Best Bait For Spawning Bass

[bbodkin]

Ok so here in North Florida we are getting a what seems to be an early spawn. The bass seem to be on their beds. What they are doing is chasing away the bluegill and sometimes eating them. We were using craws becuase we thought it was pre-spawn but they would only eat it after about 30-45 min of making them angry. Well I am just wondering what bait to use to mimic bluegill. They are literally 10 feet off of the bank and are going after the bluegill like crazy. They aren't feeding, though. They are in heavy grass and weeds. So any treble hook lures are out of the question. I was thinking a weightless watermelon fluke, but I am just wondering what lures ya'll are using or what you think would work for my problem. Thanks

[ib_of_the_damned]

Mattlures Flat Tail U2 Bluegill. They sit nose down, tail up like a feeding bluegill. 

 

Don't limit yourself to just bluegill baits, I have had hits on suspending jerkbaits just hovering over the bed. Also I have had hits on Trout Swimbaits just sitting on the beds as well. Mix it up a bit, see what really ticks them off and they will hit it hard!

[gulfcaptain]

They aren't feeding, they are chasing off the bluegill.  You can put anything in front of them.  Above baits mentioned are great ideas, can also fish a dropshot worm and shake it in the middle of the bed.  Myself, I find plenty of fish just outside the bedding ones to catch and let them do their business. They don't all spawn at once so there are always other fish that are easier to catch then the ones you see on beds.

[bbodkin]

They aren't feeding, they are chasing off the bluegill. You can put anything in front of them. Above baits mentioned are great ideas, can also fish a dropshot worm and shake it in the middle of the bed. Myself, I find plenty of fish just outside the bedding ones to catch and let them do their business. They don't all spawn at once so there are always other fish that are easier to catch then the ones you see on beds.

I know they aren't feeding. I was just asking what's a good bait to mimic the bluegill.

[BassObsessed]

It won't mimic a bluegill but a 4'' Huddleston has been used locally to antagonize some bedding bass. There are quite a few baits you could rig weedless like lizards, worms , frogs etc.

[Crestliner2008]

You do not have to focus on mimicking gills. Get your self some Fat Ikas and reverse rig them. Cast beyond the bed and walk it through. 

[fishinphilly]

i have good luck with the storm kicking shad bait in bluegill but if nothing else works ill always go back to a 5' white zoom lizard

[fisherrw]

A squarbill

[Amarley]

Big bite baits makes a few plastics that look like bluegills.

[WRB]

I will usually pass on any thread that ask "best" _______.

Best is subjective.

A good bluegill lure is Matt's Ultimate Blue Gill. If you want to make it weedless add a small rubber band from the hook eye to the hook barb. Pinch the rubber band so it passes through the hook eye half way, put one double end through the open end loop, pull tight and slide the loop end under the hook barb.

Matt lures gills are designed for spawning bass.

Tom

[Senko lover]

I'm stocking up on lizards, craws, flukes, and minnow hard baits for the beds. Lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits for around them. 

[BassObsessed]

Matt lures bluegill works well for pestering bedding bass. I have some underwater video from last years spawn using Matt's bluegill in one of my private lakes . You could see down in 8 fow as the bass would grab the gill by the side, swim away, spit it out and return back to the bed.I must have used 5 different lures and she would take them all.

[A KGB Operative]

Storm wildeye sunfish. Small, jig head, looks legit. 3 inches, 3 of them, for 5 dollars. Better purchase then the mattlures and I don't feel bad about losing one.

[sprint61]

Simple but very effective a lizard.

[Glenn]

TON's of information on this site about this topic.  Just TONS:

GO!

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/bass_spawn.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/spawn_bass.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/spawning_bass_bed.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/dropshot_beds.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/sight-fishing-bass.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/largemouth-bed-fishing.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/largemouth-bed-fishing.html

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/bass-spawn-catch.html

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/catch-bass-spawn.html

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/bed-fishing-tricks.html