Early Season Fishing

I'll admit, this time of year is my absolute least favorite of the whole year. Deer and duck seasons are closed, and it seems like fishing season is a long way away. It is only the middle of February, and depending where you are in the Mid-Atlantic region, there may be snow and ice on the ground, but that does not mean you can't go fishing and have a productive day on the water.

Silver blade w/white hair Mepps #3

One of my favorite times of year to freshwater fish the local ponds around where I live in Delaware is in late February and March. As soon as the ice is completely off the ponds it is a great time to fish them. This time of year you can catch bass, they are lethargic and it can be slow fishing, but they can be caught. My favorite fish to target this time of year are pickerel. These relatives to pike love the colder water temperatures and are very aggressive after ice out, feeding on anything they can catch. A lot of the pickerel we catch this time of year have stuffed stomachs and are fatter than when we catch them any other time of the year. My favorite way to target these pickerel is with an inline spinner. My favorite is a Mepps Dressed Aglia in #3 blade size. On bright days a plain silver blade with white hair cannot be beat. On darker days I like the orange black fury color patterns. Retrieve these just fast enough so the blade turns and you will entice any hungry pickerel in the area. While fishing with these Mepps you will also be surprised how many bass you will catch as well. They love these spinners in the cold early season conditions.

Orange "Black Fury"

Another species to target this time of year is yellow perch. The upper Chesapeake Bay is known for its late winter yellow perch run. The tributaries of the upper bay will all hold perch. Timing is important. You will usually catch a bunch or not get a bite. Pay attention to local fishing reports in those areas to see when the bite is on, or just go try it on a nice day and you may hit the main run just right before anyone else does. Shad darts and perch jigs work great for the yellows, as well as top and bottom rigs with small perch hooks fished on the bottom.

If you are a little further north, you can get in on some fantastic ice fishing this time of year. Whether you are hitting smaller local lakes and ponds of New York and further north, or venturing out on the bigger Finger Lakes or Lake Ontario, you can find great fishing for panfish, perch, trout, walleye and northern pike. I am definitely no expert when it comes to this type of fishing, but you can find ice fishing reports, tips and techniques on websites such as Lake Ontario United and Ice Shanty.

So as much as I wish I was heading offshore in 80 degree weather with light and variable winds, there are still plenty of fishing opportunities to take advantage of this time of year and in the next couple months. When the weather allows it, get out and take advantage of it, you may be surprised what you can catch.

Dave Twardowski
The Mid-Atlantic Sportsman