From the boat it will be almost exclusively 5.5" fin s fish on a jig. From the beach crystal minnows or tobimaru....

I have had the most success with the smaller size Hogy's, 6" skinny and the 7" original. The color is either Bone or Amber in the spring. As the season progresses I switch to the bigger baits, 10" or 14".

Really early , tiny rubber grubs or minnow size rubber in white , chartruese , pink work good in the day time which is when they are active now.

Maybe 3 or 4 weeksfrom now I like the Fin -S Fish in 7 inch size and Alewife , white and black over gray color as well as the Olive Mombow Minnows , Bombers , redfin, rebel type lures. These will work until maybe Mid May when you may still use them but also try stuff like big Curltails (8 inch) , big sluggoes , eels and bait and bucktails and everything else.

But for now a 1/2 to 1 OZ jig with a two inch curltail or Minnow body or those Cocahoes John gave out at MSBA and RISAA shows. Also , instead of jig heads , the Got Striper style of wrapping the heavy solder or lead wire around the hook shank and then sort of screwing the plastic bodies on will also work well. Think small bait imitations for now until maybe the 3 rd or 4th week in April.

Oh , I'm talking about in RI and SE MA. In other areas the timing will be different.

Toy size stuff on the trout rod, bigger toys on da bigger rod for bigger fish

Toy size stuff on the trout rod, bigger toys on da bigger rod for bigger fish Like tooth brush handles and bic pen needle fish and tins and lil dinky swimmers.

spring lures :devil:

the jig the pig and the egg.

but I switch the pig for a small white curly tail.

Chasing the little ones it will be with mini mambo minnnows, shad baits, tattoo small swimmers, small smack its, and a rapala skitter walk but that won't last long. For the most part i'll be tossing a beachmaster danny, 3 oz. Guppy pencil, or a Jigsmith or Howdy until until something shows up that worthy of eating them.

Leave a few for the rest of us..

in early april the 1/2 oz kastmaster and small storm shads rule
 

Then as the water warrms up a bit the 3/4 oz smack-it gets the nod(u can't beat the explosive strikes)When the bigger fish show pencils and spooks in larger sizes

haha I look deranged in that pic. I was hurtin' at the end of that day. if you look closely you can see where my thumbs are all chewed up :fishin:

It is a mistake to underestimate the size of the fish available before Memorial day. Think herring, fish big. They're there.

Normally start my season in mid May fishing the canal with 7" Tsunami Shad. Most other places Bass Assassin shad, Mambo Minnnow and sluggos.

I use a lot of what has already been posted including bombers but more specifically: bomber16A jointed.

5" and 7.5" fatty prototypes. I have swam them, but not on fish. Killer v-wake in a tiny package, for small and BIG fish.

Save some for us George.Musso deep diver in maple,beachmaster cowboy or cowboy jr.Maybe even a 3 oz. darter.

small chartruse needle with a closer dropper

I've noticed in each of the past few years fish over 40 have come before the middle / third week of May in several places from RI to Cape.

GAWD I hope my work schedule doesn't suck badly this year like last.