The fish in our area lakes entered a major transition period this weekend. This past Friday was the warmest day of the year so far.

The warm air temps pushed water temperatures well above 60 degrees, and the crappie and bass spawn is wide open. For over a month water temps fluctuated between 53 and 60 degrees.

The average low water temperature is now 58 to 60 with a high in the upper 60s. Surface water temps may be as warm as the low 70s in the wind-protected areas of big lakes. You can find 70-degree water in the smaller shallow lakes and ponds too. Small waters warm up faster than big lakes.

The dominant pattern used to catch fish in the spring involves fishing shallow water, but don’t rule out deep water.

If you’re fishing public lakes, the fish are getting hammered and the traffic will continue to increase as the weather warms up. If fishing pressure is heavy on your favorite lake, try backing off a bit and fish a little deeper than everyone else.

Shallow water is where you’ll find most of the fish, but as spring progresses the fish will become weary of lures, trolling motors and any above the water noise or motion.

Dial your trolling motor down and fish slow. Make accurate lure presentations and don’t forget the oldest rule of fishing &8220;be quite.&8221;

I noticed a tremendous increase in fish activity this weekend. Baitfish were near the surface, and the bream were stirring about.

This is the first weekend the bream have been active in shallow water. They’re holding near the surface because that’s where you’ll find the warmest water.

There are three stages of the bass and crappie spawn going on right now: the pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn.

The fish that receive the most pressure are, of course, the spawning fish. They’re holding in thin water near visible cover and often easy to catch especially if the weather remains stabile for a few days. The bad news is the shallow fish receive a lot of pressure.

There are several ways to deal with the pressure and boat traffic. If you’re after bass, target the thickest cover you can locate.

If there is such a place available on your favorite lake, choose an area that’s very hard to access. Many of today’s bass fishermen won’t take their new shiny rigs back in the rough stuff.

Cast to the thickest cover you can find. Fishing lures cost more than ever, and most people have a fear of getting hung and losing their lures. If you don’t lose a few lures and you’re not getting hung up occasionally, you’re not fishing where the fish are.

Eddie Roberts writes a weekly fishing column for The Natchez Democrat. Reach him at

eddie@fishingwitheddie.com

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