Well it is finally that time of year where most come out of hibernation. When we step outside we find sounds birds chirping, lawnmowers, we see the trees/plants blooming and experience the pollen falling all around. With the signs of new life everywhere, this tells us that the fishing is good!!! The water temperature is rising the fish are fertile and entering the spawning season.
With this we find the fish moving up shallow and feeding more aggressive just before they mate. A good rule of thumb around Lake Norman is looking for the dogwood trees to bloom and hit the water. Most bass will be up on the shallow flats making beds to spend days guarding their fry. If you see a bed with a bass sitting on it the guarding, then the larger female should be out just a little deeper on a nearby drop or point. Great time to throw search baits and cover some water in that area to try and land a giant bass.
The crappie will be transitioning back and forth from mid range depths of around 15' to the banks but will be mostly around wooded cover. Tie on a slip bobber with a good ol' crappie minnow and start searching starting near the bank. This is a easy way to load the boat with tons of slabs!
Enjoy this special time of the year with the nice comfortable temperatures and feeding fish while and take in the great outdoors!!! Oh yeah and if you want a real trophy then "Take A Kid Fishing"!!!
~Captain Will
