Spring Time Lake Tactics E-mail
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Written by Brian Frawley   

It’s spring.  You’ve dusted off your still watercraft and are ready to head out and get some fishing in. You drive down to that lake you’ve been dying to get to all winter long.  You get there and you notice that the lake is looking especially nice – no wind, so you know the fly will travel true to wherever you cast it.

You look out and say to yourself, “Nice lake, but where do I start?”

That’s an important question.  You’re there to enjoy the day, and catching a few fish will certainly make it even better. But, for some anglers, lake fishing is a bit of a new venture or mystery. We know rivers and streams, but fishing a lake?  In the spring?  Really?

Here are some tips that should ensure you don’t end up skunked on your next trip.

Tip Number One: Check out the satellite image on the lake you’re going to be fishing.
I always look at the lake and get some ideas of where to go before I even walk out the door.  In the early spring, use websites like Google Maps, (or for the nine states, the maps of lakes we offer on this site!) to begin looking for points and coves with shallow water.  The water should be a few degrees warmer in those shallow spots, and we all know that warmer water means more active warm water fish. These same points are effective later in the spring as well, when fish are actively spawning.  I find that bigger fish use under water humps and points to spawn because they have quick, easy access to deeper water. Under water structures, such as rock piles and fallen trees, are good to look for on these maps as well. Channels are also great fish producers, because the water in them warms up faster as well, and you should be able to spot some of these on a good satellite image.

Click on the above pins for specific tips on how to use Google Maps for your fishing preplanning.

Tip Number Two: Troll to your likely spot!
I know, I know -- this sounds obvious, and kind of stupid.  But, let me tell you, I have caught plenty of fish just by covering water while making my way to a likely fishing spot.  Think of it this way: trolling will get you fish because you’re simply covering more water.  And, we all know that flies or lures don’t catch fish unless they're in or on the water!  I have found good fishing spots with underwater structure because I have trolled over them and caught a fish. I then mark that spot on my GPS so I can either stop and cast or troll over it again.  Handy extra tip: If you’re in a float tube, you can cast out, and then strip out some extra line while you kick toward your spot.  While you're in motion, twitch your fly periodically to very it's speed.   I have never gotten skunked when I've done this!

Bass cought by trolling

Tip Number Three: At the first ice out, don’t even think about surface flies.
It’s all about deep, small, and slow.  Listen - I'm all about surface fishing, and I love catching fish right off the top, but I am also realistic.  So, in the early spring, you really want to work the water using subsurface flies.  Also, slow retrieval of your subsurface fly is key this time of year.  Once the fish are past spawn, you can start to change gears and speed up your retrieve.  Once you start to see plenty of bugs out there, both on the water or before you even get to the lake, switch your plan to fishing top water.

Tip Number Four: Work the fly from skinny water back toward you in deeper water.
Try to visualize how close your fly was to the shore when you hooked up. Next, move to 10 yards to the left or right of that spot.  Start to move in toward shore, and be sure to cast parallel to the shore.  If the fish are suspending at that particular depth, your whole retrieve should be in that target depth zone.

Tip Number Five: Big flies catch big fish!
This is especially true during the spawn and immediately post-spawn periods of lake fish.  A big meal is going to sustain a fish longer then a smaller one.  Bass are, for the most part, ambush predators, and tend to give away their location more often for a bigger reward then for a smaller one.

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Tip Number Six: Mimic your fly's action so that it appears as it would in nature.
Again, this seems obvious, but it really makes a difference.  For example, if you're fishing with a popper, don't just start stripping back in right away after the fly hits.  Let it sit for a few seconds, then start your retrieve.  That's what a bug would do, just sit on the water briefly before moving.  I have caught a lot of bass and bluegills in the 2 to 8 seconds before I start working the fly back to me.

Tip Number Seven: Clock-work coverage is a great way to fish on a lake.
When I reach my likely spot, I cast 12 o'clock (directly in front of me), then cast to 1 o'clock, then to 11 o'clock, then to 2 o'clock, and so on.  I do this because I want cover that spot as completely as I can, and thinking about casting like this helps you stay mentally organized and focused, so that you know that you've fully fished an area.  If you don't get strikes, change flies and repeat.  Then, if you still aren't getting strikes, move on.  If you're fishing over deeper water, let your fly sink to different depths while you work around the clock, counting to different times each cycle.  That way, you're not only working the area around, but depth-wise as well.

Tip Number Eight: Fish spots that bank fisherman can't access.
I can't tell you how many more fish I have caught because I had access to an island bank that shore fisherman just can't get to.  So, get the watercraft out of storage and get yourself out into the lake! 

Tip Number Nine: Be observant, look around, and listen. If you're hearing frogs around you, figure out where it's coming from and go fish that spot.  Frogs concentrated in an area suggests that there are likely plenty of insects in that area, and insects means small fish.  Small fish mean that there are predator fish that can't be too far behind!  If you have a frog fly, you might want to use that as well.  Also, watch for rings on the surface of the water, indicating fish rising.  Often, bluegill can be heard sipping bugs off the top, whereas largemouth bass create loud, violent rises. If you're in casting range, land your fly dead-center into the ring and start your retrieve immediately.

Tip Number Ten: Bring a good assortment of flies with you.
You never know when an opportunity will present itself, and you want to be prepared on a lake. I was fishing Lake Ovid one evening, using a weed line out in front of me, when I heard all kinds of activity behind me.  I turned and saw several pig largemouths working on a small school of minnows up against the bank.  I was out in the middle of the lake in my float tube, and my minnow patterns were sitting in my car, way at the other side of the lake.  I tried in vain to get those bass to take my popper, but no luck.  Let me tell you, I don't make that mistake anymore!  So, the moral of the story is make sure to carry an assortment of surface and sub surface flies whenever you get out on the water, especially in the spring.  Also, I should tell you that I always use a surface line when I fish warm water, but I also carry different sinking tips to add if I need to get my fly deep.  When fishing trout lakes, I bring an extra spool of full sinking or a reel with full sinking line just in case I need to make a quick change in plan.

Try a few of these tips for your next trip on unfamiliar water and see if they make your next adventure better.