Early spring fishin in VA!

Kicksomebass · 02-03-11, 11:40 AM

Hey guys.. noob here! This is the first year i've really made a concious effort to hit the water earlier. A buddy of mine and I usually wait til mid April to get on the water, but after we've both caught spring fever like a bad case of the munchies, we've decided to hit it earlier. Not to mention the people in our boating group dont like to weather the cooler air, we thought it would be cool to target fish that before the other guys can hit the water.

That being said, I'd love to get some feedback about what our planned attack is going to be. We both have been fishing for a LONG time and know the general movement of the fish, but we've never targeted this pattern.

I know slow is the way to go, therefore we will most likely be using jigs and soft plastics. Right now i have a black/blue 1/2 jig tied up, as well as a texas rig for worm, a weightless for senko's, cuz it's my go-to, a white spinnerbait with a fluke as a trailer, and finally i have a rod with a deep diving suspending crank bait. I've been doing quite a bit of research watcing vids and reviews (my girlfriend thinks i'm absolutely insane lol) and we are generally going to be fishing these things on the shelfs/slopes leading up to flats. I've also looked at a lot of satellite imagry (thank you google earth) of the water we will be fishing and have marked points and dropoffs that are visible from above.

I have been reading a lot and these motives make the most sense to me, and if anyone on here who has done more early spring fishing could give me feedback it would be awesome.... Thanks a lot in advance..

Derek

BigBassin144 · 02-03-11, 01:54 PM

Don't forget a good old suspending jerkbait. I started fishing LC Pointers last spring and liked them from the little I got to use them. Some less expensive alternatives are Rapala X-Rap and Husky Jerk, Smithwick Rattling Suspending Rogue, and many others.

I'd also have a dropshot tied on. Probably for when you find some fish to get the more finicky fish to bite. I like a Chompers 4" dropshot worm or a Tiny Fluke.

BB

Bryan · 02-03-11, 02:00 PM

Fishing in Northern VA is tough. The lakes are small and typically get alot of pressure, as I'm sure you know.

Suspending jerkbaits can be pretty effective, especially if you get a few consecutive days of warm weather. Rat L Traps also work surprisingly well in shallow water, even if it's only 40 degrees.

Good luck!

3dkicker · 02-03-11, 06:36 PM

Add a silver buddy to your list of baits that you need to have when fishing in late winter early spring. Find bait fish at creek mouths in 15-25' and yo-yo it off the bottom around the bait. Slowly swimming 2" grubs just off the bottom is another way to go when fishing this time of year. The jig/pig is a good combo to use. If we get a couple days of warm weather and the temps get up a little then the jerkbait will come into play.

SaminVa · 02-04-11, 06:04 AM

All of the above... jigs...black & blue, rattle trap style crank baits.... can also be yo yoyed off the bottom, silver buddy type baits, dropshot,jerkbaits..After a few days of warm weather it should be easier as momma bass may start to move up into a little warmer water.... I've found them on points & isolated cover close to deep water.
I caought a 7#14oz bass a few years back on Jan. 19 after 3 days of 68* weather.. she came off of an isolated stick up at the mouth of a cove in 12 ft. of water... caught on 1 oz spinnerbait w/ large willow leaf blades & a trailer hook.

Kicksomebass · 02-04-11, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaminVa

All of the above... jigs...black & blue, rattle trap style crank baits.... can also be yo yoyed off the bottom, silver buddy type baits, dropshot,jerkbaits..After a few days of warm weather it should be easier as momma bass may start to move up into a little warmer water.... I've found them on points & isolated cover close to deep water.
I caought a 7#14oz bass a few years back on Jan. 19 after 3 days of 68* weather.. she came off of an isolated stick up at the mouth of a cove in 12 ft. of water... caught on 1 oz spinnerbait w/ large willow leaf blades & a trailer hook.

NICE!!!! That's one reason i wanna get out earlier... the fish dont see a lot of pressure this early in the year and they havent really been targeted... And i have massive cases of spring fever so i just wanna get my line wet!!!

coachpurdy · 02-04-11, 10:50 AM

Jerkbaits always work well for me this time of year.

Bassboss · 02-04-11, 12:00 PM

I've always read that bass like to be relatively shallow, but close to deep water first thing in the spring. But I don't have any real first hand experience cause I've never had a boat to try it out. But once the water reaches 60* it's time to start throwing spinnerbaits to shallow cover, now that, I know about!

But if they are shallow and not wanting a spinnerbait cause the waters still cool, jig a pork is they way to go.

Kicksomebass · 02-04-11, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassboss

I've always read that bass like to be relatively shallow, but close to deep water first thing in the spring. But I don't have any real first hand experience cause I've never had a boat to try it out. But once the water reaches 60* it's time to start throwing spinnerbaits to shallow cover, now that, I know about!

But if they are shallow and not wanting a spinnerbait cause the waters still cool, jig a pork is they way to go.

yeah definately, once the water temp hits 60 i'm golden... but i'm planning on getting out there way before that happens.. i'm lookin at it being in the low to mid 50s

Mac2 · 02-05-11, 09:21 AM

I only have one suggestion, if you want a slower finesse fall than the senko, cut the tail off a zoom speedworm in watermelon/red and use that as it has no internal salt......will stay in a strike zone longer, also use a skipping cast.

The speedworm body, rigged texposed weightless on a 2/0 offset shank worm hook casts like a bullet. I've had successs using this approach up to 18 foot depth or so.

Patience mixed with a good dose of persistance will likely pay off.

odinbassgod · 02-05-11, 12:49 PM

I have had some good fishing in earlyspring slow rolling a 1/2 oz spinner bait in the ponds I fish here. I have found the best color for this time of year is black with a bit of red.
Good luck!

