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
Chris LeMessurier is a Wilderness Systems and Hook1 team angler, professional guide, IGFA World Record holder and ACA certified paddle instructor.
TACKLE BOX: Medium-heavy baitcasting rod and reel with 20-pound braided line and 12-pound fluorocarbon leader. The bite is aggressive, so work a two-inch, square bill crankbait or a half-ounce spinnerbait through the shallows. Make long casts to cover water and find scattered fish.
FISH FINDER: There are many launches on the Canadian and American side of the lake. My favorite: Selfridge Air National Guard base. Paddle out a few hundred yards and start fishing. If the weather is clear and calm, look for grass beds and cast close to the edge.
EARLY ACTION: Lake St. Clair, Michigan, is the “Little Sister” of the Great Lakes.
SIGNS OF SPRING: When the water temperature reaches the 60s—typically in mid- to late May—try to catch largemouth, smallmouth, white bass and rock bass.
FISH TALE: My most memorable day of 2014 was with my friend Austin. It quickly became obvious that the fish were looking for a crankbait. We both rigged up and not only did we score the elusive bass slam, but we landed a nice pike, too. Towards the end of the day, Austin told me his dad wanted a walleye for dinner. About 10 minutes later, I called out, “You’re dad is going to eat well tonight,” as I landed a keeper walleye.
SOMETHING FISHY: “Bass” is a name that encompasses a large number of species in both freshwater and saltwater. From largemouth bass to sea bass, all are related to perch. In fact, the name bass comes from the Middle English word bars, which means perch.
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.
