Bass fishing picked up in March on the Shenandoah River. Based on the reports I’m getting from anglers and my time on the water, bass 2 -5 pounds were being caught. Water temperatures will continue to climb into the 50s throughout the month of April, which will trigger a prespawn pattern. Bass will transition over the next several weeks as they come out of a slower winter pattern. Oftentimes, bass will move up into shallow water to feed and drop back into deeper water. Fish are swimmers; they move around a lot this time of year. The easy part is catching them; the hard part is finding them. So, search for bass in shallow spawning areas and in deeper pockets just off spawning flats.
A square bill crankbait is a good option to locate bass on the move. You can cover a lot of water with this presentation. Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits will also produce as water temperatures increase. Work your spinnerbait and bladed baits at different levels of water column and at different rates of speed. If a reaction bait is not working, you’ll have to slow it down. Fish the bottom with jigs and creature baits, which can get you good results. The spawn will happen this month beginning around the full moon and will continue into the first couple of weeks of May.
The month of April is a big bass producer. So I hope you get time to get on the water and luck into one of those big girls. Remember if you catch a spawning fish, handle it with care. Get a picture and release it quickly. Fishing for the future depends on how we take care of it today. Good luck, and have a great time on the water.
We celebrate Easter this month. For Christians, it’s the most important Holy Weekend of the year. Jesus took the sins of the world, yours and mine, on his back and died a horrible death on the cross. His body was placed in a borrowed 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 facing right now, feeling hopeless, facing the struggles of this world or maybe you are feeling empty. There is hope because 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. Those who trust Jesus are never alone!
God Bless,
Mike
