Broken Arrow....I could write a book on this topic...but I'll make it real brief and general....It sounds like we're talking about mainly lake fishing....and yes, the northern end of any body of water warms first....you can use your temp gauge on boat, and confirm this....dirty water will also warm faster than clear
water....spawn starts to happen at about 60-65 degrees....in NC I always figure when the dogwoods bloom...spawn and top water starts....You can actually fish pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn fish on the same lake, especially the larger ones (kinda like all the does don't go into heat at the same time)...by using your temp gauge and starting with the warmest warter and moving down the lake as the rest warms...
Your first question....I can't answer....pick me up in the morning...lets fish about a week and I can tell you...LOL...
Wintertime (and summertime) bass usually hang out out in the main lake....with the shad...you can confirm with your depthfinder...find shad this time of year and within say 3-400 yards, you will find bass....humps, dropoffs, rock piles, rip rap (especially that warmed by the sun for 2-3 days) are good places to start....they may be 6-10 feet deep, soaking up the sun or 12-20 feet deep just chilling....but they will be near those shad.
Crank baits, jig & pigs, rattletraps, spinnerbaits, sassy shads work good in winter....carolina rigs and top water in summer...
As the water warms...the shad start to move into the creeks....the bass follow...main lake points become good...fish fallen trees with a spinner bait...letting it bump the limbs...and trying different retrieves....buzzing and slow rolling....crank baits work good on these points and lizards thrown into the laydowns also are a favorite of mine....
The bass will hit their spawning mode and will continue into the creeks....until they hit their spawning area....lizards and floating worms with no weight on either work well here....as well as spinner baits and rapala type minnows with a jerk retrieve....top water ...tube lures...they all work some days during the spawn.....and some days none of them work....they can be real agressive or just not interested....that will be the time to move up or down the lake and find fish in a different mood...or check out another lake....there is a time period after the spawn that they are exhausted....and just chill for a few days....from May to July 1st I like to hit main lake points with top water (Zara Spook) and with a carolina rig.
Anyway...they move back to the main lake point area in early summer and then back out to the main lake for the summer....Around here I start night fishing after July 4th....usually the main lake points, docks grass beds with a 10inch red shad Culprit worm....brass weight, red glass bead...
Now you know why I gave up golf years ago....to keep up with the fish...you've got to stay on the water as much as possible....Just remember...this is basically how most bass move....you will always have one that likes the shallow water, certain pier, etc....he's the one that a 12 year old will catch on a cane pole....and be hooked for life....
I know...thats how I started....
:-D :-D
