Where to fish during the first tournament of the year.

LSLURES · 02-27-11, 08:32 PM

Hey guys

I was wondering, I have done a lot of bed fishing in the past but cant seem to get a win under my belt during the spring. Ive caught many 14 to 15 lb. bags in the spring but always come up one fish short. I don't like to sit on a bed and fish for a single fish for 2 hours so im looking for some help.

Im fishing a lake that has seen every lure possible, its a tremendous fishery but I was to take it up a notch this year. The lake is a lot of Rock, and has some hydrilla growing up in many places, and there is also a lot of laydowns and stump fields.

My question is where do i need to be in the middle of march? I know some fish will be thinking about spawning but I want to catch the fish that are staging to spawn. So which end of the lake to start> north or south? Do i fish rocks> laydowns? hydrilla? Just asking on suggestions and bait selections to use come the middle of march because this early tourny is like a bassmaster classic down here. Any info would be awesome!

Thanks, Ryan

lilmule · 02-27-11, 09:02 PM

West banks, main points, secondary points,lead in lead out banks,then cover.
Start upper end generally in the colored water.But let the fish tell you where ,what and when.

cassidyta · 03-02-11, 02:04 AM

Ryan,

I am fishing a similar scenario this weekend. My plan is to look for the first steep ledge before the flats. I believe that the later spawning fish will be staging there. I expect to find a lot of folks racking to the beds so I am writing that off unless i stumble upon one. I will be bouncing my baits (jigs and cranks) off the rocks since I expect the find the fish there. My secondary plan is to punch through the hydrilla with a brushhawg. Later in the day I will likely flip the laydowns and maybe look for an untouched bed. My lake also has stocked trout so I will be tossing a swimbait very early and late in the tourney.

Justin2729 · 03-02-11, 12:24 PM

I got one this weekend too prefished yesterday and gonna go again maybe tomorrow we caught a lot of good fish on flat points with breaks to deep water with grass on em with jigs secondary points seemed to be key.

smittyman · 03-09-11, 05:57 AM

I'd say start off targeting and rock banks.. Those fish will be very very hungry and the shad will be up on those rock banks feeding off of the algae growing on them. Follow the shad, catch big momma. This is all just IMO. And I'd start with a buzzbait or spinner to locate them, then switch to something they like to eat.

lilmule · 03-09-11, 10:38 AM

Im thinking lead in lead out banks from a grouping ledge to shallow points entering the coves,near deeper water,and yes grass being a key,as well as the nearby deeper water.
Less pressured both pre and post spawn available if both present as path goes both ways.

02-27-11, 08:32 PM	#1
LSLURES BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Leesburg, Ohio Posts: 32	Where to fish during the first tournament of the year. Hey guys I was wondering, I have done a lot of bed fishing in the past but cant seem to get a win under my belt during the spring. Ive caught many 14 to 15 lb. bags in the spring but always come up one fish short. I don't like to sit on a bed and fish for a single fish for 2 hours so im looking for some help. Im fishing a lake that has seen every lure possible, its a tremendous fishery but I was to take it up a notch this year. The lake is a lot of Rock, and has some hydrilla growing up in many places, and there is also a lot of laydowns and stump fields. My question is where do i need to be in the middle of march? I know some fish will be thinking about spawning but I want to catch the fish that are staging to spawn. So which end of the lake to start> north or south? Do i fish rocks> laydowns? hydrilla? Just asking on suggestions and bait selections to use come the middle of march because this early tourny is like a bassmaster classic down here. Any info would be awesome! Thanks, Ryan

03-02-11, 02:04 AM	#3
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	Ryan, I am fishing a similar scenario this weekend. My plan is to look for the first steep ledge before the flats. I believe that the later spawning fish will be staging there. I expect to find a lot of folks racking to the beds so I am writing that off unless i stumble upon one. I will be bouncing my baits (jigs and cranks) off the rocks since I expect the find the fish there. My secondary plan is to punch through the hydrilla with a brushhawg. Later in the day I will likely flip the laydowns and maybe look for an untouched bed. My lake also has stocked trout so I will be tossing a swimbait very early and late in the tourney. __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes.

03-09-11, 05:57 AM	#5
smittyman BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lyndhurst, NJ Posts: 92	I'd say start off targeting and rock banks.. Those fish will be very very hungry and the shad will be up on those rock banks feeding off of the algae growing on them. Follow the shad, catch big momma. This is all just IMO. And I'd start with a buzzbait or spinner to locate them, then switch to something they like to eat. __________________ "a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work."

02-27-11, 09:02 PM	#2
lilmule BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Buchanan,Tn Posts: 2,685	West banks, main points, secondary points,lead in lead out banks,then cover. Start upper end generally in the colored water.But let the fish tell you where ,what and when.

03-02-11, 12:24 PM	#4
Justin2729 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Annville, Kentucky Posts: 342	I got one this weekend too prefished yesterday and gonna go again maybe tomorrow we caught a lot of good fish on flat points with breaks to deep water with grass on em with jigs secondary points seemed to be key.

03-09-11, 10:38 AM	#6
lilmule BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Buchanan,Tn Posts: 2,685	Im thinking lead in lead out banks from a grouping ledge to shallow points entering the coves,near deeper water,and yes grass being a key,as well as the nearby deeper water. Less pressured both pre and post spawn available if both present as path goes both ways.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)