APRIL ON LANIER MEANS SPAWNING SPOTS

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

Fishing during the spawn can provide some interesting opportunities and many different choices. Bass focused on the spawn are often quite finicky and tough to catch at times. Bed fishing is very popular this time of year, especially for tournament anglers, and certainly can provide some outstanding catches. In most instances, I prefer to leave the fish to their reproductive cycle, and often shy away from bed fishing. In this article, I will focus on tips and techniques to catch fish during this often- challenging period that offer an alternative to the bed fishing option.

Optimal Conditions. This year, 2023, we are ahead of historical averages in terms of water temperature. The water level has been near full pool most of the winter and spring. Depending on weather trends for the remainder of March, the spawn in April could occur ahead of schedule. Most of the largemouth in the lake will physically go on the bed at water temperatures of 56-60 degrees. The spotted bass tend to 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 complete their spawning routine, there will be fish in all stages of the spawn (pre, spawn, and post) for the next 30-45 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 bedding routine. Make sure to cross reference the moon calendar with water data to understand when fish will likely begin their spawning rituals.

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. The spotted bass can frequently be found in similar areas, often prefer a hard bottom-type area, such as one that a pebble rock/clay flat or sandy pocket can provide. Also, the spots will not necessarily be at the back of a pocket or creek arm, but may be found in any location with the correct bottom composition throughout the creek. And again, the spots will typically spawn deeper than do the largemouth and can generally be found in 6-12 feet of water and deeper. Unlike the largemouth, there is a contingency of the spotted bass that will spawn on the main lake. These fish can be found on or around humps, points, islands, and sandy saddles between islands on the main lake. These females are often some of the biggest fish in the lake. So, if you are looking for a trophy spot in the springtime, your efforts may be better spent on the main lake as opposed to the creeks. The creeks, however, will offer greater numbers of fish and more action than will the main lake in most cases. Spots and largemouth both will stage around and under docks near likely spawning areas. Check those areas thoroughly.

Lures and Presentation. Now that we have explored the location that fish can be found during the spawn, I want to share some of the techniques and lures that can be used to catch these fish. Rather than focusing on specific “bed fishing” techniques, which are multi-faceted and often different with each pair of targeted fish on any given day, I am going to share some proven tactics that can be used to catch fish just before they actually lock down on the beds.

1. Worm/jig – These baits are proven fish catchers year-round, and the spawn is no different. These are great baits to skip and pitch around docks for those staging fish we discussed earlier in this article. Use a 3/16 oz Georgia Blade Jig Head and tip it with a Berkley Hit Worm or Flat Worm. If the fish are ultra-fin- icky, don’t forget the Carolina Rig to present your soft plastics. This presentation method is often ideal for finicky spawning bass. Drag or drift this rig slowly over secondary points or the ends of spawning flats for some potentially awesome results. Also, when fishing a Georgia Blade Jig Head and worm combo, consider using a lighter jig-head. I often choose a 1/8 oz head or lighter to target these spawning fish. I will often tip this with a 4-inch worm as opposed to a traditional offering of 6 inches or more.

2. Lanier Baits Jerk Shad – A weightless Jerk Shad is a fun and productive bait to fish this time of year. Target the shallows, cover, and docks with this rig. Twitch the bait and then allow it to sink slowly. This presentation will draw strikes from actively feeding and spawning fish as well, and you get to see the strikes!

3. GA Blade Shad Spin - I like to downsize to a 1/4 oz model with a small trailer and work the back 1/3 of creeks with this bait during the pre-spawn and just before the fish go on beds. It offers versatility in presentation and depth, a great combo. A traditional GA Blade spinnerbait can be a good choice as well.

4. Swimbait – Swimbaits offer great versatility as they can, based on the model, be fished at any depth you wish. This is a great bait with which to catch a monster bass just before they spawn. Often, the females will be just off the spawning area in slightly deeper water, but they are not far from the beds. Throwing a big 6 or 8-inch swimbait and slow rolling in these areas just off of spawning flats or around secondary points and docks can entice bites from very big fish. I recommend the Sweet Herring Swimbait from Sweet Bait options, for this tactic. Keep in mind this approach will not garner you many bites on any given day, but the fish you do catch will likely be monsters! Also, a Lanier Baits Swimmer on a jig head, fished around rocky and clay points as well as in pockets can be a great option for both numbers and big fish, as well. While the spawn can be a challenging time of year to catch fish, focus on the immediate pre-spawn period with the trips and baits noted above for some outstanding results! See you on the water!

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

March has been awesome fishing, and we have been catching a lot of stripers on planer boards already (my favorite way to catch them)!

April is warm, and the fishing is hot on Lake Martin. April, especially mid-April is big fish time for sure. You’ll normally find us planer boarding big baits for huge stripers. I for one can and do put miles and miles on my trolling motor this month. I’ll put bait out at daylight and me and the clients are just laid back with a cup of coffee and waiting on that enormous explosion from the stripers. Nothing is more exciting than seeing a planer board take off with a 20 to 45 lb. striper stripping drag and hoping you’ll get him slowed down before you get spooled off (yes that does happen at times).

April is one of the few months that I’m not concerned about seeing fish on my graph because I’m in such shallow water, unless I was running