Opener thoughts...

[turn_in_poachers]

Looks like stable weather this week. What phase are the bass going to be in come this Saturday? I'm thinking the males will be making their beds shallow with the females not too far off anytime this week.

What lures do you like to throw during this time? I was in WI this past weekend and caught some nice ones on lipless crankbaits. I'll mix in a chatterbait or swim jig also.

Let's get excited people!

[Stick in Mud]

I was out paddling the canoe and saw TONS of action up shallow as the bass (and pike, too, I imagine) busted the sunnies up in super shallow water. Was a lot of fun to watch, but would've been better if the season were open. I'll be heading to the same spots next week...in the past (on this lake, at least), the sunnies will still be there--and so will the largies.

[river rat316]

there is no way they are making beds this week, stuff just started moving up yesterday, I think we are a solid week away from any bedding action and 2 weeks from any spawning action.

[Superduty]

there is no way they are making beds this week, stuff just started moving up yesterday, I think we are a solid week away from any bedding action and 2 weeks from any spawning action.

I tend to agree with river rat but don't be surprised to find some bedding largemouth on opener with a week of 70's in the forecast. They seem to find those out of the way channels that heat up quickly. The full moon was this past weekend and the next won't be until June 14. I think it could be a drawn out gradual spawn in the making.

[Craigums]

Thank god MN has a season to protect those spawning fish

[thatoneguy]

Last year I saw fish on beds the opening weekend on Leech - and the water temp was still in the 50s. I also saw fish on beds in July when the water temps was into the 70s. So yeah, some bed activity is probable but not a lot. I have a tourney on Sunday, so Saturday I'll be throwing spinners and swimbaits to locate spots to visit the next day

[Todd S.]

I to was in WI on Saturday caught a bunch of dinks right tight to shore, within 3 feet of the bank. Moved out to the first break and caught a little nicer fish, 6-8 feet deep from the first break and out over the flat area before the second break into the main basin. 55 degree temps. That was on a 350 acre lake with dingy water clarity. I would guess based on this weeks weather and individual lakes we could see the first wave of females moving into the shallows, at least here in the metro area that is.

[turn_in_poachers]

I to was in WI on Saturday caught a bunch of dinks right tight to shore, within 3 feet of the bank. Moved out to the first break and caught a little nicer fish, 6-8 feet deep from the first break and out over the flat area before the second break into the main basin. 55 degree temps. That was on a 350 acre lake with dingy water clarity. I would guess based on this weeks weather and individual lakes we could see the first wave of females moving into the shallows, at least here in the metro area that is.

Yeah I talked to another guy on Saturday and he said he caught nicer fish in the 8-9 ft range and just smaller ones shallow. Looks like they're staging to move up. Hopefully this stable weather helps. This lake was chocolate colored shallow and then a distinct line where the clear water was. Caught most of mine around those areas.

Can't wait. It's been a long winter.

[Markula]

there is no way they are making beds this week, stuff just started moving up yesterday, I think we are a solid week away from any bedding action and 2 weeks from any spawning action.

I started catching fish on beds and guarding fry 10 days ago. While not yet into full blown spawn, many fish begin much earlier than people realize.

[RumRiverRat]

Guys in my club saw smallmouth guarding fry on Pool 2 yesterday.

They said you could clearly see the cloud of fry.

Said the males were real aggressive trying to chase them out of the area.

This weekend is going to be stupid easy fishing.

Going to see a big surge of fish pushing shallow.

I have 9 days off starting Saturday and plan to fish everyday.

[RuddyDuck]

I think I'm going to go with the old, "Start shallow and move deeper if need be" theory. Though if it is too crowded up shallow, I may start out a bit deeper right away.

Probably use swimjigs, spinnerbaits, senkos for shallow spots and lipless cranks, crankbaits and something texas rigged for deeper spots.

Good luck!

[RuddyDuck]

Thank god MN has a season to protect those spawning fish

I honked the Sarcasm Horn twice for this!! Honk Honk!

