I have been enjoying early season bass fishing in mid-Michigan. In Michigan, from now until May 28, bass fishing is catch and immediate release only. To me, this means as soon as you catch a bass, you shouldn't diddle around measuring it or weighing it, or doing more than a quick photo. Instead, put that bass back in the water!
So far this spring, I have been enjoying fishing for bass at several of our mid-Michigan ponds and lakes. The place where I have found the most luck lately is at Hawk Island Park on the south side of Lansing. The technique that I have found most productive at this lake, even with the cold water, is a reaction bait know as the square-bill crank bait. This may seem weird to some people, as typically, ice-out bass are caught on finesse baits, but I have found if you work a square-bill slow enough, it can be just as, if not more productive, than finesse baits. With the water being so clear and cold at ice-out, you want to keep your presentation natural and on the smaller side.
Again, the fish this time of year are still not extremely active, so you do not want to use a bait that requires too much energy for them to chase down, or that could even spook them.
One more tip for people heading out this time of year is to fish shallow, because the bass are trying to warm up, and they are also getting ready to spawn.
Although there might still be cold temperatures out there, and while conditions can be challenging, spring bass fishing is still a lot more fun than staying at home!
