Early Spawns this Spring ????

[Spiel]

I'm thinking with the current conditions/temp trends, ice out is probably coming early this year??
With pike and bass openers being the highlights of my (and guests) annual fishing schedule. I'm thinking the 'spawn' will be at least 3 weeks early this spring and will be a 'game changer' come openers/post spawn.
I remember an early spawn in the spring of 2010 and 'go to strategy' (ie. dead baiting for pike) was out the window.

So, I'm curious as to what other pike/bass fisherman are thinking about this?? Any thoughts or comments?

Thx,

 

[MichaelVerdirame]

I'm thinking with the current conditions/temp trends, ice out is probably coming early this year??
With pike and bass openers being the highlights of my (and guests) annual fishing schedule. I'm thinking the 'spawn' will be at least 3 weeks early this spring and will be a 'game changer' come openers/post spawn.
I remember an early spawn in the spring of 2010 and 'go to strategy' (ie. dead baiting for pike) was out the window.

So, I'm curious as to what other pike/bass fisherman are thinking about this?? Any thoughts or comments?

Thx,

Yeah I was thinking this as well... it's a really warm winter.

 

[Blair]

Yeah I was thinking this as well... it's a really warm winter.

I think there will be a 30 day "Window" of change as well.
Since the season stops March 31 into May ......


I hope that the fishermen DONT ABUSE this possible window and start KEEPING every pre-spawn/ spawing pike they get their hands on!

Never one to preach (As long as we follow the regs and limits) ... but I know in my heart, if the weather changes the "Normal" spawn (NO FISH PERIOD) ... we will most likely see a 30%40% DECLINE in the next generation.



Unfortunately.... many people still think there is an ENDLESS supply of fish or DONT THINK at all.

Simple math: Kill the parents and we have no kids!



ps; I'm no hypocrite..... the "window" should open way more opportunities to CATCH the fish! and I have every intention on taking avantage of this.

Targeting a "BEDDING COUPLE" (bass and pike) really isnt fair or sporting.


I will be using BARBLESS HOOKS and plan on doing the BEST CATCH & RELEASE PRACTICES that I can.

 

[MichaelVerdirame]

I think there will be a 30 day "Window" of change as well.
Since the season stops March 31 into May ......

Very interesting, I didn't think about it that way. I can't think of a reason somebody would want to keep a Lake O pike, unless it's been severely injured from a deep hooking and was going to die anyways. I hope I'm right :-|

 

[goofah]

I'm thinking with the current conditions/temp trends, ice out is probably coming early this year??
With pike and bass openers being the highlights of my (and guests) annual fishing schedule. I'm thinking the 'spawn' will be at least 3 weeks early this spring and will be a 'game changer' come openers/post spawn.
I remember an early spawn in the spring of 2010 and 'go to strategy' (ie. dead baiting for pike) was out the window.

So, I'm curious as to what other pike/bass fisherman are thinking about this?? Any thoughts or comments?

Thx,

heyy man do you find pike more agressive this time of year....or should i take a slow aproach using minnows and swimbaits perhaps?

 

[iamnickevans]

Hi everyone
I think the pike spawn will be slightly early this year but not by much. Even though the air temperature has been warm and the ice might come out a week or two early, the water temperatures are still cold and until the water is between 46-53 degrees the pike won't spawn. I was out in the boat again on March 10 pike fishing and most of the pike we caught were starting to put on excess weight. We were fishing where the water temperature was between 33-35 degrees and the fish were mostly in deeper prespawn staging areas in 6-12 feet of water. Any male pike we caught were also caught in the same 6-12 feet of water. The only places I can see where the spawn would be abnormally early is where you have a very shallow bay with a very dark bottom that is protected from wind and from the main lake.