The most exciting bites of early spring occur in very shallow water, so you’ll need all the subtle and lightweight lures you can get away with to reach these tight quarters. Slow retrieve speed, and hang time within the strike zone are keys to the game.

  Now that we have entered April month, the spring season is finally emerging. Ice out is occurring slower than normal currently, but once it goes out it’s game on for smallmouths.  

  Finding smallmouths immediately at ice out depends on your temperature gauge and intricate knowledge of the lake’s locations as they relate to seasons. Be mindful that smallmouths are sensitive to water temperature changes. Any trickle of warmth is a trigger for increased feeding, while cold fronts are a killer.

  Most years, I strive to be the first angler on the water targeting smallmouths at ice out. Doing this well before everyone else has become a unique fishing experience.