Schoolie Strategies...

[cchobot]

C'mon let's hear 'em. What are your strategies for targeting the first fish come spring time. Let's provide some tips for those just getting started, I'll go first...

What I do...

A rod rated for lighter weights (maybe 1/4 - 1oz)
A reel spooled w/ 14# fireline
Double uni knot to something like 12-15# mono for a leader
Swim Shads & a bone colored Jumpin' Minnow...

Ideas...

Not sure if these are right, as I'm really new at this... But I've been told to look for where the weed washes inshore... The idea is that there's tiny bait in there that attracts larger bait, etc, etc...

Go in the afternoon... The water is warmest and the fish most active...

I've found some schoolies in VERY SHALLOW water early in the year, I'm thinking again the warmth thing...

Move around... Usually you know within minutes if the fish are home. If they are not, then moving to another spot (maybe where the prevailing wind has a different effect) can REALLY pay off...

BE PREPARED. When that bigger fish hits you don't want to lose it to user error (fraid braid, chaffed leader, bad knots, dull hooks, etc... I've learned this one the hard way)

What else have you all found to work in the spring?

[mag minnow]

A lot of casting sometimes. You can't tell when a wave of schoolies are going to come thru...If they don't, hopefully you identify all the leaks in your waders you forgot about when the water was warmer at the end of last year.

That and a white 1/2oz bullethead bucktail with curly tail...