HOOD OUTDOORS

We have not had much of a winter yet, and with the warming temperatures, spring is arriving early.

We certainly can have a change back to winter, so you may want to keep some of those winter tactics around for a while. Fish are moving up and those spring patterns are working especially on those warmer days.

Active striped bass and hybrid striped bass are starting to aggressively feed. When they aggressively feed, they tend to move baitfish and the only place for the bait fish to go is up.

Hybrids and stripers alike will push the bait up on feeding flats, and on many days this may be in fairly shallow water. At times it may be in real skinny water, especially on those warmer days.

Typically in the winter and summer when the fish are holding fairly deep, anglers will fish “down rods,” meaning they can pretty much hang their presentations right over the side of the boat. In spring, summer and fall you can even call the fish in by thrashing the water, and most days the fish will come right under the boat.

In the early spring, when the fish are real shallow, a little stealth may be required.

I have noticed that shallow feeding fish, be they stripers, hybrids or black bass, can be spooked when shallow. This is when it is prudent to cast your presentation away from the boat in order not to upset the bite.

If the fish are in a feeding frenzy you may not need too much stealth. If there are sporadic feeding fish in the shallows, be careful.

Whether you use a swim bait, a spinner bait or a topwater plug, you are looking for that shallow bite on the top or just under the surface.

If you are a live bait angler, this is where a float or a balloon can be used to get your bait away from the boat. This is also a great time for “cutbait” anglers.

Cut shad is an effective bait for stripers and hybrids. I have seen cut shad win numerous big fish tournaments. Granted, you may land catfish as well, but stripers and hybrids can and will pick up the cut shad and run.

Like I said earlier, don’t totally give up the deeper water presentations. After the feed in the shallows, the fish will tend to move back out deeper.

Low light conditions or overcast days may have the fish in the shallows longer. The strong sun coming up will more than likely move the fish out deeper.

Surface action does not have to be in shallow water this time of the year. Many times the fish will be chasing bait in open water and pushing shad to the surface.

Again, this is a great time to cast into these feeding fish with most any shad imitation and you will more than likely hook up.

This is a great time of the year to be on the water. I know it never grows old with me. See you on the water.

HOOD COUNTY FISHING REPORT

Spring seems to be approaching early this year. Soon as I say that, we will have some winter weather return.

Sand bass are making their trek early for sure all over the state. Catches on the upper ends near Tin Top are happening. Water temperatures were in the middle 50s and rising last weekend.

Striped bass are slow to fair on the lower ends. Black bass fishing continues to be good as well on soft plastics, especially on those warmer days.

The Squaw Creek black bass mania continues. Boats are flocking to this lake Thursday through Sunday when Squaw Creek is open to the public. Lots of big fish to 7 pounds are typical, and lots of smaller fish are also being caught.

Catfish is reported to be slow to fair on cut bait and prepared baits. I don’t have a tilapia report.

Whitney stripers continue to be good to excellent on slabs and soft plastics in the river and in the main lake. Possum Kingdom sand bass are good on soft plastics fished on the upper ends near Costello Island.