Snow's Affect on Spring Fishing

[Piscator]

So, will all this precipitation have any affect on the fishing this Spring? Last time we had this much snow was 2005. Anyone with log books (or who can remember) show any impacts postive or negative? We have a long way to go but if it keeps up will it help the bait fish runs in the streams with potentially higher water.

PS. Title should read "Affect" vs "Effect"

[MrHunters]

depends on how fast it melts... At this point my boat is BURIED!! and the effect will be, I'm not fishing until mid July!!

[JohnR]

Hopefully it helps the Striper and Herring spawns.

[FishermanTim]

More snow means more melting, more melting means more run-off, more run-off means higher, stronger rivers ans streams, which means the fish that do show up will have to be stronger to fight those cuirrents, which means nothing in the grand scheme of things.

...that is, of course, if you're sick of all the snow to begin with!

A quick melt/thaw could initiate spring flooding, and we all know what that's like! If we don't have a quick melt/thaw then we will probably have snow right into April, which may push back some spring growth. It will be beneficial to the plants and trees as the water will be allowed to trickle through the soil and provide for plenty of water for most of the growing season. A quick melt could initiate spring flooding, and we all know what that's like!

Of course good growth potential also means more insects, more squirrels, chipmunks and other garden raiders, and will mean more leaf raking come the fall.

So, all in all, the snow we have now can be the root of so much good and evil for the entire year.

[Raven]

in my opinion

I expect major flooding

[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

[Ken_J]

Ill let you know at the end of June!

[HugeDinghy]

Originally Posted by Raven

in my opinion

I expect major flooding

Having grown up in CT, I can say that I have found the same to be true on the CT river..barring insane, unprecedented flows the high water springs always treated me well for sttripers and even more so for pike fishing.

sorry meant to quote tlapinski