Catching Pre-Spawning & Spawning Fish

Catching Pre-Spawning & Spawning Fish

By Ben Leal

May in Iowa… winter has all but lost its grip, and we’re beginning to enjoy some incredible weather. It also brings with it the spring spawning period for a variety of fish. Temperatures in May will range from highs in the upper 60s to the mid-70s, with lows ranging from the upper 40s to the mid-50s. Cool mornings to start for sure, but afternoons where one can shed the sweatshirt and enjoy a warm afternoon.

What Are The Fish Doing Right Now?
Right now, in April, we will see the walleye spawn taking place. These fish are the first to move shallow after ice out. These fish can be caught from shore or boat and offer anglers ample opportunities for success. Following on the heals of walleye spawn will be crappie. These fish will move into shallow haunts at the end of April and early May. As water temps rise to 56 degrees, male crappie will move shallow and start fanning out spawning beds. You can find them anywhere in the one to 20 foot depth, but usually in three to 10 feet. Crappie will use secondary creeks and bays, using the channels hidden beneath the water as highways. This is a great time to start trolling with small jig heads or casting a small Road Runner Crappie. Female crappie will hang out in deeper areas while the guys do all the work, congregating around structure close to drop-offs. Whether you find crappie shallow or lock on to a nice group hanging around some structure in deeper water, they will feed more aggressively as spawning draws near.

As surface water temps reach the 62-65 degree range, conditions almost become perfect for shallow-spawning crappies. The females will move in and around brushy cover near spawning beds that have been cut out by the males. This is a great time to drop a live minnow below a bobber, enticing those nice slabs to latch on to your offering. Crappie can be voracious predators in the spring. When one thinks about crappie, you don’t consider them voracious, yet alone predators. They typically are preyed upon. However, the pre-spawn and spawning periods make these fish aggressive and hungry.

Lures and Bait
In many cases, minnows are the go-to bait this time of year. One important key is finding the depth at which these fish feed. Once you’ve done that, tie on a slip bobber and get your bait down to the fish at the same depth every time.

Largemouth bass soon follow as the water temps continue to rise. Generally, when the water temps climb above the 45-degree mark, bass will move from deep water wintering areas to between two and 12 feet of water. Like crappie, the males will move into areas where they can fan out spawning beds, and as temps continue to rise and reach 63 to 68 degrees, spawning takes place.

Historically, pre-spawn and early springtime bass fishing produce the biggest fish. Why? Large female bass are feeding generously as they prepare for the spawn. These large fish will stage off spawning areas next to deeper water. They will actively feed, especially during a warm, stable weather pattern. Look for shallow spawning areas next to deeper water. A creek channel that moves up into a shallow bay or a point that comes out to deeper water with drop-offs on either side are great areas to look for. Throw crankbaits on the deeper breaklines, 10-15 feet of water, and lipless crankbaits for shallow breaklines. These are your search tools. You can cover quite a bit of water looking for active fish. Slow down and work the area thoroughly once you’ve connected with a good fish. There will be schools of larger fish staging off creek channels from the mouth of the creek on up.

I never go out on the lake, whether spring, summer or fall, without a plastic worm tied to one of my rods. Another great cold water/springtime bait is a jig and craw. I find that blue/black combination works best in most waters I fish. However, this is somewhat of a personal preference, and I lean towards jigs, usually in the 1/2 oz to 3/8 oz size. Another great color is pumpkin seed, green/brown combinations, anything really that will mimic some of the natural forage that bass encounter. I typically use a medium to medium heavy rods for my worm and jig fishing. Heavy rods work great if you know you’ll be fishing in some thick cover.

If you find bass have moved up into shallower water rather than staging off in deeper areas, spinnerbaits are a great way to cover a lot of water in shallow conditions. Chartreuse and white work very well, along with a single Colorado blade or dual willow leaf blades. The willow leaf blades, the skirt action, a plastic jig, and some trailer on the hook will give the fish the illusion of a small group of baitfish. For slower presentations, the Colorado-bladed spinnerbait is your best choice; if you feel the need for speed, throw that willow leaf out there and crank it in. Again, once you find active fish, slow down and fish the area methodically with slower baits.

Introduce A New Fishermen
This time of year can create fantastic opportunities to hook into what could be your personal best. It’s also a great time to get kids involved in and hooked on fishing. Crappie, for example, are shallow and can be easily caught with a bobber and a minnow.

There is nothing quite like watching a toddler with their Barbie or Spiderman rod hook and reel in their first fish. Bass will also readily take a minnow, which can be an exciting battle for the kiddos as the family watches. Just don’t forget to hang on to them so they don’t take an unexpected dip.

Remember that the larger fish are typically female and will be full of eggs during the spawn. These are perfect for setting an example of what selective harvest can do. Put them back and let them grow. But you can capture the moment by C.P.R. (Catch, Photo, & Release). This will help preserve the future of Iowa’s fisheries and teach your kids valuable stewardship lessons.

Enjoy the resources we all share here in Iowa…pack out what you pack in, and if you see something that needs to be picked up, even if it’s not yours, pack it out too. Tight Lines All!