.jpg)
Spring Fishing Spawn Stage
- Eric Olliverson
- Mar 1
- 2 min read
by Eric Olliverson
Eric's Elite Guide Service
Spring fishing is finally here! Right???
The month of March here in the Ozarks can sure be bi-polar. Each year it seems like we experience a series of days that have excellent weather, and then the next day it feels more like winter! Although the month of March can have plenty of highs and lows, the fishing this month is rated excellent overall.
Table Rock can be known for being seasonal on a lot of species of fish, however this month a lot is going on.
March means that the fish are either spawning or in the pre spawn stage.
WALLEYE
Early March, our walleye population are finishing there annual spawn, and it is an excellent time to target a true trophy as they migrate to their spawning grounds up our rivers.
WHITE BASS
The white bass spawning runs are also happening up Long Creek, James, Kings and White rivers. These fish are fun to chase using light tackle, and Table Rock has some unbelievably large whites exceeding 4lbs!
BASS
The bass fishing in March is an excellent time to try to catch that trophy! This time of year the fish not only have their winter weight but are carrying eggs as well. Table Rock offers an abundance of all three species of bass, the largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. This is an interesting time of year as all three species will school together feeding up for the spawn in April.
CRAPPIE
March is also known for excellent crappie fishing. Fish are schooled up in large groups and are eager to bite!
My top three baits for each species in March would be:
Bass - Crankbaits like a wiggle wart, rock crawler or a curve 55, Jerkbaits and a spinnerbait
Location: You can find these pre spawn bass located in staging areas like secondary points in creeks and transition banks.
Crappie - small jigs and minnows
Location: I find a big concentration of crappie suspended in the channels in creeks and coves in the rivers. Another great location is to target brushpiles in 10 to 15 ft of water.
Walleye - Small two to three inch swimbaits on an 1/8 oz jighead and jerkbaits are my main baits
Location: These fish can be found up the rivers along flat gravel points and transition banks
Whitebass - small swimbaits rigged on a jighead
Location: These fish are in the rivers and will travel in huge groups along Channel swing banks and river bends.
Overall, March is one of my favorite times of year. The only problem is figuring out which species to go after! No matter which species that you choose, get out and enjoy some of the beautiful weather, and remember to take a kid fishing! We will see you all out on the water.
Comments