[HandGunner]

sunday caught a 4lb 10oz bass tossing a spinnerbait for pike at the beach on crooked maybe they are moving shallow now

[river rat316]

Pushing shallow and actually spawning are 2 completely different things, will some small males be making beds? Probably yes, will the spawn be on? NO, it is going to be a long drawn out affair this year and probably will last into July, just like last year. The small males are usually up shallow for a week before they start making beds, they might not wait that long this year with the full moon. also more than 1/2 the fish will likely end up dumping the eggs this year due to the conditions.

[Nick Kuhn]

In WI this weekend the bass I caught were all in less than 8 feet of water. Most seemed to be around the newly developing weed beds. Weeds won't be up if you head a ways north of the metro though: they just started in Polk county WI.

[RK]

I wont get out bass fishing until the middle of next week (my father in law is a WW II vet, and we spend every Memorial Day weekend with him so I'll be fishing channel cats in SW MN) but a couple thoughts...

I think you'll for sure see some fish moving shallow, but we're still a ways from spawn. I suspect there'll be a lot of small bankrunner males up shallow for sure. I think RR316 is right that spawn might be pretty drawn out this year.

Kind of against conventional wisdom, but this can actually be a really good time to fish cranks in certain places. If you can find areas where last year's weedgrowth is still up on a deep weedline, you can get staging fish really stacked up in them.

Might be tougher this year since we had such heavy snow cover and a lot of weedbeds probably died off completely, but seems like you can always find a few areas with some green weeds still, and even if they're pretty ratty looking they'll still hold fish. With side imaging they're stupid easy to find, but even without SI, if you look along inside turns off shoreline flats and on the sides of points sheltered from the prevailing winds it's a good place to start. If it's a lake you fished last fall, look where the last weedbeds were before ice-up...they may still be there.

I usually fish quieter, more tight wobbling cranks than I'd use later in the season - my favorites are the old flat-sided wood Poe's RC3s, but I only have two left . The old Risto Raps were good for this too for some reason. (Why do I like so many baits they quit making??) A shad rap on spinning gear with 10# Fireline and a fluoro leader can also be awfully good.

If you find some fish you can usually fish back through an area with a finesse jig or something and scrape up a few more too. When you find them they can be bunched up pretty good. Caught some of my biggest pre-spawn fish this way over the years...

Old weedbeds like this are also good to find if we get a cold front that chases fish out of the shallows, or even a cold morning. Might have to really slow down - good place to deadstick a craw or Senko - but they'll be there if they get driven out off the shallow stuff.

[RuddyDuck]

Bummer, I sold the few Risto Raps I had at our last garage sale! I will have to dig thru the river/oldstuff tackle box and see if I have one hiding in there. I do have some shad raps though.

Sounds like the weather is suppose to be nice for opener, 70's and sunshine. Glad it won't be rainy with Thunderstorms. 4 days to go.

[JP Z]

I actually have a half dozen or so Ristos.........never like those dumb things. I think I may have to try them out.

[th64]

Nice thing about cranks is they can help you find those green weeds RK is talking about.

[bemidjibasser]

Risto raps are one of my favorite cranks in late fall. The cedar flat sided ones I make myself are my favorite early season cranks...

[Nick Kuhn]

The crankbait bite has been better if you use them more like a jerkbait. And the jerkbait bite has been much better than the crankbait bite.

[RK]

Risto raps are one of my favorite cranks in late fall. The cedar flat sided ones I make myself are my favorite early season cranks...

The old Poe's RC3s I like so much are cedar too. Not quite as buoyant as balsa or pine, and a little more durable. I've never had the patience to make my own but I might have to start once I burn through my last couple RC3s... I cringe every time a pike eats one of them.

[Deitz Dittrich]

RK- I still have quite a few RC3... but Im not sharing!!!

[JP Z]

RK, PM sent!

[EBass]

Someone told me they are starting to spawn now. Temps 62 in the shallows - hmm