Spring Has Sprung and the Fishing is Heating Up by "Jigwiggler"

[fishin_musician]

North Branch Susquehanna River 3/28/09

       

 

Last week began with a cold start but mid week things began to look up.  Warm, sunny conditions combined with low water levels were setting up some great conditions for the weekend.  In particular, shallow flats along the river bank with a dark bottom that warm quickly in the sun.  That was our target as we headed out, but with the river being lower than average for this time of year, the spots I would normally look for these condition were high and dry.  Water temps of 44 deg in the morning (warming to 47 later) meant smallmouth should be close to their winter holding spots still and need another 5-10 degrees before they head to pre-spawn staging areas. 

  Walleyes on the other hand should be in any and every stage of the spawn at this time.  We dropped back to deeper holding areas and then moved in to nearby shallows and started catching fish.  After a few fish, I saw this dark spot on the bottom about 2-3' accross.  I tossed my X-Rap I had tied on toward it and BANG!  Another nice smallmouth, these fish were holding next to dark colored cover that must have been soaking up the suns rays.  Dark colored rocks, logs, brush, clumps of old decaying leaves and even discarded tires all produced a fish or two throughout the course of the morning.  We started the day off with lots of action, picking up a walleye, channel cat and a small musky early.  Then it was all smallies till around noon when the clouds rolled in.  Once the sun was gone, so was the bite.  I picked up one more bass all afternoon but, that's early spring fishing.  What a great way to start my  2009 openwater season and with decent temps and some rain in the forecast, I can't wait till my next chance to fish the North Branch of the Susquehanna.