The 2011 Smallmouth Bass Season is already starting out on a bang by pulling off a 20 incher………….More to Come!

With periods of warm fronts beginning to move through the area it gives us hope that  Spring is near. If you get a chance to head out to your local lake look for bass moving to their pre spawn staging areas.  Water temps are starting to climb up into the mid 50?s so bass will begin staging on primary lake points as they begin their move to the spawning grounds. These areas are points that are close to the main channel of the lake or the mouth of a large cove.  Points that have added structure are a bonus because fish will tend to migrate to these areas as they offer opportunities to ambush shad and bream that are staging for their spawn as well.  Target the sides of the points that have the deepest drop offs. These areas allow for the bass to drop into deeper water if water temps begin to fluctuate due to the ever changing pressure systems that spring can bring.  The most effective patterns are craw-fish jigs and firetiger crank baits that imitate the staging bream. If you are fishing in stained water always keep a spinner bait close by.  As the water temps begin to warm up follow these bass to the secondary points of the lake until they reach the flats in the back of the coves and the mouth of the creeks. Here they will begin their spawn so give them a chance to spawn and then follow them back out to the deeper water where they will stage for the warm Summer months.

Join the NC Wildlife Resources Commission Thursday March 31st at 7:00Pm for a presentation by David Goodfred NCWRC fisheries biologist.

At this meeting, you will be updated on findings of the NCWRC’s smallmouth bass research, which includes great smallmouth bass fisheries such as the French Broad, Little Tennessee, Tuckaseegee, and Nolichucky Rivers.  Also, you will be introduced to other great smallmouth bass fisheries across the state.

All of this information has come from a 3 year study which objectives were to identify smallmouth populations, collect life history information, and evaluate stream management opportunities. Over the course of this study fisheries biologists collected more than 2,800 smallmouth bass from 42 stream stretches.

For more information contact David Goodfred at 828.659.3324 ext. 227

Musky Country: Zero 2 Hero Trailer from RT on Vimeo.

Josh Almond hoists his muskie of the week which obviously was caught on fly. As if there was anything else!