Spring is just around the corner. The water temperatures are doing their best to break above 40 degrees Fahrenheit (fishing doesn’t get consistent till around 55 degrees Fahrenheit), but with nighttime lows still below freezing the progress is painfully slow. This winter, with covid, was a definite downer for me. The fishing was sub par due to the low water in the trout streams, and I was without my favorite six weight because of a broken tip. Enough with the negativity. It’s time to look on the bright side. I am going to predict that the black bass prespawn feed will start the last week of March and will continue into the second week of April. Realistically I will only have three or four trips to locate the feeding fish.
Leading up to that I have a tradition to fish midges for cherry trout during the first or second week of March. This will be dependent on the strength of the wind. Most of the other angers focus on the bigger hatches with bigger bugs and bigger trout. I like to get one trip fishing midges for the selfish satisfaction to see if I am still capable of it. Mending a three weight is difficult when you are accustomed to throwing fast action rods with shooting heads.
Back to the bass. I don’t really fish much during the spawn- which lasts into the first week of May. So, I most likely will be out in the salt trying to dredge up a big fluke, sea bass, or rockfish. All of which I am still a novice at. However, a few hours on the salt can get me up early and the ocean offers the tantalizing possibility of catching a giant. Mid May into June is my favorite time to fish for black bass. The fish are at their skinniest (due to the recent spawn), but they are so aggressive. Now is the time for top water action. Frogs, mice, and big topwater minnow patterns will trigger explosive strikes. Early June is time for night fishing and hunting for lunkers.
July and August are hot and rainy. If the rain times out nicely you can get 50 plus fish days on the local trout streams nymping, and if the water drops just a tad more; then it’s time to break out the big dries. Big size 10-8 caddis patterns in brown or black make for an exciting day. September and October provide difficult choices for anglers. The black bass start to feed heavily as the evening temperatures drop. There is a salmon run in October that attracts the two handed spey casters, and the cherry trout take on their spawning colors. Last year I had some great days fishing for seabass in November. The seabass move into spawn in December- some will venture into brackish water and the internet bares the proof.
I hope I can travel during the next 2023 Lunar New Year holiday. Before corona I took a fabulous trip to Malaysia that provided a much needed reprieve from winter, and once again I will be waiting for spring.