First, let’s make something clear: understanding fish behavior cannot be mastered in a vacuum. That means we need to first learn how external factors influence fish behavior. Sure, there are unique characteristics of different breeds of fish, but we won’t spend a lot of time on that, aside from a mention or two. Our focus will be educating you on how to read the myriad of forces in and around a lake to make a decision on where to go, what to tackle to use, and which techniques will be most successful.
It’s gettin’ hot in here
In general, as water temperatures rise, fish become more active. This is most evident during spring, because fish move out of hibernation to begin feeding and spawning. Use this information to target warmer bodies of water where fish migrate, which tend to be the shallower waters found in the northern part of lakes. As expected, this strategy is inverted during the summer months, when excessive heat becomes a detriment. Fish seek shade and cooler temperatures in structure and in deeper parts of the lake. Look for steep drop-offs and holes in the topography.
Outside of the larger, more gradual temperature increases due to seasonal changes, anglers should also understand the impact of micro-increases in water temperature on fish behavior. Small, incremental changes in temperature throughout the day can also trigger fish to become much more active. So, something as simple as a cloudy morning followed by a sunny afternoon can be the difference between being “skunked” and landing a trophy bass. Anglers should anticipate these weather patterns and plan accordingly. Other environmental factors that alter water temperature are its composition and clarity. Dirty water can retain more heat from the sun, causing it to warm up faster. Look to the northern parts of the lake and target tributaries, which push runoff, following rainy conditions.
Breeding, feeding, defense and offense
Fish rely on instinct, not any sort of cognitive thinking. This means they react to their natural calling to breed, feed, and protect. Sure different species have variations in their senses, but overall, fish are led by these basic principles and learning how to read them can give you a huge advantage when fishing. In short, anglers need to learn three key terms:
Pre-spawn
Fish are slowly becoming more active after months of hibernation, meaning they will be hungry. Before they look to mate in the shallower waters, fish will be looking to replenish their energy. The bite can be ferocious in pre-spawn, and often leads to some of the largest catches of the year; however, fish can be fickle and the natural instability in weather during this time of year can lead to feast or famine.
Spawn
immediately following mating, a fish’s natural instinct is to protect its young–fertilized eggs in nests. It’s not the best time of fishing, and most anglers hate it. All’s not lost, however: as once you find a nest area, usually in deep in coves in shallow waters, you can use lures to draw a defensive, reactionary bite.
Post-spawn
Some of the best fishing of the year can be following the spawn, known as post-spawn. This is the recuperation phase for the fish, so they aren’t nearly as aggressive as pre-spawn. Fish are typically still in the shallows, preparing for the dog-days of summer, when they move to deeper water and grassy ambush areas. In the interim, hunting for pockets of bait fish and working the edges leads to the most success.
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