Snow's Affect on Spring Fishing

[tlapinski]

I have experienced much better fishing on the CT river in seasons where we has extended high water in spring due to a slow melting of the northern ice pack. My thought process, only based on late night theories and discussions while fishing, was that the higher water made it easier for the bass to travel up stream with the herring and shad. Some of the stretches of river above Hartford are very shallow. I always figured that during times of flooding, the bass would find it that much easier to push on in pursuit of food. These years of higher water generally coincide with better catch rates and a prolonged season. Factor in the high flood water takes longer to warm up which will also help to hold the bass in the river longer, also resulting in a better season.

The one item not taken into account in my theory is river herring abundance. Those years of “better than late” spring fishing also occurred during years of much higher river herring #’s. So, my thought process can just as easily be shot down as it can be argued. If nothing else, it gives me a reason not to go postal each time it snows.

[Rockfish9]

Big spring run off always helps the early run in the rivers... not rain floods.. spring run off.... In the case of the Merrimack river, those fresh water currnets extend farther into the bay( Gulf of maine), thus turning fish inward that may migrate farther north bypassing the river alltogether... another benifit, is that alot of early fish ride the high water farther upstream an on the heels of the herring and shad....these larger fish tend to linger longer, and resist dropping back( because of higher water levels) until the last of the herring ( that do not die) return to sea, ususaly by the second week in July, without a good spring run off, these early fish usualy make a quick pit stop or pass the river by altogether...these big run offs are what provide good fishing far inland up to the dam in Lawrence..

[Raven]

they follow the scent of their spawning grounds Mud according to scientists same as salmon