Sunday, May 16, 2010

Why you need to "strike while the iron is hot"

Over the past few weeks I've tried to detail the progression of fish activity on the local ponds as the largemouth get ready to spawn. I'm sure it gets a little boring and repetitious to read about catching 10 nice bass over lunch, getting a bunch with my son and his friends, ... It actually can get a little monotonous catching all these fish (Well, not too monotonous, but the suspense is missing from these jaunts, and that is a big part of the unknown). So, why do I continue to go out so often and catch what may be the same fish on the same patterns?

2 reasons: 1) Because I simply love to fish and don't care what I'm catching, and 2) because, inevitably in nature, weeks occur like last week, and put an end to your patterns and teh behavior of the fish.

Last week we got 2+ inches of cold rain overnight on Wednesday. Our local rivers and creeks flooded. The ponds, which are spring fed, turned the color of chocolate milk. And the fishing came to an abrupt and complete stop.

That's right - the ponds shut down. On Friday, over lunch, I spent the better part of an hour on the upper pond (the one full of largemouth and 'gills) throwing spinnerbaits and Senkos. There was about 3" of visibility and the water was cold. I got - NOTHING. No hits, no swirls, nothing. I didn't really expect much, but I had to try.

This is why you have to strike when the iron is hot. The weather can change everything overnight. And, in my experience, the weather changes in the Spring of the year are more dramatic and have a greater effect on the fish than any other time of year. So, when it is good, and the water temp is stable, and the natural progression of spring is moving along nicely - get out there as often as you can. You never know when Mother Nature will deal you a hand that will put any successful fishing on hold.

I'll be interested to see how long it takes for the bass in the ponds to return to their previous level of ferocity. I'll keep you posted, as I should be able to get out a few times this coming week.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are so right with that, Wolfy, get 'em when you can. Out where I live the weather has been very temperamental and successful fishing is one tough customer to deal with right now. Enjoy the updates so keep 'em coming.

Mark Kautz said...

How true, how true. Same as Mel in Nor Cal. A storm, like the one coming this afternoon, can change things in a heartbeat.

Mark

Michael Agneta said...

Nice post, and clearly true. It's funny how quick things can change the bite. Well stated.

The Hunter's Wife said...

So true when it comes to Spring. Anything can happen. We've been experiencing really warm weather then overnight a cold front comes in with freezing temps.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Could some one please plug in my iron??? LOL! The weather here has made both fish and fowl, hit or miss and you would have to be blind not to see it!

Great post and keep up the good work teaching this new to fishin' chick the "ropes!"

Bill said...

I agree with your strike while the iron is hot theory. It especially holds true this spring when we can go form eighty degrees to snow showers in a span of one day.

murphyfish said...

Hi Wolfy,
You're right about unexpected change and to make the most of the fishing whilst the're running. All to often there are days when for all the persistence and tenacity in the world the water just rewards you with a blank. but then again catching all the time would take the fun and thought out of it and you'd call it shopping, not fishing.
Regards,
John

Brk Trt said...

Some hefty looking fish there.