A slow start from shore

The Report

For the shore angler, we have had a shaky start to the season. Changing weather conditions is really the culprit. We have had to deal with a lot of wind, murky water, and hot and cold weather. So the word for March is inconsistent, to say the least. Straggler fishing. Move around and cover water.

That all said, it is only April 1st and still plenty of time to have a good spring. The thing that has seemed to pass is the great Ice-out opportunity that is usually good for a giant Brown or two. We just haven’t seen that yet and maybe that chance has passed.

The bait in the river is GIANT. Gizzard shad in the two pound range. That’s really doesn’t help us much unless there is some smaller stuff mixed in.

The coming warm up is what we needed. Watch for the surface to warm and the wind to pile it into specific areas of the harbor. This will start to attract bait, and then trout. Until the waters warm and the bait congregates, we will be straggler fishing. One here one there, no pattern. As uncomfortable as it may be, there are times when you will have to force yourself to fish in a wind-blown corner. The old adage "the fishing is the best when the winds from the west", doesn't work in spring. West winds blow out any warm water we may have. A little easterly component doesn't hurt right now keeping warmed surface water near shore.

Stick with the go-to stuff right now. What is that, you ask?

I’ve often thought about that as I lug my 35 pound back pack around wondering if I really need all this stuff. “ What would I take if I could only fill one small pocket tackle box?” Here’s what I would have.

2/5th Cleo, Silver and Green
2/5th Cle, Gold and Orange
½ oz. KO Wobbler, Silver and Green
¾ oz Kastmaster, Silver and blue or green
#2 Mepps Syclops Silver or gold
4.25 “ Thunderstick (AJ) Gold Prism (#183)
Daves Deep KaBoom or a Deep Thunderstick Jr., Gold Prism
Deep X-Rap (XRD-10) Sliver with a black back.
A Shad Rap, Berkley Frenzy Diver, Berkley Flicker Shad, or a Storms Rattlin’ Flat wart (no longer made but the holy grail of shore casting crankbaits)
¼ ounce bullet heads with a bag of 4” Gulp! Minnows (pearl or watermelon pearl)
And last but not least some of my white marabou minnow jigs.

I could cover quite a bit with that arsenal.

Till next time, tight lines and smooth drags........

Marc