Another Year Another Season

 My fishing season this year started this past Wednesday. According to my official Accu weather amp, Tuesday and Wednesday would be the key days to toss some flies to see if I can could attract some bluegill and red-eyed bass to eat. I am a big believer in weather conditions that affect whether a fish will feed or get lockjaw on any given day. Some of the factors I note when planning a fishing trip are the barometer reading, wind direction, cloud cover, water temperature, and freshwater after heavy rain. I look for a dropping barometer reading, especially when rain or a storm is approaching. I've landed more fish on days when the wind was from the west or south, which can bring stable weather and warmer water, which will, in turn, cause the fish to be more active, especially in the daylight or late evening hours of the day. I like to fish on cloudy days because the fish will hoover around cover to feed without worrying about being attacked by birds of prey or animals. The water temperature is what I watch most when fishing in early spring and late fall. The magic spawning number for bass is 50 to 60 degrees. Bluegill and crappie typically begin spawning when water temperatures reach the mid-60s Fahrenheit, with the peak spawning occurring slightly warmer, around 68 to 70 degrees. 

My Tuesday trip was not that productive this past week because the water temperature was still below 56 degrees, which is too cold for any top-water action. 

I did land a few small bluegills this size and one quality gill, fishing with small poppers and letting the poppers sit motionless and wait for the ripples to disappear. In other words, patience was the key to getting a take. I spent most of the morning maneuvering around other boats, fishing in some areas where I usually land fish. I knew the morning would be slow, but I was on the water doing something I enjoyed.