spring fishing

[korean_bassmaster]

hey i was wondering when the bass starting biteing in central michigan? like what temp does the water have b?

[TritonTR20]

you can catch bass while there is still ice, but you cant fish for them until the season opens...

[djkimmel]

Season opens for catch-and-release bass fishing in Michigan the last Saturday in April. The answer to your question regarding central Michigan (or anywhere else) is bass bite all year.

You can fish all year for bass in Indiana so you should ask your same question about Northern Indiana bass so you are staying clearly within the boundaries of the law on the forum. Everyone can talk all they want right now about fishing for bass in states where it is currently legal. No discussion publicly on the forum about fishing for bass anywhere they are not in season yet please if your question or discussion might lead someone to believe anyone is fishing for bass out of season.

You could catch bass right now in Michigan. You just can't legally fish for them. By the last Saturday in April here in Michigan, the bass will be biting very well. Thank you.

[korean_bassmaster]

i kno u cant fish for them right now! i was just wondering when the bite starts to pick up in the open spring season?

[djkimmel]

I wasn't posting that just to you, but to everyone. Happens every spring here in Michigan. It's confusing since we are one of less than 10 states with any kind of completely closed bass season and one of about 5 if I remember right with a completely closed season.

I was reminding everyone of the fishing report policy in general. I'm not preaching at people to tell them what to do either. I have personally chosen to honor the Michigan season as an example and that is where I'll leave it.

From my past adventures years ago, and my fishing in nearby open states, the bite can be good right after ice out and then picks up really good as the water hits those first couple of good warming trends. A killer considering the present trend is occurring long before season opens. Oh well, maybe some day... Unless we get a major cold, storm trend around the opener, it is usually really good fishing.

korean_bassmaster - have you signed up to fish our forum members' tournament on May 16 on Lake St. Clair? I was thinking you had expressed interested before, but don't recall if you signed up or not? Usually awesome bass fishing that time of year there.

[rustydog]

I know they aren't bass but the ice went out last night and I caught 8 catfish up to 26" today. Its a start after an awful long winter. Only another month or so until the real fishing starts.

[djkimmel]

How'd you manage that?

[skeeterman190]

 Well as Dan said u Cant target bass till the last weekend in April in Michigan and i dont want to draw any attention to this website as (we are fishing out of season). spring bass are finicky too say the least. one day you can catch a 15+ bag the next you might blank. I live in Indiana and we have the luxury of fishing all year. But our fishing is not even close too yours in Michigan. water temps are really key. but sometimes you gotta think outside the box. I fished a lake the other day that i would say that im a stick on and got blanked. it will stump you sometimes...pay attention to thing water temps mainly. look for areas that you think they willl spawn and expand from there. channels are a huge draw in the spring. but expand on those. if there is a flat near them explore it. find the weed beds and your in business.-skeeterman-

[jgip087]

I've caught a bunch of bass in northern indiana the past few days 
I have a video I am putting together on it tonight/tomorrow so you should watch it. It can be tricky in the spring but I think I have it down because I always smoke them when I get out. Opening day of catch and release last year I caught over 120 bass in 4 hours on a lake I expected to do well but not that well. I also caught a 6.75 smallie that day on the same secret bait but you will see it if you watch my video later this week lol

[Firefighter Jeff]

Hmmmm  Guess I need to watch that video  !!!!  I fished Syracuse Monday, and should have turned in my license afterwards.  lolol  Ofer  !!!!  Nice day, but too calm.  Fished water from 25 to 5 feet with plastic craw, blade bait, jerkbait and lipless crank.  Nothing  !!!!  Nice to get out though.

[jgip087]

yeah it was amazing the past few days. My grandpa is bad with a camera but here is the video
We did not get near as much as I wanted to but he wanted to keep fishing, even though he only landed about 1 to every 10 I caught and the second day he didn't get any lol

[korean_bassmaster]

no i havent. where do i find it at? i would have to be a rider, cuz i dont have my  own boat!

[matt]

Crappies bite this time of the year well....

Generally i'm after perch this time of the year.I'm glad i'm a multi specie fisherman...otherwise i'd go nuts waiting till April.

[Firefighter Jeff]

Great video!!!!!  I lost the audio for some of it, but the video was good.  Did you say this was in northern Indiana???    Jeff

[skeeterman190]

 Hey great video. sweet looking stuff. i got a few question IE points on this though nothin to bash you just something to look into deeper. I like the idea about the bait stopping and the fish just pretty much hitting himself in the face with it. were you turning it though? i seen some motion that looked as though you we throwin your line towards the bait. second the different retrieve worked. from pulling down and makin it dive, to reacting side to side and catching more flash and the bait looking as is way fleeing and lost. i think that alot to do with jerkbait fishing is finding the right way too present it and not the bait. Once again great Video and keep it up we enjoy it.-skeeterman-