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Early Pre-Spawn around the corner?

21K views 160 replies 34 participants last post by  RiparianRanger 
#1 ·
Spring can often be maddening for the smallmouth angler. The warming trend that awakens our quarry from its winter slumber often comes in fits and starts - a handful of 60 degree sunny days followed by a cold front that shuts down the bite. To add insult to injury those warm days with so much promise for bronze action seem to occur during the work week with weekends characterized by cold overcast weather.

Research reveals the first few days where water temps are in the mid- to upper-40s marks the early pre-spawn. The ten day forecast suggests late next week will bring a warming trend, breaking out from the current 45/25 high/low pattern, with air temps reaching 60 degrees with sun.

Curious if anyone has been out lately and taken a stream or river temperature reading, and can comment on projected water temps next week if the forecast holds.
 
#9 ·
Spring can often be maddening for the smallmouth angler. The warming trend that awakens our quarry from its winter slumber often comes in fits and starts - a handful of 60 degree sunny days followed by a cold front that shuts down the bite. To add insult to injury those warm days with so much promise for bronze action seem to occur during the work week with weekends characterized by cold overcast weather.

Research reveals the first few days where water temps are in the mid- to upper-40s marks the early pre-spawn. The ten day forecast suggests late next week will bring a warming trend, breaking out from the current 45/25 high/low pattern, with air temps reaching 60 degrees with sun.

Curious if anyone has been out lately and taken a stream or river temperature reading, and can comment on projected water temps next week if the forecast holds.
Alright...I have a temperature, but all it did was to convince me that my thermometer cannot be very accurate. It was going just under 10 degrees celsius, which translates to just under 50 fahrenheit...that seems to be too warm. Now, I was in pretty shallow water every temp I took, but still...I don't know.

I will say that I did not hit BWC--probably will tomorrow--went to the Scioto based on a gauge reading and either I'm illiterate or something was wrong, because it was WAAAAAAAY up. I took a temp and left and went to a pond I know.

Landed this guy (and had three other short strikes), with my size 13 for comparison:


Measured at just a tic over 17 inches. Got him (I suspect) on a slush 2.75 Joshy, slow rolled along the bottom with the standard 1/8 ounce jig head. It was along a break line (where there are normally some weeds in the summer), with the wind blowing in my face--I was trying to imitate shad/baitfish coming with the wind to the shallow side. The water temp was dead on 10 celsius here (this I may believe, but not sure). Water was stained, probably a foot or less visibility--we normally have success here with killer clown or glo perch.

Feels good to be on the board for the year.
 
#10 · (Edited)
^given the prior three-day trend of highs in the 30s, it's difficult to believe water temperature would be substantially higher than today's ambient air temperature (45F). Still, water temps on shallow streams can rise rapidly as riffles trap atmospheric air and aerate the water. A good, sunny spot near some rocks and downstream of a long riffle/run can warm up surprisingly quick. Area impoundments of the upland variety on the other hand, that's a different story.
 
#13 ·
Yeah...when I read the thermometer and then did the math I said "the hell...?" I'm going back to BWC tomorrow, I think, and will try again. I think it's probably because of where or how I took it. Like I said, I agree...there's simply no way it was accurate.

One thing I forgot to mention on the largemouth today was that the fish took the Joshy so subtly that I thought I had a weed. I lifted the rod tip a little sharply just to free it and that was when I realized it was a fish. He was clearly pretty lethargic even in the fight.
 
#16 ·
Mike, before the cold front came in I was able to hit one flow last week and it read ~45F. I hit the same flow Friday night and it was reading barely ~42F. Surface air was ~20F which I had to clean ice off my eyelids every 3rd or 4th cast. Plus by the time i left, I could not fold my foldable net - the netting material froze solid. Was still able to catch one nice fish, missed two.
 
#19 ·
With all the sunshine it sure looks warmer outside than it is today (39). If the forecast holds I plan to wet a line Sunday which is estimated to be sunny and 53 degrees, marking the third day of a warming trend. Just curious if anyone has been out this week and taken a water temperature reading and can assist with the current baseline temperature from which streams will be warming up.
 
#32 ·
Special thanks to n-strut. Hit two holes that fit your description - waist deep modest flowing area with structure near by. Tossed a 3.25 slims bait perpendicular to the current bringing it back at a 45 degree angle. Got a solid take on the bass below in a hole where I've found them as late in the season as November but I can't yet call it a wintering hole. No follow through so hit another, more expansive pool with similar characteristics and no dice. Took a temperature reading around 2 PM to find the water was ~41 degrees. Still a couple weeks to go but it's coming soon!

As for the fish below, it always amazes me how quickly they change color. When I hoisted it out of the water it had a beautiful striped pattern like the first one in n-strut's photos. Not a minute later it looked pale brown as shown.
 

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#33 ·
Nice job Rip! It was killing me not to fish today. Glad you had some success. I wouldn’t call the area I caught them a winter hole but more like a winter area, plenty of depth and protection from high water, some good feeding flats and some mud bottom that they like to lay in on sunny days! The big fish from yesterday had mud on his belly. A little tip on pic taking, put them on a leash for awhile and let them catch their breath, they start to get mad and usually get marked up really well, and it gives you time to get your camera ready.
 
#35 ·
Thanks for the picture pointers.

Had plans to throw Joshy craws but was surprised how stained the water was (haven’t had much precipitation lately and water levels were not elevated). Probably 12-18” visibility. Opted for chartreuse color with a little thump in the paddle tail so hence the larger 3.25 size. Considering the water temperature a slow roll swim probably wasn’t the best but figured something flashy would give them a chance to locate it.
 
#34 ·
I ran into a guy on BWC who said he caught two, strictly by dragging crankbaits across the rocks--two keepers, that is. He said he missed on a couple more and when he tried to use minnows, they died as soon as they hit the water.

Funny thing is, my thermometer still said 10 degrees celsius (50 F), but I figured out why...it's cracked, so it's no good. I will say this, the water temp on my hands had to be low 40s.

I got out in the new kayak and did fish a little, no luck apart from losing one lure. Saw nothing, but found a couple of darn good smallmouth holes that are likely only accessible in the yak--nearly picture perfect of what we describe. I was concentrating too hard on not falling out to really work hard (plus, I didn't have an anchor and the worst part is that I forgot something to drink).
 
#37 ·
I hit a stretch of BWC today and either there were no fish or I suck. I threw ned rigged zman tubes but only fished about hour and a half. This is a very narrow section of the creek with fast current and pockets of slack water. Probably wasn't the best area to try this time of year. On a good note I was able to try out my new Frogg Togg Anura waders with two layers on I was able to stay in the water with no problems.
 
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