Anticipation grows as April, good fishing nears

I have been anticipating the upcoming spring season since last year’s arrival of sultry summer temperatures. And as the spring season nears, I grow even more excited with the passing of each day.

Anybody who knows me is well aware that I am obsessed with fishing during the month of April. In fact, one would be hard pressed to convince me to even consider dedicating my free time to anything else, even into the month of May.

And why this obsession? Simply put, I can’t think of a more exciting time of the year to be on the water.

It will begin during that magical time when the white bass embark upon their annual rituals of gathering in tributaries to replenish the waters with their species.

It’s actually not uncommon for the males to gravitate toward moving water during late March. I don’t grow overly excited about the early wave of males, though, as they are notoriously smaller than the females.

But not to totally ignore these early weeks, as I have certainly caught my fair share of the larger sows during this time of the year on occasions. Generally speaking, though, the peak of spawn occurs in our neck of the woods during the first couple weeks of April.

Of course there are times when the fish simply refuse to bite, regardless of how congregated they might be. But it’s not uncommon to boat a daily limit of 25 white bass within a matter of an hour or two during the annual occurrence.

Some folks insist that white bass are hardly good table fare, but I beg to differ. Maybe my pallet is far from refined. But I’m convinced that the answer lies in one’s diligence in cutting the red meat from the fillets.

Okay, the white bass run is all but over, and they have moved back to open water by mid to late April. So what now? Well, I find the next couple of weeks even more exciting than the previous two, as this is that magical time of the year when the largemouth bass begin their annual spawn.

However, the circumstances are noticeably different. One will hardly find success in the same waters where the white bass congregated just days earlier. Instead, this particular species will gravitate to calm and shallow water.

Black bass will not be seen frantically zipping to and fro, as do white bass. Instead, they will fan nests, where they will remain in the general vicinity until the spawn is over.

That in mind, a lot of anglers prefer sight fishing in clear waters during this annual occurrence, a technique where they quietly and methodically spot bass, or their nests, and focus on coaxing these particular fish into biting.

Don’t get me wrong, as I too find this method of fishing exciting. But I am far more apt to simply keep my distance, cast along the shoreline’s edge, and slowly retrieve an unweighted soft plastic, rigged wacky style, back to the boat.

There are anglers who boat impressive numbers while sight fishing. But they might also dedicate a great deal of time focusing on just a couple of fish.

I’m certainly not putting down their style of fishing, as they obviously catch some lunkers. But I’m not one who is known for their patience. And in turn, I’m far more content with continuously moving and blindly casting into areas that provide a habitat conducive to nesting.

Of course, the odds of success are lessened for those who share my sentiments and preferences and are unfamiliar with the area. However, one’s chances of success increase exponentially as they grow more acquainted with a body of water.

In fact, I already know of locations where bass notoriously nest on an annual basis. Of course, I’ll try new waters. But one can rest assured that I will frequent my go-to spots several times as well. In fact, I suspect these will be the first locations I choose to visit.

That magical time of the year is just about upon us. And I, for one, am eagerly awaiting the first indication that the annual spawn has begun. And with a little luck, the next couple of months will provide us with memories that we’ll relive and cherish for years to come.