This Saturday was the first opportunity Mike and I had to get out and try the open water bite. A shoulder injury, horrible weather, flood stage waters, and busy schedules have kept our feet land locked since ice out 
We both needed a fishing fix and our mouths were watering for a fish fry. After a phone call we agreed to meet up at 6:30am and try our luck at some pannies, it was the right decision 
Loading up the boat with gear there was a deep conversation going on. After a warm spell with temps in the 80’s along with warm nights, and now a cold front putting us back into the mid 40’s what would this do to the panfish we wanted to target? The schedule was going to keep us from being able to play all day and the need to land in the right area as quickly as possible would be nice.
The thought was to head for a spawning area. With the still high water the idea was, off a shallow water bay (spawn area) there should be a 12foot shelf that drops into 22fow. No sun and cold nights might have just made the gills slip off the top and a little deeper, or so we were hoping.
After a short boat ride in a morning wet chilled air we arrived at the fishing grounds. Keeping an eye on the sonar the shelf was found and the water spike was slipped over the side. The high water had us in just a slight current and with a good amount of anchor rope let out the boat would swing back and forth just a little. It wasn’t long and it became evident that this set up was the cats meow for putting some dandy Blue Ears in the live well 
Casting a 1/64oz orange jig head tipped with a chunk of crawler or a 1inch Gulp Alive Minnow up on the shallow bay flat, then retrieving and letting the bait drop down the edge into 12 feet was the ticket. The gills were stacked right along the drop and tight to bottom. The top produced short fish while the deeper edge held an average size of 7.5 – 8inch wide backed gills along with a few nicer perch and some smaller crappies. Mike also hit 3 just short eyes making for some fun but, the high lights and UL Tackle testing fish were a sheephead and a good Small Mouth both testing drags and 2lb test while providing a boat dance for both us old timers 
The cool air temps had the finned critters feeling like hand warmers coming out of the water. With the predicted forecast for the week I believe this pattern will last for a while. The cold nights will have these fish slip down along the edge at night and then move up as the day warms. I see another prolonged spawn again this year.
With 16 nice fish a piece we headed back to the landing with smiles on the face. For us, this first trip out was a great way to start our open water year, it was a hoot buddy Mike
Good Luck Fishing People 
The 2 that put the test to our Ultra Light Tackle
Great report Bret. It was nice to get the updates as I was following my Daughter Mattison around the mall as she looked for clothes & earrings.
awesome report bret
good to see mike out with you.i had the wife and megan out on mothers day found some gills in megans perch hole they had a blast 
some of the gills had a blue-purple tint to them have you ever seen this . 
Spring is here, first Bret and Mike photos of the year
Nice hand warmers fellas
Thanks, I needed that!
Nice report. That looked like fun!
Like Bret wrote we were in desperate need for a fishing fix.
In the last 12 years here in La Crosse I think this is the longest stretch I’ve had not being on water or ice – a definate bad case of “withdrawals” was setting in. 
I have to admit (but won’t tell Bret) 
that this wouldn’t have been my first choice to start the day but one thing I have learned is that when he gets that “fish sniffer” 
going I don’t question as he’s always right – well maybe not always but the averages are in favor of the “sniffer”. 
What a great way to start the open water season – and not seeing each other at work anymore we had a lot of BS’ing to catch up on also.
The river and landings are a bit of a mess yet but things will only get better from here on.
Nice work guys. The smallie and sheepie must have been a hoot on ultra lights.
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond guys!
You have to love the colors of Blue Gills before and during the spawn
They are almost sportin’ colors as vivid as a salt water fish during this time period. Males will have super bright orange bellies and there ears are a deep, deep blue. There sides reflect greens, purples, orange, and yellows when held in the sun light. I have always found them to be one of the coolest colored fish in the river!
Man! I can smell them frying from here!!
Nice fish! Walley trade for some walleye filets?
You know you can jump in down here anytime you want Tuck
We need to get Blue out also, he’s become Mr. Domestic
I see a “Trade a Trip” developing!
Nice job !
Great report, hopefully I get a chance to get some of those this weekend.
<snicker>
Nice looking pannies Bret & Mike!
I need to get into the panfish. I’m tired of catching Catfish and Walleyes down here.
Lance
Welcome to IDO Lance
Many congrats Brett. Looks like it’s not only during the hard-water period where you earn the title “panfish-hound”! Good work to the both of you.
Joel