[dropcap]A[/dropcap]fter one of the coldest winters and “pre-springs” in a long time, the weather is finally beginning to break. Not only are the daytime temps beginning to moderate, but just as importantly, the nighttime lows are not so cold. With this increase in temperature, along with extended photoperiod, the water is finally starting to warm and the bass are quickly transitioning from a winter pattern to a prespawn and spawning pattern in area rivers, creeks and ponds. Sutton Lake on the other hand is in a world of its’ own, but we’ll talk more about that later.
Not only have we had a cold winter, but a wet one as well. The Cape Fear has been running high, cold and muddy since late January. The Northeast and Black have also been less than ideal for consistent action. But, now that the “sap is starting to rise” the water is beginning to recede and the fishing is picking up.
Shallow water techniques dominate this month. Spinner baits, 1/4- to 3/8-ounce with tandem nickel/gold blades and chartreuse/white skirts, fished medium to slow in slack water areas will produce early in the month. As the water continues to warm and more fish move on the beds, twitch baits, soft plastic jerk baits and floating worms fished methodically will be the ticket. Although the bass will be bedding, sight fishing in the tannic waters of the river system is not really an option. Instead, likely bedding areas must be located (mostly backwaters and creeks with less current flow) and fished slowly, paying close attention to any movement that could give away a bass’ location.
When a productive area is located, it is sometimes necessary to slow down even further, fishing Texas-rigged creature baits or lizards with a 3/16- to 1/4-ounce sinker. Lake Waccammaw is on usually on the same schedule as the rivers in relation to the spawn, with the exception being that sight fishing is an option in its shallow, clear water. Once a bed is located, with a fish that is “locked down” and refuses to spook easily, small tubes, creature baits or craws will aggravate them into biting.
Now on to Sutton Lake. Since Sutton is a power plant lake and the water is artificially heated, the bass are much farther along in their annual spawning cycle. In April, there are fish in all stages of the spawn, with most in spawn to post-spawn mode. Water temperatures are in the upper 60’s to mid 70’s by the end of the month. Topwater chuggers, Senko’s and Texas-rigged worms will produce fish with the occasional three- to five-pounder. Since the fish are in all stages of the spawn, you can expect to catch them from two feet to 15 feet deep, depending on your preferred style of fishing.
No matter where you go to catch’em, keep in mind that they are in the process of making babies, so we’ll all have fish to catch in the future. Handle them carefully, take a picture and let’em go to do their thing.