The sun is shining and the weather is sweet, makes me want to go fishing! Spring has sprung and the fish are snapping. From the steamy south to the crispy north, Mother Nature is waking up and anglers are ready to get out of the house. Here’s Kayak Angler’s top picks for spring hotspots from the anglers who know them best.—Ric Burnley
EARLY ACTION: Wareham and Plymouth, Massachusetts. Delorme Massachusetts Atlas shows launch ramps for public ponds and lakes. The best water is farthest from the road. Use the atlas to map out access to remote lakes and ponds. Just be sure to stay on public property.
SIGNS OF SPRING: As soon as ice melts in March or April.
TACKLE BOX: Fly Tackle: 6 wt. fly combo, floating line and Clouser minnow or Lefty deceiver. Spinning tackle: Seven-foot, medium-action spinning rod spooled with 20-pound test monofilament. Tube jigs, small spoons and soft plastics are most effective. Early in the season, it seems that two-tone lures work best.
FISH FINDER: Expect fish to cruise the shallow water, which warms faster than deeper holes. Look for fallen trees or other structure to hold fish.
FISH TALE: After a brutal winter, as soon as I heard the ice had cleared, I jumped at the first opportunity to go fishing. It was a cold, windy day and I had never fished the pond, so expectations were low. I was only interested in getting out of the house. I found a drop-off interrupted by sunken logs. On the second cast with a Clouser minnow, I landed a nice perch. Then, a few casts later, I hooked a pickerel that dragged me on a sleigh ride. Then I caught a largemouth bass. For two hours, I experienced non-stop action. Early season fish are hungry; I can catch several species without changing lures.
SOMETHING FISHY: Pickerel are found all across North America and Europe. The IGFA World Record is 55 pounds caught in Lake of Grefeem, Germany, in 1986. If predator/prey ratio drops below 2:1, the fish will become cannibalistic and feed on smaller pike. To quickly reach top speed, they use a snake-like “S” movement. The fish makes a “C” shape with its long body to throw on the brakes.
James Spica is editor of Michigan Trout Magazine. He fishes over 100 days each year.
This article was first published in the Spring 2015 issue of Kayak Angler. Subscribe to Kayak Angler Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
