How to determine when fish are UP

[findingem]

How do you determine in early Spring that fish are UP. What are the steps that are taken to figure this one out? What are some of the best patterns for catching these fish? HHEELLLPPP!!!

[BanditMan]

If the Cows are standing then the fish are up.

[stoner]

If the Cows are standing then the fish are up.

Man where have I heard that before?

[offdtop]

what do you mean UP? UP spawning? UP in the water column? UP on docks?

[elnutsmalljaws]

I am with the others, what do you mean fish are up? If you mean up shallow, it all relates to water temps. Shad spawn at a certain temp and the fish will follow and spawn at the same time. As Dave Stewart told me "Follow the shad and you will find the fish"

[slowride]

Im guesing your talking about shallow? The water temps are the key, and it's been my experience that the big females bed when the smallies do (my opinion). But in the early spring the backs of creeks warm up faster and start to promote plankton growth and sometimes you can see it, olive greenish water and you can count on 100% that their are shad and bass their!

[findingem]

UP meaning when bass are looking above and are striking baits such as floating worms.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Late mar, april and early may when fish are up shallow spawning. My guess is water temps between 55-70 and there will be fish in all stages of the spawn. Around the full moon of these months would be even better. Some fish spawn earlier while others later. If like last year, fish were still spawning in late May due to the high cold water thru March and April made the spawn stretch out. But usually, most are spawned out and done by May 1st and moving out to towards their summer homes and the ledge bite starts to get in full swing. Still is all based on water temps. If the water temps reached spawning temps in August then they would spawn in August, all water temp based, as is just about every other part of fishing.

[mhall]

I'll try and make it sound simple even though it sometimes isn't. Water temps, water temps, water temps. When the water gets above 55 degrees be ready to head shallow and throw them ole topwaters. Especially when it hits high 50's to low 60's, then it will really heat up. Brown ones will start first usually then the green ones. Any bank that has dark shale rock or especially riprap will be warmer water than the others as the rock collect the suns heat and disperses it in the water warming it up quicker. Also think of points on creek arms that have the lake channels swinging close to them, this can be a real key to catching some nice fish so study that map a bit and look for these areas. I've seen largeheads spawn way up into late June before, it just depends on lake elevation fluctuation and water temps. Most of the brown bass are done by the second week in May, however I've seen them spawn as late as the end of May in Cumberland before though, just depends.

[ryan_ekubass]

like mhall said and them ole biguns spawn in deeper water such as ten feet or so.... i have caught spawing fish in that deep of water before... i also caught a green fish a few years back on dale in late june in like 15 feet of water and its tail was worn out from fanning and still red and irritated so i would think that fish was still protecting or on the bed it was like a 6 lb largey.... so best i can tell u is if they arent up go a little deeper and find some pre spawn areas and such...

[jonasseed]

I have caught Smallmouth at Laurel in 18 feet of water that were on the bed before. As always the bigger fish spawn first and last.......

[findingem]

Thanks Guys,
The replies that come through this site are always great. Thank you all. And thank the guys that host this site.

Mike