Early Season Bass on the Fly

It’s that time of year again, March is in full swing and whether your home lake is open water or still cloacked in a wintery sheet of ice the urge to get your hands on that first Bass of the season is constantly in your head. For those of us further south, it’s not so bad, but I remember all to well the feeling of looking at a body of water covered in ice too thin for ice fishing, just waiting for a good wind storm and warm snap to blow thru and open up the lake.

When the weather finally starts to break and the ice goes, catching fish can be a bit of a challenge. The Bass are in or moving into a pre-spawn stage and can often be lethargic until the weather warms up. However during this time of the year, your chance of catching a big Bass can be higher than usual. As the female Bass get ready to spawn they fill up with eggs and are usually larger than the rest of the year. So whats the best way to target big Bass during a time of the year that can often be a challenge to fish? Read on for some insight from my days in the North East and some tips that will hopefully help you land your next giant Bass on the fly.

Once you finally get on the water there are a couple of things I like to look for. First off paying attention to the suns position in the sky is often important. Look at the lake and which shorelines and points are exposed to the sun for the longest period of time during the day. These areas of the lake usually warm up slightly earlier than other parts of the lake and can often be the first areas where the bass start to move in shallow. Also, look for rocky shorelines as rock retains heat and can warm up quickly and provide good cover for Bass. These first few weeks I’m on the water, I’m usually not as concerned about getting on the water super early in the morning. Most of the larger, early season Bass I’ve caught have come around 10am - 2pm when the sun is higher in the sky. That’s not to be said that fish can’t be caught early in the day, just my personal experience. Early morning, when the sun is low and the wind is minimal is a good time to look for those fish in shallow, stuck to cover or cruising around flats.

Once the sun gets a little bit higher in the sky, the wind usually picks up. During this time of year, it’s not uncommon to have a strong, cool breeze but don’t worry, if you can withstand the wind, you have a good chance at getting into some good fish. One of the most successful methods I’ve used for catching good pre-spawn Bass when the temps are still low is fishing windblown points later in the day. Tying on a big streamer, making a long cast and slowly stripping it across points has produced some giant bass for me. I like to use a larger rod, usually a 8 or 9wt to help fight the wind paired with front weight sinking line to make long casts and get down deep. For a leader, I like to tie on about 3ft of Florocarbon. This also helps the line sink and reduces the visibility of your line. You can taper your line down starting at about 10 lbs and working your way down to 6 lbs if it makes you more comfortable or if your fishing water that has higher than average pressure or if the water is super clear. However, I have had just as good luck using a single test leader.

During this time of the year, you want to look for staging areas. These are areas where fish can move from deep water to shallow water and prepare to spawn. Finding points, flats, or humps, combing over these areas with long casts can be productive. I like to use larger flies like Clousers, Decievers, Craw patterns and Snot Goblins. On cloudy days I usually start with dark colors like black, brown, or blue with little bits of red. While on brighter, cloudless days I prefer green, chartruese, white, and sometimes pink. I’ve found that occasionally a brightly colored bait such as a bubble gum pink can work really well to trigger bites. One fly to try is a Senko imitation, they are super easy to tie only requiring a hook, thread, and some chenille. If you decide to give this a try, make sure to tie up a few extras as they usually get torn up pretty easily. They are definitely worth a try and are super fun to fish especially if you come from a conventional fishing background.

For everyone up north, stay strong! Spring is on its way, before you know it, the ice will be out and you’ll be back on the water. Despite how excited you get to fish, getting on the water during these colder days can be tough. If you do manage to get out, make sure to dress warm. Personally, I have the 100mph gear from Bass Pro Shop, staying warm and having a layer to break the wind can make all the difference in the world. When it comes to Fly Fishing, getting your hands wet is inevitable so I recommend a pair of fingerless gloves. I have a pair made by Simms, they are polar fleece, dry quickly, and definitely keep my hands warm. Once you get out there, try out these techniques. With a little bit of time, adjustment to your own unique body of water, and some hard work, I guarantee you will get into some good fish. Once you do, make sure to take a picture and tag New School Bass. If you have any questions, leave a comment or feel free to shoot me an email at newschoolbass@gmail.com.

-Mike