MARCH – FISHING THE PRESPAWN ON LANIER

Contributed By: Jim “Jimbo” Mathley www.jimboonlanier.com

Fishing during March can provide some interesting opportunities. The largemouth will soon spawn, and the spots will begin to stage in preparation for the spawn. The lake level is around full pool as we head out of February and the temperatures have been trending above normal so far this winter, which could mean an early spawn if this trend continues. The lengthening days, as we progress forward, will help to trigger the movement toward pre-spawn activities for both the spots and largemouth. If the weather remains warmer than normal, the faster these processes will develop.

Optimal Conditions

There are a few things to consider when fishing during this time of year. You will be fishing the prespawn in March, and maybe an advanced pre-spawn based on the weather, so let’s start with the end in mind and review the spawning habits of both the largemouth and spots. The largemouth in the lake will physically go on the bed at water temperatures of 56-58 degrees. The spotted bass will spawn a bit later when the water temperatures reach 62 degrees or above. Typically, the fish spawn in “waves”, rather than all at once. After the first “wave” of fish completes their spawning routine, there will be fish in all stages of the spawn (pre, spawn, and post) for the next 3045 days, depending on the weather conditions and water temperatures. Further, it is important to understand that many fish that spawn in “waves” as mentioned above, do so during a favorable moon phase, given the noted water temperature requirements are met. The full and new moon phases often prompt fish to move into their spawning routine. Until those conditions are met, fish will be staging and feeding up in preparation for this process. So, where do we need to look?

Location

The largemouth in Lake Lanier tend to spawn shallower than do the spotted bass. The largemouth can be found bedding in creek pockets, often in the back of these pockets, in a protected area. They will position themselves next to a piece of cover such as a blow down tree or stump for security and are often in 3 feet of water or less. Look around docks in shallow water for these fish as well as stumps and adjacent blow downs. The spotted bass can frequently be found in similar areas, but often prefer a hard bottom type of area, such as one a clay flat can provide. And again, the spots will typically spawn deeper than do the largemouth and can be found in 6-15 feet of water and even deeper. Unlike most largemouth, many spotted bass will spawn on the main lake. These fish can be found on or around humps, points, and sandy saddles between islands on the main lake. These females are often some of the biggest fish in the lake. Until the time when the fish spawn in these areas, fish key features adjacent to these spawning areas. Secondary points and docks, often provide great staging areas for these fish and become a prime target this time of year. The spots will be in the same types of places to spawn and will stage in similar areas as well.

Lures and Presentation

Now that we have explored the location that fish can be found during the spawn, let’s examine some of the techniques and lures that can be used to catch these fish:

1. Jerkbait - A great choice as the water warms up though the 50’s. Work these baits around docks, points, and over humps. A Berkley Stunna is a good option. Experiment with cadence to find the right retrieve speed and pause cycle. The colder the water, the longer the pause.

2. GA Blade Shad Spin This bait in the ¼ oz size is an excellent choice to work in shallow creek ditches as well as in and around secondary points and docks. Experiment with trailer size and type. A Lanier Baits Jerk Shad is a good option for a trailer.

3. Crankbait – Excellent choice to cover water in the back of creeks and pockets as well as around secondary point, docks, and flats. Try the Berkley Fritz Side crankbait or the Berkley Money Badger as they are good options to cover the varying depth ranges, until you find the best one for the day’s conditions. They offer many good shad and crayfish patterns from which to choose. And as always, make sure to visit our local treasure, Hammonds Fishing, to pick up what you need!

4. Worm/jig – Always an option in the springtime. A Georgia Jig on rocky/clay secondary points and around docks is always a good choice for spots or largemouth. If the fish are ultra-finicky, don’t forget the old Carolina Rig to present your soft-plastics. Drag or drift this rig slowly over secondary points or spawning flats for some potentially awesome results. Also, when fishing a GA Blade Jig-head and worm combo, consider using a lighter jig-head. I often choose a 1/8 oz head or lighter to target spawning fish. I will often tip this with a 4-inch Berkley Hit Worm, as opposed to a traditional offering of 6 inches or more. I often work the bait slowly, in this situation, to trigger strikes.

While the winter to spring/early spawn can be a challenging time of year to catch fish, it can be awesome if you remain versatile and open-minded in your approach. Use the tips and techniques noted above to guide your fishing during the spawn and you will enjoy some great success. For more information and access to a weekly video fishing report to which you can subscribe, please visit jimboonlanier.com. Stay in the know with Jimbo, every week! See you on the water! Jimbo is a Full-Time, YearRound Spotted Bass Guide on Lake Lanier. Contact him today to book a trip!

Provided By: David Hare Alex City Guide Service 256-401-3089

484.00 ( 2/6/23 ) ,Surface Temp 52-58, Clarity / Clear to slightly stained

February was as good as I’ve seen in a long long time for the striper bite . We had numerous days boating 45-60 stripers per boat per trip. They ranged from 4-12 lbs., and we were catching them deep. For the clients that wanted to planer board (which is my favorite way to catch them) the technique produced great results. They might not have caught as many but the quality was definitely a plus. Here we are March of 2023! This kicks off the trophy time of year and will last until summer. If you’ve never had the opportunity to fish for stripers, in March, on Lake Martin, then you must try it. For those who follow my post and articles, you have been reading about and seeing pictures of a lot of healthy size stripers here this winter. Healthy fat strip-