Thread: March 17th Report

Got out today and made an early start. Low tide was at 9:30am and I was determined to take advantage of the nice weather. Even brought ice for the big catch I was expecting after the last time out. Unfortunately the fishing was slow at least where I was. Have a good feeling that with the rising water temps the tight schooling, deep winter bite is all but over and the fish are making there way to shallow water or at least drop offs directly adjacent to shallow water. Had surface temps up near 50 and even a bit higher back in the coves. Deep water fish were still there but scattered and even a bit skittish. Could see them on sonar as they reacted to my baits but many would just refuse them unlike a week ago when most would hit. Casting caught a few, verticle jigging a few, even drifting with the wind caught a few. They were almost anywhere from 12 foot down to 3 feet deep in the coves. Just not bunched up at all. I'm expecting that as the water stays steady in the mid fifties the males will be bunched up shallow again but that might take another week or two of mild weather to get them there. Right now they seem to be wandering around or schooling in spots that I couldn't pinpoint. Had twenty in the boat but kept only 5 of the better ones. Even caught 2 channel cats on a twister style jig. Fun day even with e slow fishing.

This report was from another tidal river further west. We had wanted to try it out but should have picked a better day. Even got checked by the dnr, they were going from boat to boat and even ordered a boat off the water for late registration and no license.