Water temp was lowest its been in several years . Opening day temp was 72.it was around 74/75 in 2020 amd 2021 they were not even close to moving . In favor they were still pretty thick up until first week of July.
Bass won't just spawn amd leave. The smaller males will stay and the bigger females will take time to recoup. If anything the mild water temp would indicate a post spawn feeding pattern.
Fellow on bait Island said he didn't see a single smallmouth nest in the vicinity this year at all indicating they didn't arrive or are spawning somewhere else .
I hear you. I know a little bit how bass work, bass was all fished for before I got hooked on this expensive & addictive big water trolling game.
if the bass were in the peak of there spawn back in late May and the male sit on the nest for say 2 weeks then another 2 weeks go by before the opener, how long and or why would/should they hang around any longer then nessecary regaurdless of opening day water temps.? That time line would give the females 4 week to recoup.
I know for a fact bass were at bluffs fixing to spawn around May11 (14fow) then weeks after that(may31) they were feeding(12fow).
While trolling on May31 at pottohawk for pike we pulled a few bass going 3.5mph with baits 6-8" long. They were on the feed at this time and obviously recouped enough and willing to chase/ take big baits burning by at 3.5mph(9-12fow).
Perhaps they dont show up in the bay any more..or any less either.
How would you know unless your out there watching and studying for weeks leading up to the opener.
Opening day water temps wouldn't tell me much about the spawn cycle like tracked water temps for at least a month leading up to the opener would.
How long has the bay been 72°.. was there any time it was higher then 72° before the opener?
I know for a fact the water surface temp was 72° from Turkey point to bluffs bar May31. I can only imagine how much warmer the inner bay must have been during that warm spell.
Sunday the water was 68.5° 6miles south of nanticoke.. it was in the low to mid 60s during the 1st week of June in the same area, She warming up nicely.
I'm saying they went out deeper weeks ago based on my observations & findings while fishing other species at bluffs and pottowhawk and now there is just left overs to be had in shallow and those that are well versed in bass managed to catch the few that are still cruising shallow. Had opening day been 2 weeks earlier we would have seen differnt results posted I'm sure.. all based on what I seen going on weeks ago.
The stars just didnt align for opening day this year like they have in the past and the fish clearly got the upper hand this round against those looking to capitalize on a shallow water bite.
Nature waits for no man..or opening day bass season. .