Question about spring pattern

[Jim Spriggs]

This spring (and it is my first spring for smallmouth fishing), I have had trouble catching multiple fish from a single area.  Last winter, once I located fish then I could often catch a number of them from one location.  

Lately, I've been using search baits to find a fish and then slowing down with soft plastics.  But,  I rarely catch two fish from a hole.  For instance, I posted the picture of the big smallmouth I caught last Sunday. I caught her at 9:00 am on a crankbait in a classic spring location in slack water below an island. I then fished that spot with soft plastics and ...nothing .  I came back to that location later in the day and my buddy caught one small fish on a zoom lizard. 

I saw Al Agnew post that his experience recently has been similar to mine.  I was crediting mine to inexperience, but I know Al knows what he's doing.   

So, my question is the following: is this a typical spring or an unusual one ?

[Al Agnew]

They become more scattered as they get into spawning mode.  If it's a good spawning site there may be a group of them on it, but they will still be spread out over the area, not tightly schooled.  And since some will be spawning while others are not quite ready to or have already finished, they won't all be on spawning banks, either.  If you know a good spawning bank, and don't have an ethical problem with fishing for bedding fish, you could spend a lot of time in one little area, but mostly this is a good time to keep moving and fish fast-moving lures.

[Hog Wally]

Yeah uh ....... I got nothing.  The spawn for me has long been a frustrating time.  Sure I can find a Occasional big fish but not worth the time.  I'd rather walleye or 

[Jim Spriggs]

Thanks for the replies.  I have a follow up. Is there a way to patten in what portions of the river fish are spawning?  I understand water temperature is important.  Are there other observable features of the river that indicate which portions of the river have an earlier spawn?  For instance, do fish generally spawn in the upper part of the river (say above steelville) earlier or later than in the middle portion of the river (eg, River Round or Sand Ford)?  

I'd prefer to target pre or post spawn fish and thus would rather launch from a place I think might be less likely to have actively spawning fish.  

 

Maybe this is a level of predictability requiring super human abilities ...  Anyone out there willing to hazard some educated guesses?

[Greasy B]

My experiences are similar to Al's and my attitude is similar to wally's. I have seen fish on beds as late as mid June but generally the fish will go in a funk for a few weeks then gradually move into their summer pattern. The summer pattern will last until early or mid October, fishing will be much more consistent and predictable.