ringing shortly.

Its not just you, I've been in a bit of a slump myself. Still catching but not the numbers I normally get this time of year

Have caught some bass in rivers and creeks fishing for sandies in DFW and kept them, they all still had eggs in them.

Eric

It's been pretty good for me.

Catching's been good so far when I can go.

I think it's been different for sure, that's the best way that I know how to put it. All you have to do is take a look at the Bass Fishing forum here on TFF and you're not seeing a whole lot of big fish pictures and reports. The ShareLunker program is going to hit it's all-time low (barring a last second miracle). And one of the best guides I know of in Texas told a friend of mine last week that this was his worst spring...ever.

Why? A lot of reasons, I think - all of the flooding rains and stained/muddy water in recent months, flooded vegetation scattering fish, little winter to speak of, all of these little fronts in recent weeks with their pesky north winds, etc.

As for the spawn being over, I'd say not entirely. I caught two sight fishing the skinny stuff on a local lake last Friday, both good size fish.

But by early May, there are almost always going to be increasing numbers of post-spawn fish on most North and East Texas lakes. But this year, I'd be surprised if there aren't a few others that will head shallow on the new moon and full moon phases in May. One guide I know says he has seen a few fish on beds in early June during weird springs like this.

Most all fishing is comparatively slow this year. The non stop weather patterns have shut down a lot of species. My normal crappie hotspots have been producing good blues primarily. I know a couple of guides that are removing the guarantees from their ads for the rest of this year. Guys that normally limit every trip are bring in half limits or less with a lot more work to get them.

I am going to publicly declare my next trip be a catfish trip to see if I might catch some crappie.

I can't really comment on Bass because I don't do well with them anytime.

Tight lines, Phill

Yeah, bass fishing has been surprisingly slow on most North Texas lakes IMO. I've caught a few nice fish here and there but quality + numbers just hasn't been in the mix. Last year when all these lakes came up in late spring I remember thinking, "Okay, it'll be tough, unstable, and unpredictable this summer and fall, but next spring? Look out!" Unfortunately that hasn't been the case. The tourney we fished at Ray Roberts was a great example. 58 anglers. Water temps low 70s. Light south wind. Major shad spawn happening. Full moon in April. Honestly, you couldn't have picked better circumstances to have a tourney on Ray Bob. Should have been wheels off. And yet...58 anglers...3 limits. There were several big fish though. The guys who figured out a limit are great anglers mind you, but it shouldn't have been so dang hard for the rest of us considering the circumstances. I do think part of it is the density of the shallow cover. Fish are shallow and have been for the last 2 months, but theyre super scattered. You have to pick/stumble on an area where theyre concentrated in an accesible spot for a really good reason. One of my best days this spring has been on a lake that has very little shoreline cover. It really helps bunch them up.

The good news is that it really should be a successful spawn. Now that it's mostly over, I'm hoping for a banner frog bite with all this flooded stuff. Really should be the case but, well, should be the case hasn't really been the case this year... We'll see!

It's been stellar for me...