Spring Action...
Travis Frank
What a beautiful spring we've been blessed with! The above average temps have brought along above average fishing too. This past weekend the boys and I slipped out for a couple of hours of catching to prepare for a fish fry. It's a yearly spring ritual for us, and our stomachs seldom leave empty. This past Saturday was no different.
We hit the water at mid-day and headed to the opposite end of the lake, away from the big crowds. For my group to fully enjoy a spring day on the water, we simply must be away from the crowds. The funny part is that most people feel that they need to be anchored right up next to the other guys to catch fish. We would prove that this is simply false. We spent hours catching fish and throwing them back. We covered several hundred yards of shoreline and caught fish the entire way. Sunfish was our main catch, and boy did we find some dandies hidden in the hard to reach places. We also found a few slab crappies and had a bunch of bass grab hold too.
This outing gave me another chance to work on my photography skills and prepare for the season ahead. I'm really focusing on capturing all the elements of the catch through the eyes of the camera lens. Ive found it to be a challenge in many ways, but each time on the water I come away with a few photos that I really enjoy. Regardless, it sure is fun learning, and this whole photography things adds another dimension to my days on the water. If you want to see some other pics, you can check out my photo blog. I've been updating it fairly regularly.
A quick tip for those heading out after spring panfish. The time is now, don't delay. Head shallow, and sometimes really shallow. Remember, the fish aren't there to spawn just yet. They are in the shallows to eat. You want to find the warmest water on the lake. The warm water brings all the tiny critters, bugs and minnows in, and the panfish are there to get in on the spring feast. Find the warmest water, and you've found your fish. This can be as shallow as a few inches of water. Wax worms are always a good choice, but don't overlook the new plastic lure options. The Mini-Mites are a great panfish bait right now, and if you don't bait them, you sometimes keep the smaller fish from eating it. Just the small hook and rubber under a float has been all that my boat has used. For the past 3 years now, I haven't purchased any bait. Good luck and remember to take a young kid fishing with you! From the muddy bottom bays of the metro area lakes, keep on livin' the dream!