Finally! Remember how you felt as a kid, the night before your birthday party? My pulse is pounding, and my thoughts are racing in anticipation of hooking my biggest smallmouths of the year. You read that right, smallmouths…plural! During the next couple of weeks at Lake Washington, trophy smallmouths are not an oddity, but rather the norm. If I didn't fish for a living I would call in sick for the next two weeks, as April only comes once a year, and smallmouths always seem huge in April.

In truth, smallmouths are not actually bigger now than later in the year. It just seems that way because Mama Pesce and her cousins briefly move into the shallows where they are more easily caught than they are at any other month. That isn't to say they are easy to catch, just easier than at any other time. And when you do find them, you are likely to get into more than one huge bass.

Bodacious bronzebacks are normally difficult to fool with artificial lures, but consider that these fish have just stirred from a long slumber. Their dark backs are like a sponge, absorbing the warming rays of sunlight, motivating them to move towards spawning grounds and shallow water. Time for a quick feeding spree before turning their attention to procreation.

These bruisers are the top dog in their environment, and smaller yearling bass know better than to get near these huge fish on their prime feeding grounds. There isn't much on the dinner plate this early in the year, but that sunlight feels so good that Mama Pesce hardly notices her hunger. Predictably, any food that does turn up is likely to be a mouthful, or it wouldn't have survived the winter.

To us, it is known as Groat Point, which is always a good place to start off the season in search of food, just as is Coleman Point and Pleasure Point. To big bronzebacks, these spots are simply known as home. These are the places that will warm quickly, and the scattered rock will absorb the warmth and radiate it back where big old bass take advantage of it. Some of these old gals even like to rub against these rocks, maybe to loosen the thousands of eggs that they have developed, or maybe just to treat themselves to a warming massage against the heated rocks.

Imagine how appealing that 4-inch Yellow Perch looks as it widely wobbles past her boulder. Primal instincts take over, and the soothing rock rub is quickly forgotten as Mama Pesce flares her gill plates, and suctions in that Yellow Perch before it knew what had hit it!

Mama Mia, that wasn't a Yellow Perch at all! Some savvy angler duped the angry bass on a plastic crankbait equipped with Gamakatsu EWG trebles. The only chance this bass has is if the angler isn't using a Lamiglas crankbait rod. Maybe a quick change of directions will pull the hooks out, or break the McCoy 10-pound test line. But luck just wasn't on this fish's agenda today, and soon she lay inside a plastic livewell, complete with soothing bubbles.

Ten minutes later and suddenly it is no longer lonely in the Jacuzzi. Another 5-pound smallie comes to visit, and the newcomer explains what a Carolina Rigged Yamamoto Lizard looks like. Half an hour later and the darkness is interrupted once again, as Cousin Bertha drops in. Seems that #176 Yamamoto Twin Tail Hula grub on that football head was too tempting, especially all smothered in Smelly Jelly Crawfish scent!

With three over-achievers in the well, it was time to take a break. Having done this routine every April for the last several years, this seasoned veteran had remembered the camera. Several photoflashes later they had served their moment of fame, and the hefty bronzebacks were returned with a smile of appreciation.

Getting a pony on your birthday can't feel any better than this! You have to love April on Lake Washington! Ciao!