Talkin' Fishin': Tips for the first fishing trip

BOB JENSON
Some anglers have already gone on their first fishing trip of the year, but most fisher-people are still waiting for their initial voyage on the water in search of something willing to bite. Following are some ideas for making that first trip of the year a successful one.

Go to a body of water where you are pretty sure you’ll get bit, and go after a species of fish that you’re pretty sure you can get to bite. That’s always a good idea, but you probably have in mind one particular lake or pond that has a reputation of producing early season action.

I’ll often start the season out on a bluegill pond or crappie bay that I am almost sure will produce a few bites on that first trip. I like to start the season off on the right note, and spending a few hours catching fish is the right note.

A jig tipped with soft bait is often a great way to catch crappies in the spring. A jig tipped with soft bait is often a great way to catch crappies in the spring. RELATED CONTENT DL-Online Talk About It Icon Add a comment

If you can schedule your time on the water early in the year, the afternoon bite is often better than the morning bite. When you’re fishing in the afternoon, the water has had a chance to warm up, and early in the year most fish are attracted to warmer water, and they also bite better in that warmer water. The middle of the afternoon until early evening can produce some of the best action of the day.

Slower moving baits are usually best early in the year. A great way to catch walleyes now is with a jig and minnow, and one of the best jigs is a stand-up Fire-Ball jig. This jig stands up on the bottom when it’s at rest, so the minnow stays very visible to the walleyes. It works well to crawl this jig/minnow combination across the bottom, giving it plenty of rests. Frequently a walleye will inhale the jig as it sits still on the bottom.

If you’re after bass, and they’re shallow, try rigging a Power Jerk Shad, a Gulp! Sinking Minnow or a Gulp! Wacky Crawler weightless and glide it through bassy areas. Early in the year, that might be through rush beds, around shallow timber, or around docks. Work it slowly and let it sink in between glides. Watch your line carefully, as oftentimes the strike will be subtle. If you want to catch panfish, a one inch Micro Power Tube rigged on a jighead and suspended under a bobber might be your best choice. Rig the tube/jig so it rides horizontally in the water.

By fishing this rig under a bobber, it’s possible to fish it in one spot for an extended period of time. If you can see the bluegills or crappies along the edge of a dock, around a clump of reeds, or suspended near a tree that has fallen into the water, you can let that tube sit right in their face until they decide to eat it. Often it will work best to just jiggle your rod tip enough to make the tube quiver.

Too much lure action will often spook the fish. We always want to catch some fish regardless of time of year, but catching them on the first trip often sets the tone for the rest of the fishing season. If you keep the above ideas in mind, you’ll be setting a good tone. (For more fish-catching information, visit fishingthemidwest.com)

IMAGE INFORMATION: A jig tipped with soft bait is often a great way to catch crappies in the spring.