I know trout fishing is heavy on the minds of most fishermen right now — the season is upon us. That being said, it’s also true that any number of other fish species can also be successfully taken even while the water we fish is still pretty cold. While the cold water of spring is a plus for trout fishing, that does not necessarily hold true for a lot of other prized game fish like bass and other so-called “warm water” fish. However, it may surprise some that while water temperatures hover in that 40–50-degree range throughout March and early April, it is still possible to drum up some pretty decent numbers on species other than trout.

There’s no question this time of year I manage to get my share of trout fishing in, but I also make an effort to target some of the warm water fish as well. That spring can offer up a pretty diverse assortment of fish has proven to be especially evident in recent weeks. For example, in several outings, I managed to pick up a number of trout, including a couple of rainbows in the 16-18-inch range in regulated catch and release trout waters, but it doesn’t end there. On another trip to several locations on the Susquehanna River, my fishing partner, Rich Engleman, and I managed to pick up a walleye, smallmouth bass, and a really rare catch in the river — a northern pike; Rich also hooked and lost a large Musky. Later that day, I joined Rennie Rodarmel Jr. at another location where a fair number of smallmouths were caught and released before the day ended.

The various fish species being caught in spring don’t end with those already mentioned. For many years now, my fishing buddies and I always make time to hit several area lakes in search of a variety of panfish. Crappies are high on that list, and if done properly, very good numbers can be brought to the boat. By the way, if you don’t have access to a boat, fishing from the bank can also be productive; on several occasions, we have taken large stringers of crappies and other panfish while casting from the shore.

I just mentioned crappies and other panfish; those other panfish are perch, bluegills, pumpkinseeds, and rock bass, all of which can be very willing participants even in March and April. Many years ago, I used to think that bluegills were only willing to take a lure or bait in the warmer months of summer — not so since bluegills make up some of our biggest catches through the ice in the dead of winter. I mentioned northern pike earlier but to be honest, you will have a hard time coming up with pike catches in our part of the state. While pike fishing leaves a bit to be desired around here, there is certainly a lot of opportunity to nab the pike’s smaller relative, the chain pickerel. Now that the ice has departed, the lake’s pickerel make a good spring target.

During the spring fishing period, you should keep in mind that walleye and its close relative to the sauger are both closed from March 14 to May 1. Keep in mind, too, that bass taken during the period of April 17 through June 11 are catch and immediate release only. Something else to be aware of is that it is illegal to target a spawning bass bed. Bass will begin their spawning as the water temperatures push towards the 50-degree mark. I might add that in my opinion, it’s wise to release any bass you catch if you want to see continued improvement in bass fishing in the years to come. There’s plenty of panfish, and they reproduce quite well, and they also offer a high-quality meal.

Now, my real dilemma is which fish species am I going to go after this week?