If you’re like me, as the late ice season ends and the wait begins for open water season, the anticipation grows like a wildfire. Dust is blown off of tackle, rods, and reels, and an audit of everything that didn’t get done last fall is completed. Gear that got ridden hard and put away wet last fall is evaluated and items are put back where they belong, while worn out pieces are tossed. At the end of the reconciliation, a laundry list of “must-haves” emerges, and a run to the nearest tackle shop is executed. New line, shiny hooks, tantalizing plastics, bobber stops, floats, hair jigs, and the latest whiz bangs as seen on YouTube are thrown in the cart. As the cash register beeps and bops like a Vegas slot machine, visions of bursting live wells and grip and grin photos to share with your buddies fill your mind. All you can think is, “...this will be the best spring ever!” Typically, for me at least, this is when reality and Murphy's Law come knocking.  

For this angler, the spring of 2024 has been inconsistent at best. Open water season started with high hopes and confidence mid-March, but several outings to area lakes and rivers since then have been disappointing. That’s not to say early spring fishing is always lights out, in fact, most years I’ve had the same luck. But every year I start the season thinking it’s going to be my turn to show off limits of walleyes and crappies before anybody else, having masterfully coaxed them from mysterious lairs. Those guys on YouTube, that fish for a living, seem to have no problem whacking and stacking fish, and after hours of careful study of their tactics, why shouldn’t I expect the same? Well, let’s be honest, they’re pros for a reason, and the host of sponsor decals that adorn their jackets, tackle boxes, and boats were earned in most cases.

The last weeks of February and first week of March were unseasonably warm in Iowa, and these conditions rushed ice-out and quickly raised water temperatures. Local fishing boards were in a frenzy about walleyes, white bass, hybrids, crappies, and catfish being caught virtually everywhere! Heck, after reading the posts, one got the perception a guy could catch something with a bare hook the bite was so hot.  

Buoyed by these reports, my buddy and I took the day off on 3/12 to haul in our booty. The weather was cooler than the previous couple weeks with moderate south winds and temps. in the 50s. We started at a small Audubon county lake, tossing night crawlers and cut bait into the wind and on the bottom for cats, perch, and walleyes. In the meantime, we tossed jigs with ultralights for panfish, carefully monitoring the tips of our WST Catfish and Carp spinning rods for that signature tug. To make a long story short, the trip was a bust with our only success coming from a few juvenile largemouths that were eager to bite. I guess we, “...shoulda been there last week!”, chuckled the old river rat in my head.

Over the next several weeks, we got out a few more times with roughly the same luck. March ended with a crescendo as my buddy caught a couple nice mixed bags including a couple keepers below a dam on the North Raccoon River. However, for the time spent on the water, the bites were few and far between Thus, with a gracious green light from my wife, we planned an all-out assault on the fish the weekend of 4/13.

We met at the boat ramp of an Adair County lake at 830am with stout southeasterly winds abusing our faces. Still, with fresh live bait, including minnows and nightcrawlers, we were brimming with confidence. After busting white caps cruising from brush pile to rock reef to basin flat, and everywhere in between, we hadn’t gotten any bites. This lake was small and we figured it would warm up fastest and provide a better early bite. However, it was completely exposed to the blustery winds, making fishing challenging at best. After 90 minutes of struggling, we agreed to move on to the next lake which provided some much needed protection from the winds.

About 30 minutes later, we pushed off the dock and put the Terrova in gear, enjoying somewhat better water conditions as the trolling motor zipped us along at 3 mph. As our destination came into view, we noticed several fellow anglers dotting the jetties and banks, providing us with much-needed optimism after a dismal start to the day.  

Due to the blustery winds, and erratic performance of my antiquated spot-lock, we elected to set anchors at the opening of a fishy looking bay. After only a few minutes I boated a couple mediocre bluegills, and we threw them in the livewell, hopeful we’d finally broken the ice. The next 30 minutes were uneventful, so we changed locations, anchoring off the dam face in deep water, putting steep drop offs between us and the bank. This spot had yielded incredible mixed bags in the past, and we trusted it to deliver if we put in the time and effort.  

Over the next several hours, bites were hard to come by. We threw the kitchen sink at the fish, floating live baits, sinking them on the bottom, tossing jigs, and casting lures. Although the plan was to catch panfish, walleyes, and catfish, the only fish willing to bite were bluegills and the occasional largemouth. Towards evening, we threw in the towel and headed back to the dock defeated, but still managed to catch enough bluegills for a diminutive fish fry, as long as somebody brought some side dishes.        

While I consider myself a few levels up from the average weekend warrior, I don’t have the luxury of fishing multiple times per week or even every week. Just as in golf or any other sport, repetition and time on the water are the keys to leveling up your fishing game. As a result, when work, family, and weather all limit the time an angler can get out, it behooves one to keep modest expectations unless you enjoy eating humble pie.  

The good news is that May is one of the best fishing months of the entire year, and while we were certainly humbled so far this season, I know that with perseverance and a little luck we will be successful. In the meantime, while we lick our wounds and look for the next magic fishing lure, there are gobblers to chase and plenty of yard work to keep us busy.

Good luck and tight lines!