Winter can be quite a challenge for anglers. Even though we may indulge in ice fishing, midge hatches, and other winter activities, at one point or another the winter blues set in. During the harshest months of the year when our favorite waterways are frozen over and snow is piled up on beaches and banks, many of us opt to stay inside. We find we are watching fishing movies, crafting lures and flies and readying our boats with pent-up energy as if confined within an icy prison, awaiting to be set free.
Fishing season kicks off in spring with the breaking of the ice, prompting anglers to rush for their nearest body of water. Whereas some simply hope to catch whatever bites, others make a beeline towards rivers and streams where large numbers of fish have congregated for feeding and spawning. Knowing which species they are targeting, as well as the best techniques to employ in securing them, will give these seasoned sportsmen an advantage when aiming for that first-trip success.
Striped Bass
In the spring, striped bass make their way north along the Atlantic coast, from Massachusetts and Rhode Island to New York and Maine. These migrating fish pursue spawning herring as they enter rivers and streams further inland before finally spawning themselves. Fishers will often flock to riverbanks and rocky shorelines with boats in tow in hopes of catching a few big bass. Although many tactics can be employed in striper fishing, some methods have proven more successful than others.
Anglers using shore-based gear can enjoy success with spinning tackle equipped with either a live herring or chunks of cut bait. To secure the bait, tie it to a circle hook and attach a heavy 1-4oz casting sinker. Cast your rod into any slower sections of current where migrating stripers may be taking a break. Let the bait drop to the bottom, reel in any extra slack and set your rod in either a holder or on a handy rock nearby. Then you’re all set to go – simply wait for a striper to strike your bait!
When fishing from a boat, one can stay in the same spot or choose to pull anchor and drift downstream with their bait. If trolling is preferred, using larger lures like the Rapala or Nichols Magnum can be a great way to reel in stripers – as the action of these baits often results in some very powerful strikes!
Shad
The spring shad run is a grand, yet often overlooked and underrated, natural event. Starting in March and ending in June, they arrive by the tens of thousands in rivers from Florida to Canada, offering anglers superb fishing opportunities regardless of whether they prefer spinning or fly-fishing tackle. Despite their small size – rarely exceeding 8 pounds -these herring family members put up quite a battle when hooked and make for exciting days on the water with plenty of rod bending action.
In many spots, shad fishing is limited to catch-and-release only due to their low yield. But if you get lucky and live in an area which allows people to take them home, you will be rewarded with some great dishes. Cooked shad is known for its subtle flavour and roe can be especially treasured. Just bear in mind that they can contain a good few bones, so cleaning them may require extra caution. Even if you’re not much of a cook, you can still bring a few home as dead bait for predators like muskie, pike or gar – or use bits of shad as cut baits for other species such as catfish and stripers.
When it comes to fishing rivers, you have to get creative if you want to catch shad consistently. The fish don’t feed once they begin their upstream migration, but you can lure them into thumping small, attention-grabbing lures and flies by presenting them with a variety of small lures. With spin fishermen, shad darts are a popular choice, but you can also try spoons like the Little Cleo and Phoebe, or tiny inline spinners like the Panther Martin to shad slammers.
With a five-weight rod tipped with a small streamer, like a Woolly Bugger or Clouser Minnow, you can catch shad like never before, and you can even combine these flies with nymphs, like a Copper John or a Prince Nymph, to increase your chances of hooking up.
Walleye
Spring is an ideal time for anglers hoping to target huge walleye, as they will congregate at the bases of dams, shallow tributaries and other obstructions. In both rivers and lakes across the US, walleye begin to move into two to 10 feet deep areas, seeking out logjams, rock piles and other structures. Here they can be found in abundance – presenting plentiful opportunities to land a memorable fish or fill the freezer!
When it comes to fishing for spring river walleye, anglers often take different approaches. Some opt for boats equipped with electronics that allow them to locate the fish and move in over them. Others may prefer “run and gun” methods from shore or a boat, employing more active techniques to target likely spots. Both tactics have the potential to be successful, provided the right technique is adopted.
If you’re fishing deeper locations, jigging and drifting can both be productive methods. Jigging is often the go-to, as it offers a range of speeds and lures to see what the walleye prefer. A ⅛- to ⅜-ounce jig head tipped with minnows, leeches or soft plastics works well; simply drop the bait down and bounce and twitch it in the fish’s line of sight. Drifting minnows, worms or other baits under bobbers is another good option for when walleye are slower in colder water – cast above them so the current drifts your bait into their position beneath a float.
Targeting spring-run walleye from shore or a boat can be accomplished by casting small, brightly coloured jerk baits into riffles and slow runs behind visible structures, as well as by swinging a Lindy Rigged worm much like a fly. When the worm rig is cast out into the river, let it drift in the current until it finds its spot beneath you or attracts the attention of a nearby walleye.
Sources: TheMeatEater
