The Lord blessed us with warmth the first part of March, and that took care of all the ice that was covering the river and local lakes. Anglers took notice and responded with time on the water. The fish also took notice by starting their spring feeding, preparing for the spring spawn. With reports I get from anglers, and my time on the water, there were some good numbers of bass being boated. Water temperatures were in the low to mid-forties.
What to expect in April? Water temperatures will likely begin in the lower fifties and continue to climb into the upper fifties. And fish will respond by feeding up preparing for the spawn. This would be a good time to put that spinnerbait to work. I love throwing a spinnerbait this time of year. Other good choices would be a chatter bait, square billed crankbaits and the rattletrap. You can cover a lot of water with these lures. Some days that’s what it takes to find fish.
The old saying is that bass will spawn on the full moon in April. The full moon falls on April 1, so I believe the spawn will take place mid to late April, maybe even into May. Weather and water conditions play a big role in this. If you see buck bass, the males, making nests along the banks or on flats, the big females aren’t far off. Target them with big spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jerk baits, and big jigs with a chunk trailer.
I love to go bass fishing, and I like going places I’ve never been. The Shenandoah Valley and beyond offer so many places to fish. Go online and look up places to go. Some places are a long drive away, but at the end of the day it just might be worth it. You may even find a new honey hole.
Happy Easter! For Christians it’s the most important holy week of the year. Jesus took the sins of this world, yours and mine, and died a horrible death on the cross. That’s how much he loves us. His body was placed in a tomb, and on the third day God raised him from the grave. For Christians that’s what we celebrate. The resurrection of our Savior Jesus. Because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, he is alive and present with us today. Whatever situation you may be feeling right now, feeling hopeless, facing the struggles of this world, or maybe you are feeling empty. There is hope. The tomb is empty! If you don’t go to church, go this Easter Sunday, and perhaps you’ll come to know what Easter really means to you. Those who trust in Jesus are never alone.
“He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! – Luke 24:6.
God bless!
Mike
