It was the night before the opening day of the fishing season. There was a late ice-out, and the water temperatures were right for pre-spawn and spawning walleyes.
We would be walleye fishing the next morning on a lake that wasn't a secret, and we were looking for that extra advantage. To get that edge we went on the water with a spotlight, cruising the rock rubble shorelines for the reflection of walleyes. We searched several shorelines and inlet areas and finally found large clusters of fish along a section of shoreline adjacent to a small flat. This flat then broke steeply into deeper water. Leaving the lake we knew we had found a potential hot area.
The next morning we returned as the sun began to rise and we caught several walleyes against the bank, along this shoreline with 1/16-ounce jigs tipped with minnows. As the day progressed, searching the deeper breakline produced several more fish. At the end of the day fishing the adjacent basin also produced fish. It was a successful day brought on by scouting. We were able to find the fish almost immediately and stay with them throughout the day.
Spring means many fish of different species cruising or bedding in the shallows. Sure, you can cast or troll these areas hoping to find an area with a concentration of fish, but a little scouting and sight fishing know-how can save a lot of time and put you on productive water quickly. Once you locate these fish the "catching" is relatively simple.
Largemouth, smallmouth, crappies, and bluegills can commonly be seen cruising the shallows during the day in spring, but you really need to search at night to find walleye. Water temperature is key in spring, so you should be aware of the general spawning temperature range of the species you are chasing, and the typical timing of the spawn. It is during the pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn periods when these fish can most likely be found in the shallows. Just as important is the type of bottom composition. During the day, I search for sandy or silty shorelines with fallen brush, docks, or fish cribs.
Next divide the lake into two sections, north and south. also note any isolated bays. The north half of the lake will be warmer than the southern half, since it receives more direct sunlight and is protected from spring storms. Consequently, the north half will hold the most fish. Also look for isolated bays that may warm quickly.
This is where a surface temperature gauge pays off. My Impulse 4040 allows me to cruise the shallows, while constantly monitoring surface temperatures. All it takes is an area a few degrees warmer and fish may move in.
Once I have located a potential spawning area, with warmer water temperatures, I put my trolling motor in the water and cruise the shallows searching for fish. It is important to use the "constant on" switch at this time. In the clearer spring waters, the sound and surges produced from the trolling motor being turned on and off can spook fish. I turn my trolling motor up towards high power and cruise through the area.
Probably the most important tool when sight fishing is a pair of polarized sunglasses. Not only do they protect your eyes from the harmful ultraviolet light, but they make seeing fish much easier. There definitely is a difference between the number of fish you can spot with a pair of quality sunglasses and a cheap plastic pair.
Weather conditions also dictate which type of sunglass lens is best for sighting fish. On sunny days I use Costa Del Mar Multi-sports with a grey lens. The grey lens is ideal in the bright sun for glare reduction, and the side shields on the Multi-sports reduce side glare. On overcast days, I wear a pair of Costa Del Mar Euros with a vermilion lens. The vermilion lens is outstanding, in that it lightens up much of the underwater world and makes sighting fish very easy on overcast days.
As you cruise the shallows look for movement. and dark spots on a lighter background. The dark spots may be fish. Also observe disturbances in the sand or silt. Some species such as smallmouths are spooky. They may leave the area momentarily, producing an underwater puff of sand or silt. Finally, when approaching trees, bulrushes, rocks, or docks pay special attention. These areas are fish magnets in the spring.
When I locate fish, I usually make a mental note of some shoreline feature to remind myself where the fish was located and continue cruising the area. If the area is a bay, for example, I will first cruise the entire bay before fishing. I may locate 10-15 bass in the bay and then return to work each fish. The same holds true for crappies. There may be two or three groups or schools of crappies in specific areas, and I then return and work the individual schools.
Once a group of fish is located, note the general make-up of the shoreline. For example, certain trees grow along a sandy shoreline, and by looking for similar trees around the lake you may find two or three similar areas.
Spring sight fishing is one of my favorite times of the year. I catch fish from bass or crappies to muskies and pike. The key is having the proper equipment, using a stealth approach, and, of course, using common sense. Once shallow fish are located they are usually fairly easy to catch, and selfish anglers can damage smaller waters. Therefore, all spawning fish should be released to protect our fisheries for future generations.
Copyright (c) 1996 Jim Saric. All rights reserved.
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