Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 30
Ice-Out
Smallmouth Bass
of Presque Isle Bay
by Marilyn Black
photos by Darl Black
I’ll bet you are itching, too—itching to have a frisky smallmouth
bass surging on the end of your line as you battle it to your boat.
After all, it’s been a long winter of fishing through small holes
in the ice.
Now, it’s time to come in behind the melting ice cover and
pursue smallmouth bass on one of the Commonwealth’s best
smallmouth waters—Presque Isle Bay, Erie County. You can get
a jump start in Presque Isle Bay even while massive ice sections
still drift on the main body of Lake Erie, which is slower to warm
than the shallower 3,800-acre protected bay.
In most years, Presque Isle Bay ice-out occurs between
the last week of March and the first full week of April. It’s the
same time that smallmouth bass follow baitfish into the bay
from the main lake. Bass provide exciting deep water angling
opportunities throughout the month of April until smallmouth
bass begin moving shallower and fishing techniques shift gears.
These are tips for successful fishing on this distinctive waterway
during April.
First, you can rule out the shallowest water and lagoons as
an ice-out smallmouth bass location. With water temperatures
in the 40s, bay smallmouth bass will usually be located near the
bottom in depths from 10 to 25 feet.
Second, I’m more successful with artificial lures than live
bait in April. My most effective lures for coldwater Presque
Isle Bay smallmouth bass are jigging spoons, blade baits, tubes,
grubs and hair jigs.
30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March/April 2013
Presque Isle Bay
ERIE
WARREN
CRAWFORD
Jigging spoons
Select a ½- or ¾-ounce jigging spoon, going with the lighter
spoon if there is little breeze and using the heavier spoon for
gusty conditions. Jigging spoons should not be tied directly
to the line. Instead, attach the spoon with a ball-bearing snap
swivel to reduce line twist. These spoons are generally fished
straight down beside the boat. Simply free-spool the spoon to
the bottom, and use little snaps of the rod tip to pop the spoon
off the bottom. Remain alert. Smallmouth bass may grab the
spoon as it flutters back to the bottom, or bass may pick the
metal slab right off the bottom between pops.
I favor simple gold or silver spoons, with no color added. I
believe the shiny metal provides optimal flash under the water
when jigged. Of course, make sure the hook points are sharp.
PFBC Facebook: PaFishandBoat
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013
Straight Talk
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission 2012 Annual Report Summary
Contents
Penns Creek Early
Tying the Baetis Thorax Dun
Your Fishing Field Guide
Central Pennsylvania Limestone Streams
Southeast Best Family Trout Waters
2013 Adult Trout Stocking Program Changes
Laurel Highlands Trout Trail
Soft Plastics for Trout
Notes from the Stream
Early Trout on Lake Wallenpaupack
More for Less: Rigging a Small Economical Boat for All-Around Fishing
Ice-Out Smallmouth Bass of Presque Isle Bay
Call to Action: Restore the Susquehanna River
Thinking on Crappie Terms
Pymatuning Reservoir Walleye Comeback
Choosing and Installing a Bow Mount Trolling Motor
The Wooden Canoe is Alive and Well
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission 2012 Photography Contest
Spring PLAY Newsletter
Eastern Sand Darter
Evaluation of Pennsylvania Catfish Spawning Boxes
Reflecting on the Water
Currents
Angler’s Notebook
Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - CT1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - CT2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Straight Talk
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission 2012 Annual Report Summary
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Penns Creek Early
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Tying the Baetis Thorax Dun
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Your Fishing Field Guide
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Central Pennsylvania Limestone Streams
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Southeast Best Family Trout Waters
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 2013 Adult Trout Stocking Program Changes
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Laurel Highlands Trout Trail
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Soft Plastics for Trout
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Notes from the Stream
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Early Trout on Lake Wallenpaupack
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - More for Less: Rigging a Small Economical Boat for All-Around Fishing
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Ice-Out Smallmouth Bass of Presque Isle Bay
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Call to Action: Restore the Susquehanna River
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Thinking on Crappie Terms
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Pymatuning Reservoir Walleye Comeback
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Choosing and Installing a Bow Mount Trolling Motor
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - The Wooden Canoe is Alive and Well
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission 2012 Photography Contest
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Spring PLAY Newsletter
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Eastern Sand Darter
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Evaluation of Pennsylvania Catfish Spawning Boxes
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 55
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Reflecting on the Water
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Currents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 61
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 62
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Cover4
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