Well with this nice weather we have been having the past few days with lots of sun light it has sure helped raise the water temps. Over the past couple of days we have gone from fish staging in deeper water waiting for water temps to rise to fish today beginning to move into shallower water in areas that have had increasing water temps.
Two days ago we were still finding fish in water depths from 18 to 22 feet of water fishing these fish with #6 Rapala Rippin Raps in colors of gold And shad patterns. I know that I have mentioned using this bait lately for Walleyes but it also works very well for Smallmouth Bass. When I am fishing bass with them I find I have better success pumping them as opposed to snap ripping them.
Obviously we are dealing with prespawn Smallmouths at this time which will put a good feed bag on before the spawning occurs so depending on where the fish are as far as water depths go you definitely want to experiment with different baits. The past couple of days we have seen the fish want slower presentations in the morning responding to more aggresive baits as the water warms in the afternoon.
Depending on the fishing location on the Bay we should see the prespawn bite go for a little while yet with some fish beginning to make beds and begin the spawning process very soon with the warmer water temps reaching that magic number. If fishing prespawn fish or spawning fish please practice catch and release to assure a quality fishery well into the future.
Paul Delaney
www.lateeyessportfishing.com
Holy brown! Love the reports Paul, you never know what species you’ll be holding in these reports, but they always seem to be quality!!!
Joel
Joel beat me to it, but I’ll say it anyway… “One of those things is not like the others!”
That Brown picture is killing me Paul as with the late Spring and my wedding at the end of April I didn’t have a chance to make our annual trop out to Sturgeon Bay chasing Browns this Spring
Did you catch it on the Rippin’ Rap as well?
Hi Will
Yes that Brown Trout did come on the Rapals Rippin Rap #6 gold color it was a bonus surprise to our day out fishing Smallies. Just like all the fish that hit that bait he smashed it and I replied nice fish really nice fish and it was just not a Smallie!!!
Paul Delaney
http://www.lateeyessportfishing.com
Great fish !
NICE fish Paul.
Ilove fishing the Bay. That clear water and watching the fish come up – way cool. Problem is can’t get there enough.
Way Cool Paul!
We need to connect down there sometime…heck I’m only a couple hours away.
The Rippin Rap was awesome for me this spring too Paul, we really put the hammer down on the eyes in Marinette with them.
Wow! I have to get out there sometime!