More and more, anglers are getting on and in the water. Some are fishing in boats, some are wading, and some are fishing from docks or shore. Some anglers are catching fish, some aren’t catching too much. If you’ll be fishing in the next couple of weeks, keep these fishing thoughts in mind.

Early in the season, it pays big dividends to understand a little bit about the fish you’re chasing. Actually, understanding the fish is an important part of success year ‘round. In many areas, you can chase several species of fish on the same body of water. Depending on where you live, northern pike will probably be the first gamefish to enter the spawning season. Walleyes will be next, followed by bass and panfish. If the walleyes are in the spawn mode, you’ll be better off trying for pike or panfish. When fish are spawning, they aren’t really interested in eating. If you want to feel a tug on your line, you’ll increase your chances for that if you try for the fish that are most likely to bite.

Also, keep in mind that the water is still pretty cool, and many fish don’t want to chase a bait in cold water. A slow presentation will often be best. If walleyes are the target, try crawling a stand-up jig tipped with a minnow across the bottom. Give it plenty of stops as you drag it. The stand-up head is better this time of year. The stand-up design keeps the minnow in view, while the traditional round head jig enables the minnow to lay flat on the bottom and is harder to see. The fish can see the minnow better with the stand-up head, which increases your odds for getting bit.

The same thing is true for most other species. A spinnerbait that’s retrieved slowly will be good for pike or largemouth bass, but a slower moving KVD jerkbait or a 3X Z-Too Soft jerkbait rigged weedless and weightless will often be even better. These baits can be retrieved slower than the spinnerbait, and early in the year, that’s a good thing. When it comes to color, many anglers prefer something in a shade of white. We’ll often be fishing shallow, so the action is visual, and brighter colors are easier to see. The strikes are often seen before they’re felt.

If you’re after a few fish for the table, crappies will be a good target in the spring. And a jig under a slip bobber will be a very good way to catch them. The slip bobber will allow you to suspend a bait at a certain level, and that’s very important. Most fish can see up better than they see down, so set your bobber stop so the bait is at the fish’s eye level or just a tad higher. Baits that are below a fish rarely get eaten. You’ll need to experiment with the bobber stop setting.

When spring crappies are the goal, start with a plastic like a Mr. Crappie Tube or a Mr. Crappie Shadpole on a 1/16-ounce jig head. If the crappies are being fussy, try a live minnow. The plastics will do the job most of the time, and they’re easier to work with and provide more options regarding color and action and such.

It’s been a long winter. Many anglers are looking forward to getting after some fish. Keep these ideas in mind and you’ll increase your chances for early season fishing success.

For more insight and tips for fishing throughout the year, check out the articles in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.