Posted By: Catfish Tim
Now what? - 03/07/22 01:59 PM
So we keep saying the deep bite is ending. The winter pattern we have been enjoying is all but over. So now what? What's the next big thing? We are getting tired of having to put on so many clothes we look like Randy from A Christmas Story getting ready for school! Randy!
So now what? What do we look for? What is the next pattern to focus on? In my opinion, the answer is the Pre Spawn pattern...
What is pre-spawn? - I think the pre spawn pattern is defined as the time of year when the fish start feeding up preparing for the spawn when they are less focused on eating and wholly focused on reproducing. Pre Spawn is also a time when the water is warming and the fish are more active because their metabolism is increasing. Blue cats can spawn between 70 and 84 degrees but the sweet spot is 80 to 81 degrees. 80 degree water is a good ways off yet but 70 isn't that far.
What is the process? - Before they spawn they will stage up on the North end of the body of water they are on. They will go up river to spawn. They typically don't spawn in the open water of the main lake. In the Pre Spawn period they are looking for bait that is focusing on the fresh water coming into the lake on the spring rains. The transition we are seeing now from deep water to mid-depths is a first step in that process. As they get to the mid-depths, they will continue to look for the warmer water. In the spring, that usually means shallow. The spring sun will warm the shallows first. The bait will seek out the warmth of those shallows and the blues will follow.
What to look for? - Watch the bait. Look for the bait starting to come back into the marinas and the coves with shallow water. Where we have been catching bait in 30 plus feet of water, we can go back to starting to look for them more spread out in shallower water. The boat ramps, the marinas, the shallows will start to hold bait again. You will start to see bait on the surface in the mornings. When you start to see bait shallow, you will start to see blues shallow too.
Where should I fish? - Think North but don't just think North. When I put together a plan for a pre spawn pattern, I will look North but I will also look shallow. I will think about places where I can get out of the wind because this time of year, that can be a problem. I will also think about places where I have seen a good shallow bite based on the wind direction (not always North).
Can I still target big fish? - You can still catch big fish. But the reality is you are probably going to win on numbers, not size. When the pre spawn pattern sets up, the big fish seem to be more scattered. It's not like the winter pattern where they are 10 feet thick at the deepest part of the lake. They spread out more so they are harder to target simply because they are not as concentrated.
What about bait? - In my opinion, smaller is better. I have caught big fish (30ish pounds) on tiny, 1 inch square pieces of bait during the pre spawn pattern. This is also the time of year to down size hooks along with the bait.
Drift or Anchor? - The answer is... it depends. I know; how do you decide? If the wind is up and I want to get out of it to fish, I will find a cove with timber and anchor up. If the wind is such that I can drift, and I can find fish in a driftable area, I will drift. It really does all depend. The pre spawn pattern is a good time to target some eaters for a fish fry because you can usually get into them and catch what you need quickly and easily. This is also a good time for the little ones to get out because the action is a lot faster.
Now, all of this is just my opinion. I base this on my experience. This spring is setting up to be a dry one and that is likely going to have an impact on things. Water is typically high in the spring but as of now Lavon is still about 4 feet low. I think that may make things a little easier but time will tell.
I would love to hear what the rest of you guys think about the pattern change. Let me know how you see it...
Tight Lines & God Bless
So now what? What do we look for? What is the next pattern to focus on? In my opinion, the answer is the Pre Spawn pattern...
What is pre-spawn? - I think the pre spawn pattern is defined as the time of year when the fish start feeding up preparing for the spawn when they are less focused on eating and wholly focused on reproducing. Pre Spawn is also a time when the water is warming and the fish are more active because their metabolism is increasing. Blue cats can spawn between 70 and 84 degrees but the sweet spot is 80 to 81 degrees. 80 degree water is a good ways off yet but 70 isn't that far.
What is the process? - Before they spawn they will stage up on the North end of the body of water they are on. They will go up river to spawn. They typically don't spawn in the open water of the main lake. In the Pre Spawn period they are looking for bait that is focusing on the fresh water coming into the lake on the spring rains. The transition we are seeing now from deep water to mid-depths is a first step in that process. As they get to the mid-depths, they will continue to look for the warmer water. In the spring, that usually means shallow. The spring sun will warm the shallows first. The bait will seek out the warmth of those shallows and the blues will follow.
What to look for? - Watch the bait. Look for the bait starting to come back into the marinas and the coves with shallow water. Where we have been catching bait in 30 plus feet of water, we can go back to starting to look for them more spread out in shallower water. The boat ramps, the marinas, the shallows will start to hold bait again. You will start to see bait on the surface in the mornings. When you start to see bait shallow, you will start to see blues shallow too.
Where should I fish? - Think North but don't just think North. When I put together a plan for a pre spawn pattern, I will look North but I will also look shallow. I will think about places where I can get out of the wind because this time of year, that can be a problem. I will also think about places where I have seen a good shallow bite based on the wind direction (not always North).
Can I still target big fish? - You can still catch big fish. But the reality is you are probably going to win on numbers, not size. When the pre spawn pattern sets up, the big fish seem to be more scattered. It's not like the winter pattern where they are 10 feet thick at the deepest part of the lake. They spread out more so they are harder to target simply because they are not as concentrated.
What about bait? - In my opinion, smaller is better. I have caught big fish (30ish pounds) on tiny, 1 inch square pieces of bait during the pre spawn pattern. This is also the time of year to down size hooks along with the bait.
Drift or Anchor? - The answer is... it depends. I know; how do you decide? If the wind is up and I want to get out of it to fish, I will find a cove with timber and anchor up. If the wind is such that I can drift, and I can find fish in a driftable area, I will drift. It really does all depend. The pre spawn pattern is a good time to target some eaters for a fish fry because you can usually get into them and catch what you need quickly and easily. This is also a good time for the little ones to get out because the action is a lot faster.
Now, all of this is just my opinion. I base this on my experience. This spring is setting up to be a dry one and that is likely going to have an impact on things. Water is typically high in the spring but as of now Lavon is still about 4 feet low. I think that may make things a little easier but time will tell.
I would love to hear what the rest of you guys think about the pattern change. Let me know how you see it...
Tight Lines & God Bless