The facts are that some of our very most favorite bass fishing holes tend to stand out at specific times on the calendar.
One lake may well deserve its reputation as a premier summer spot, but another local pond may stand out only just after the ice is gone. Still another fishery gets the best reviews in autumn.
Needless to say, there are many possible reasons for these perceptions, given that they are accurate appraisals and not based on past legend.
Fact is, some places do produce better with consistency year-after-year. There can be a variety of legitimate reasons for this.
Certain kinds of valuable oxygen-producing plants and weedlines may emerge early or late in the open water season on some waters.
A particular type of preferred forage (such as baitfish and molting crawdads) may be in evidence only for a limited period of time.
Perhaps its as simple as certain waters , because of their bottom content or geographical location, warm up earlier than other fisheries close by.
Here are some of our favorite spring bass fisheries in Ohio's District No. 3, which covers most of Northeast Ohio:
* Mogadore Reservoir -- The east end near Congress Lake Road is legendary for being area's early season option.
The shallow, weedy, east end also features a dark, mucky bottom that aids greatly in this rapid temperature acceleration.
The primitive ramp at Congress Lake Road itself will see quite a lot of attention in the next few weeks.
Try around the road itself and then down the north side with your favorite kinds of suspended minnows like Rapalas, Rogues, and Rebels. April/May is the highlight of the largemouth fishing on this Portage County standout.
* Portage Lakes -- It's amazing that by the time this is published, several tournaments will already have taken place at this southern Summit County bass factory.
Valuable weedlines will not as yet have firmly established themselves around shoreline haunts, leaving mid-lake humps a favored early spring choice of many knowledgeable locals.
Rat-L-Traps of varying chrome-oriented colors will again be the choice bait.
* Conneaut -- With Lake Erie's smallmouth fishery showing signs of severe decline in the Western Basin, savvy smallie hunters have gravitated east.
Late April/early May has emerged as the very top time to bag a true trophy on the big lake -- rememberthe closed season on taking any smallmouth bass commences on May 1.
Big smallies readily available off both the east and west breakwalls and amidst the dropoffs and humps heading eastward in 15 to 25-feer along the shoreline. Greenish, 0.24-ounce tubes will do just fine on 6- to10-pound monofiliment line. Be prepapred to snag steelhead trout with this set up every so often.
* Small area ponds -- Those of you in small boats or on foot should never overlook the angling possibilities at your favorite series of ponds or strip pits and the area is full of such choices.
They warm up fast, tend to be isolated from severe pressure and contain at least some fish that have never seen a lure.
Concentrate around whatever cover may be available and make long casts. Such waters are often very clear and the fish spook easily.
An option to consider is to target such fisheries during lowlight conditions: early morning and early evening. Stand as far from shore as possible to deliver your bait. Try topwaters like buzzbaits, Pop-Rs, and Jitterbugs -- and then hang on.
* Lake Milton Spillway -- So long as the water hereabouts isn't dangerously high, you may count on the fishing being loads better early in the early season than out in the main lake.
Watch your step and be prepared to get a little wet. Bringing a partner isn't a terrible idea. A small pocket tackle box with small, shallow-diving crankbaits and a few in-line spinners will serve you well. Walleye and even muskie strikes always a possible surprise here.
Do try to get out early this year when you can, it's often your very best chance to hook up with a legitimate trophy.
E-mail: stowsports@recordpub.com
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