What Should I Be Throwing?

[KY Outdoorsman]

Spring time has been in the bluegrass state for a couple of weeks now. The warmer temperatures are moving in which has warmed the water up tremendously and the trees have bloomed again. This is my favorite time of the year to fish and with college ending next week along with the fact that i wont be starting work until at least June, i plan on fishing; ALOT!!! So my question is, what is everyones favorite lure at this time of year. I personally like tossing flukes, jigs and frogs during this time but i would like to know whats everyone else go to lure during May into early june. Go into detail if you mention cranks because i do not fish crankbaits at all but id love to start. Thanks for the help, hopefully this time next year i will not be asking these "nooby" questions. Happy fishing!!!

[gr8outdoorz]

I throw whatever the bass will bite! I know this is a vague answer but I never rule anything out. I will work from top of the water column to the bottom to see where/what they are in the mood for that day. I also will work from fast presentations to slow to see the "mood" they are in. 

[Scorcher214]

Spinnerbaits, lipless cranks, worms, jigs, jerk baits, etc...take your pick. Spinnerbaits always seem to be a solid option for me. White, 3/8oz double, willowleaf, and a trailer hook.Going into detail with each would be lengthy and I'm sleepy

 

Spring articles:

http://www.bassresource.com/seasonal-fishing-articles#spring

 

List of articles for lures:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing-lures-articles/

[MDP4BASS]

Not much on cranks either...

Cant go wrong with jig, Any Watermelon or greenish color senko. I like the senko weightless and wacky rigged with size 1 hook, although T-rig would probably save you more worms.

I like a lizard too for its versatility in the retrieve.

Junebug 8" Magnum Lizard by Zoom(my personal favorite)

this lizard works great weightless too.

[Downeaster2010]

Normally bass are spooky in the spring, as they are just coming out of the winter doldrums.  Fish smaller lures, and smaller

baits than you would during the waters have warmed up to 65 degs.  The fish are looking for warmer water, to feed in, and

are nervous.  One bad cast with too large a lure, will send them all scattering for deeper water.  I fish very clear waters so

I have to be very stealthy, using small lures, and slow boat movement.

[down4ttown]

I have had a ton of success just flipping into cover. Most bigger fish (3+lbs) have been caught in cover for me. 

[KY Outdoorsman]

Thanks for the help guys!!!

[BuckMaxx]

I like you don't fish a CB alot. I would like to start doing it more. I always have one tied on and I always half heartily throw it. I normally use a white or natural baitfish colored spinnerbait to start with. I will fish this until I find a concentration of fish. Then I will go back down that bank with a slower approach jig or finesse fishing. I prefer a gitzit for these situtations as I can still fish fairly quick. But I have the ability to put it just where I want it. Hopefully putting it right on the nose of a macdaddy.

[TNBassin']

Are you guys using cranks with rattles in them, or do you go silent? I know water clarity plays a part in rattles vs. silent cranks, but it seems the fish here on Douglas don't want a noisy bait right now. Are you guys finding the same in your local waters?

[rockchalk06]

Are you guys using cranks with rattles in them, or do you go silent? I know water clarity plays a part in rattles vs. silent cranks, but it seems the fish here on Douglas don't want a noisy bait right now. Are you guys finding the same in your local waters?

I can't figure the crank bite out yet this year. I bought a new cranking rod and reel and can't get bite to save my life.

Only thing this year that has produced is swim jigs.

[Mike L]

Down here it's been in the mid to high 80's for allmost a month, the spawn has been over for 2 months and the fish are kinda scattered but still hanging in the grass.

I throw...

 

Frogs

Chatterbait / then spinners

Sq bill

8 -10" worms

 

Ussually start out in that order

 

Mike

[Sam]

What should throw?

 

Try fastballs to help the Cats do better in baseball!!!!

 

Actually, you have three questions to answer:

1.  What is the water temperature.

2.  What is the water clarity?

3.  What are they eating?

 

Temperature

Where are the bass regarding the spawn? This is based on water temperatures, with 65* being the key plus the Dogwoods blooming and the first full moon after the Dogwoods bloom. Once you figure this out you have half the battle won. They will hold at specific depths, on structure waiting to move up or they will be shallow. Warmer the water the more shallow they will go.

 

Clarity

You want clear or stained water. For clear water use light colored baits; for stained water whites and yellows; dirty water black, purples, reds, oranges. Plus clear skies use chartruse with blue back and with cloudy skies a shad color.  Chop on the water hit them with your spinnerbait. When the skies are bright and sunny they will go under docks, piers, boat houses and seek something to get into, go below or next to. If the skies are cloudy they will move all over the place.

 

Forage

Bluegills? Crawfish? Shad? Minnows? Try to note what they are eating. When you catch them feel their bellies. Soft means minnows. A little crunchy means crawfish. Soft but firm means bluegills.

 

Take all of this into consideration and then hit specific depths: topwaters - wake baits - 1 to 5 feet - 6 to 10 feet - on the bottom.

 

What to throw?

Spinnerbaigts with willow blades

Crankbaits starting with the Bandit 100 and 200 series

Chatterbaits

Buzzbaits

Poppers

Jigs with plastic jigs

Shaky head Zoom trick worms

Drop Shot

Carolina Rig

Texas Rig

Senkos

 

Try your luck with:

1.  Poppers and buzzbaits.

2.  Crankbaits to find where they are

3.  Wacky rigged Senkos

4.  Shaky head with a Zoom trick worm

5.  Drop shot with a Morning Glory Robo worm

6.  Chatterbait

7.  Jig and Pig

8.  Lizards and creature baits when on their beds or in structure or on a Carloina rig.

 

If a bass misses your buzzbait throw a Senko to the exact spot as fast as you can.

 

Try anything you want to throw.

 

Then, if you can't get them to bite it is time for you to go and practice your foul shots or how to look happy when Louieville clobbers the Cats in football and basketball next year.

 

Have fun and start working with the plastics. Senkos are a lot of fun.

 

Geaux Tigers!

[Sam]

Remember this for fishing crankbaits:

 

1.  Swing rod to left or right when setting the hook.

2.  Use mono for the hookset stretch and it floats.

3.  Stop and go action can work.

4.  Always have a needle nose pliers with you at all times.

[KY Outdoorsman]

Hahahaha clever sports jokes my friend!!! I don't watch much college baseball but I watch uk basketball religiously and I have to say we should be tough next year lol. I look for put football program to get better with time. Im realy excited for basketball next year though.

Thanks for the help guys and SAM thanks for the tip on feeling their belly I thought that was always pointless. I fished yesterday at a local strip job pond. My buddy and I were both fishing flukes, bad idea I know, we should had different baits but he is a beginner like myself. It was sunny and we only had a couple bites on the flukes so he tied on a white spinnerbait an I tied on a black and blue jig.

The sky went from Sunny to overcast idk if that would have anything to do with it but we caught six in a span of about 20 minutes. I caught 5 on my jig working it fast. Funny how stubborn they can be. Biggest was only about 2 pound though