The Real 'MARCH MADNESS'

Well...it's almost April, but I must say that March has been good to us from the fishing standpoint. Despite my best efforts to locate and catch ice-out panfish, I seem to be covered up with quality largemouth bass. I'm hip with that...

March has been very good to me!

Just for kicks, we fished with fast moving Rattle Traps in sun-warmed shallows where warm surface water was stacked up in the warmest corners of small lakes and ponds. Water temps ran from 45 to 52 degrees F. Deep fish were only 3 feet down, and most bass were caught in 18 to 24 inches of warmer water. Crazy!
Here are a couple of party crashers...

Decent three pounder!

Huge head on this trim 4-pounder...should have been over 5.

Best day so far was 15 bass with nine from three to nearly six pounds.

This one hit just 10 feet off the bank!

Southern and westerly winds put warmer surface water into the northern shallows of any lake during early spring, drawing hungry bass that, like me, have had quite enough of this years winter. Rattle baits and #4 Mepps Aglias produce well now. Once water temps hit the mid 50's, it'll be another gig...likely with stickworms for pre-spawn girls out looking for a date.

Quarter ounce Rat-L-Traps catch big and small.

Lure cleaning required.

Bass Thumb indicates a good day on the water!

There are a  few hazards to the March Madness. I am refering to Bass Thumb, a chronic and debiletating  condition can make handling fish tough. Also...lots of weeds and algae to pull off the baits as they plow through the early greenery of the shallows. Toss these baits on 20-pound braid and you'll feel even the lightest strikes, as the lethargic, but girthy, bass seem to be waking up. Don't be afraid to fish shallow in your home lake shortly after ice-out...look for those sun-warmed areas on the northern shorelines with rip-rap or wood structure to hold the heat. You want the wind in your face, with 20 mph or better gusts pushing warmer water, and hawg bass, right into your lap. You might be surprised as to what you can catch out of 18 inches of water!

March Madness? What's to be mad about with fish like this?

Yes, March Madness has different meanings to different folks. I like the bass just out of the blocks from winters grip. Others dig the NCAA basketball frenzy. Yet others scarf up on the early crappie bite.

Different things, different people. Yup, we are all different, yet we all have one father. No...not our earthly father, buy rather, a heavenly father who ordained all the days of our lives before even one of them came to be, as pointed out in Psalm 139:16. And how cool is it to know this...as pointed out in Psalm 139:14...

I PRAISE YOU BECAUSE I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE;
YOUR WORKS ARE WONDERFUL, I KNOW THAT FULL WELL.

If you are reading this and you are down, discouraged, afraid or embittered, please know that you were 'wonderfully made' and that God loved you enough to allow His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross for you some 2000 years ago. He has sought you out through this simple 'fish and faith' blog that He has allowed me to write. It is my hope and prayer that you will accept His perfect gift of grace and salvation and submit your life to the one who heals. No...life will not be forever perfect, and we will have troubles. That's because we live in a sinful and fallen world. But surrendering to the King will change your life, and also your death, for eternity. You will be a child of God from this day forth, and His works are wonderful...

                  YOU WILL HAVE THE GREATEST FATHER EVER!

NEW LIFE

My son, Matt, fishes an open backwater at an area lake.

It's been a long winter...for everybody. As I write this, it is 18 degrees F outside, yesterday it was 64! That's quite a difference in less than 24 hours. But these Mid Atlantic winters are traditionally up and down like that. At least all the snow has melted from the past 4 days of 55 to 60 degree weather. And now this. But it is what God brings. I would be lying if I were not to admit that I am desperately seeking spring, and warmer weather!

Ice is going and geese are pairing up...Springtime!

This fallen tree will be a crappie hotspot in another few weeks.

Despite the cold, we are seeing signs of spring, signs of 'new life' as the ice is begining to melt quickly and the Canada geese are starting to pair up. Soon, shallow backwaters and bays of our Mason Dixon area lakes will open up, and bass, perch, crappie and more will enter the warmer realms of this annual progression.

Nice, plump crappies made me happy on my most recent trip!

Amazingly, I found several small public lakes that had no ice cover at all. In a five day span, I was drilling through 12 inches of ice 20 miles to the north, then actually fished open water near home just 5 days later. And what a pleasure it was to fish on something other than a bucket with frigid temperatures! Plus, the crappie bite was on...a true sign of spring. Here are a few of a mix of bass, bluegill and crappie I got on the tail end of the most recent warm spell, on March 12...

Not huge, but nice!

The bass liked the 1/200th oz Trout Magnet...cool!

Despite chilly 41 degree water, the fish were on the bite.

Fish of the day was this 13.5 inch black-nosed crappie. Still snow in the background.

Yes...I found two small , public lakes that had just opened up, and I was right on time for some ice-out crappie. I used tiny 1/200th oz Trout Magnets with a pink trailer and a single maggot for these fish. I clipped a small, sensitive bobber on the line and drifted this bait 5 feet below the surface. Besides the crappies, I got seven largemouth bass and a bunch of bluegills on the same rig. All total, I picked up 42 fish with gills to 8.5 inches, bass to 16 and a fine 13.5 inch black-nose crappie. Most of the crappie were 10-11 inches. All fish were released on this warm, but blustery and rainy day in mid March.

Another nice one!

I need to brush-up on my self-photo efforts!

Ahh,,,yeeesss! New life! And it can come in many ways. It can be the warming sun of spring or the warming knowledge of the heart. It can be that welcomed shower that leads to new growth, or that gift of life from a loving God. When I try to 'jump-start' myself, through my own efforts and ideas, I fall miserably short. When I let God take control, the highway is much easier. Proverbs 16:25 says this...

'There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death.'

Yes, I wanted spring to come, have new life, live for a purpose. But it wasn't until I gave my life fully to Jesus Christ that I found that path, that way to life and truth and happiness. No, I'm far from perfect, and I have my ups and down, good days and bad ones. But the way that 'seemed right' to me is no more, as it was slowly leading me to destruction. I submitted, giving my life and soul to Christ.

Maybe this is the first time you have ever read this blog, and maybe you're thinking...'boy, this Gronaw is just a Jesus freak'. And you know what? You're right...I am a Jesus freak! And one day, I am assured that I will dance before the King and sing praises to His name for eternity. That new life, my friend, is far greater than anything the world has ever had to offer me. I believe that, and I know that. It is my prayer that you, reading this right now where you are, would have that same joy and love that has filled my heart. Consider a life in Christ...tomorrow may be too late.

With new life, the cold and the gray will fade.