One of the most common questions for flyfishers this time of year is whether or not it’s too early to hit the local lake for largemouth. Sure, some of you Southern boys have already been getting after it, but for those of us living north of the Mason-Dixon line, March still means near-frozen surface temps and super-sluggish fish.

Nevertheless, there are some ways to increase your odds of finding a few hungry ones.

Temperature is everything.

In the winter, the bottom of most bass lakes hovers around 39 degrees, while the surface–just below the ice–is around 33. But as the ice melts, winds start mixing the warmer water below with the colder water up top, and a magical sort of shift takes place, often called “turning over”–when the cold water and warm water in a lake start to switch places. This process is often called stratification or “layering,” and it generally divides a lake into three different layers.

Ideally, you want to catch bass in the warm months of summer when they are eating several times a day and their metabolism is rocking in high gear. This time of year, your aren’t as likely to find those really active bass of June, the ones that come exploding out of the water after your frog pattern. But you can find some of the BIGGER bass this time of year, especially if you know where to look.

Structure helps.

Bass always love structure–trees, logs, bushy shorelines–but it’s even more important early in the season as the water temps around rocks and logs can often be warmer than those in other parts of the lake. It can also be a good idea to try and fish south-facing shorelines, especially in the warmest parts of the day, when bass are likely to be the most active.

Don’t be afraid to go deep.

Everyone loves the idea of catching largemouth on the surface with popper patterns–that’s why we play the game. But this early in the season, when the fish’s metabolism is still slow and he’s much less willing to chase his food, be thinking of sinking lines and a very, very slow retrieve. Crawl crayfish patterns near the bottom or send a big leechy-looking thing down to the deepest hole you can find. Largemouth are definitely harder to find this time of year–but a big one lurking off a ledge somewhere can make all the difference in the world.