It's hard to think of this as warm water
Two early season opportunities around here are for white perch and northern pike. Both of these fish begin to stage in preparation for spawning in mid March.. really not that far off.
The white perch are anadromous and are fished for in brackish water. We look for schools in back coves off of large rivers. Just thinking about it makes me cold.
When the river floods from upstream snow melt the pike will stage near the flood plain meadows where they will spawn. We actually wade for these fish. The water is the color of chocolate milk and the bottom is mud.
There is all kinds of flotsam floating at all levels. Not for the faint of heart.
The fish can be sluggish in the cold water, but they're big.
A real good way to begin the season.
The simpler the outfit, the more skill it takes to manage it, and the more pleasure one gets in his achievements.
--- Horace Kephart