With So Many Lakes, Which One?

By John H.Myhre

Ah, Spring again and open water fishing. We've been waiting all winter and now it's finally here! So where to start? Well, there’s a bunch of lakes and they all can be good. However, each is different and there are several things you should be considering when deciding which lake should provide the best action.

While nearly every lake is different, there can be greater differences in the fishing during the spring. Especially on "more normal" springs where the ice has only been off the lakes a week or two before the opener arrives. With the differences in depth, bottom make up, water color, and inlet water source temperatures can and do vary widely. Obviously this effects the fishing as fish spawn at different times, forage varies, and in general the lake "gets going" at different times.

Some of the first lakes to warm up and where everything starts happening sooner are the same lakes that freeze over first in the fall. Shallower, dark water lakes and flowages just warm and cool quicker than do the clear deep lakes.

Depending on the spring and the water temperatures, you can find the fish anywhere from pre spawn to post spawn. Which is best? Well if you are looking for big walleyes I’d have to say that if you can find a lake where the fish are pre spawn or in spawn or "running" you’d have a better shot at the big pigs than if they were post or after spawn. But then post spawn conditions generally lend to better and faster fishing as the smaller male fish are more aggressive then.

Being able to move from one lake to another can make a big difference in the spring fishing and don’t forget that if there is still spawning activity going on that much of that occurs after dark. Then fishing typical spawning areas just before and after dark can get you good action from smaller male fish.

Water temperatures also play a huge role in fish activity and location for other species like bass and panfish too so pay close attention to it during the spring.