Mid-March cold fronts can really make it difficult to locate and catch fish. The front that passed through Friday left many fishermen struggling to put together a pattern.

Most of the bass that moved shallow to spawn will still be shallow, but hard to catch. By mid-week the fish should get back to their normal periods of activity.

Water temperatures may drop a few degrees, but not enough to affect the shallow fish.

This year’s bass spawn is shaping up to look very much like last year. In 2006, the spawn was spread out over a couple months.

That’s a good thing, though.

If all the fish moved up and we get a heavy rain, most of the eggs would not hatch. Water clarity plays a big part in a successful spawn. The clearer the water, the better the chance of a successful spawn.

Fish eggs require sunshine to hatch. A heavy rain followed by a lot of run-off would leave the water muddy and the eggs won’t hatch. With the spawn spread out over two, if not three months, at least some of the fish will have a successful spawn regardless of water conditions.

The Central Louisiana Division of the Media Bass Trail sponsored by Thomas Marine of Gonzales, La., landed on Lake Concordia last weekend.

Conditions were not good for the contestants, but like all tournaments, someone always wins.

Thirty-nine teams blasted off from Lakeview Lodge at daylight. When the smoke cleared after eight and a half hours of casting, South Louisiana residents Charles Ballard and Gene David took first place with a five bass limit weighing 17.83 pounds.

Ballard and David also won the big bass pot with a 5.89-pound bass and took home a total of $2,320. Local fishermen Claude Rabb and Dennis Roberts placed second with 17.40 pounds, worth $840. Buster and Gerald Roy placed third with 17.07 pounds. They won $506. There were only 18 limits landed by the 39 teams.

This was the second stop of the Media Trail Central Division. Next month we’ll go back to False River Lake near New Roads, La. From there, the trail will head north to Lake St. John, then Lake Bruin and we’ll wind down on The Saline/Larto Complex in July.

The top point leaders will then get a shot at one or all four championship events sponsored by BassCat Boats and Thomas Marine of Gonzales. For more information visit our sponsor sites at thomasmarine.com or mediabass.com.

Eddie Roberts writes a weekly fishing column for The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached by e-mail at fishingwitheddie@highstream.net.