SaminVa · 02-05-11, 01:59 PM

It's been my exp. that bass will still be lethargic & in their deep water travel routes until 3-4 days of warm weather... that's when they'll start nosing around.

walkeraviator · 02-05-11, 05:55 PM

Jerkbait, Jerkbait, Jerkbait....

02-03-11, 01:54 PM	#2
BigBassin144 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 9,463	Don't forget a good old suspending jerkbait. I started fishing LC Pointers last spring and liked them from the little I got to use them. Some less expensive alternatives are Rapala X-Rap and Husky Jerk, Smithwick Rattling Suspending Rogue, and many others. I'd also have a dropshot tied on. Probably for when you find some fish to get the more finicky fish to bite. I like a Chompers 4" dropshot worm or a Tiny Fluke. BB __________________ As of June 14, 2014 the members of the BF.com forum have moved to basschat.yuku.com!

02-03-11, 06:36 PM	#4
3dkicker BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Spotsylvania, VA Posts: 4,483	Add a silver buddy to your list of baits that you need to have when fishing in late winter early spring. Find bait fish at creek mouths in 15-25' and yo-yo it off the bottom around the bait. Slowly swimming 2" grubs just off the bottom is another way to go when fishing this time of year. The jig/pig is a good combo to use. If we get a couple days of warm weather and the temps get up a little then the jerkbait will come into play. __________________ Smitty www.smittystubes.com

02-04-11, 12:00 PM	#8
Bassboss BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Shawano, WI Posts: 7,761	I've always read that bass like to be relatively shallow, but close to deep water first thing in the spring. But I don't have any real first hand experience cause I've never had a boat to try it out. But once the water reaches 60* it's time to start throwing spinnerbaits to shallow cover, now that, I know about! But if they are shallow and not wanting a spinnerbait cause the waters still cool, jig a pork is they way to go. __________________ If you can't fix it with heavy squats or fish oil, you're probably going to die.

02-05-11, 12:49 PM	#11
odinbassgod BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Frankford De Posts: 21	I have had some good fishing in earlyspring slow rolling a 1/2 oz spinner bait in the ponds I fish here. I have found the best color for this time of year is black with a bit of red. Good luck! __________________ My girlfriend said it was eather fishing or her. I'm gonna miss her.

02-03-11, 11:40 AM	#1
Kicksomebass BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Burke, Va Posts: 23	Early spring fishin in VA! Hey guys.. noob here! This is the first year i've really made a concious effort to hit the water earlier. A buddy of mine and I usually wait til mid April to get on the water, but after we've both caught spring fever like a bad case of the munchies, we've decided to hit it earlier. Not to mention the people in our boating group dont like to weather the cooler air, we thought it would be cool to target fish that before the other guys can hit the water. That being said, I'd love to get some feedback about what our planned attack is going to be. We both have been fishing for a LONG time and know the general movement of the fish, but we've never targeted this pattern. I know slow is the way to go, therefore we will most likely be using jigs and soft plastics. Right now i have a black/blue 1/2 jig tied up, as well as a texas rig for worm, a weightless for senko's, cuz it's my go-to, a white spinnerbait with a fluke as a trailer, and finally i have a rod with a deep diving suspending crank bait. I've been doing quite a bit of research watcing vids and reviews (my girlfriend thinks i'm absolutely insane lol) and we are generally going to be fishing these things on the shelfs/slopes leading up to flats. I've also looked at a lot of satellite imagry (thank you google earth) of the water we will be fishing and have marked points and dropoffs that are visible from above. I have been reading a lot and these motives make the most sense to me, and if anyone on here who has done more early spring fishing could give me feedback it would be awesome.... Thanks a lot in advance.. Derek

02-03-11, 02:00 PM	#3
Bryan BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: VA Posts: 198	Fishing in Northern VA is tough. The lakes are small and typically get alot of pressure, as I'm sure you know. Suspending jerkbaits can be pretty effective, especially if you get a few consecutive days of warm weather. Rat L Traps also work surprisingly well in shallow water, even if it's only 40 degrees. Good luck!

02-04-11, 06:04 AM	#5
SaminVa BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Palmyra, Virginia Posts: 144	All of the above... jigs...black & blue, rattle trap style crank baits.... can also be yo yoyed off the bottom, silver buddy type baits, dropshot,jerkbaits..After a few days of warm weather it should be easier as momma bass may start to move up into a little warmer water.... I've found them on points & isolated cover close to deep water. I caought a 7#14oz bass a few years back on Jan. 19 after 3 days of 68* weather.. she came off of an isolated stick up at the mouth of a cove in 12 ft. of water... caught on 1 oz spinnerbait w/ large willow leaf blades & a trailer hook.

02-04-11, 10:50 AM	#7
coachpurdy BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: coffeeville, ms Posts: 143	Jerkbaits always work well for me this time of year.

02-05-11, 09:21 AM	#10
Mac2 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 389	I only have one suggestion, if you want a slower finesse fall than the senko, cut the tail off a zoom speedworm in watermelon/red and use that as it has no internal salt......will stay in a strike zone longer, also use a skipping cast. The speedworm body, rigged texposed weightless on a 2/0 offset shank worm hook casts like a bullet. I've had successs using this approach up to 18 foot depth or so. Patience mixed with a good dose of persistance will likely pay off.

02-05-11, 01:59 PM	#12
SaminVa BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Palmyra, Virginia Posts: 144	It's been my exp. that bass will still be lethargic & in their deep water travel routes until 3-4 days of warm weather... that's when they'll start nosing around.

02-05-11, 05:55 PM	#13
walkeraviator BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 1,119	Jerkbait, Jerkbait, Jerkbait....

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