Prespawn: squarebill, chatterbait, or spinnerbait -which do you prefer?

[king fisher]

I start with a spinner bait most of the time.   I start off fishing it fast on the surface, if that doesn't work I slow  down and fish mid depth, finally I will slow roll it along the bottom.  If that doesn't work I find another place to fish.

If I catch fish on the surface, I will try a buzz bait, or other fast moving surface lure to see if it preforms better.  If I catch some in the middle of the water column, I will try swim baits, crank baits, and chatter baits to see if one of those is a better choice.  If I catch them slow rolling, then I will switch to jigs, or soft plastics.  Sometimes I switch back to the spinner bait, but usually I find another lure that works better.  I love the rare days, when they hit a spinner bait any way I fish it and I never have to take it off.

[Catt]

All 3 plus a Rat-L-Trap, Texas Rig, & Jig-n-Craw 

[clemsondds]

very cool! Thank you all. For those using spinnerbait, do most of you use a trailer hook?  I know that makes it a little less weedless though

[keagbassr]

 I always use a trailer hook. 4/0 siwash is my preference for lmb.

[scaleface]

1 hour ago, clemsondds said:

For those using spinnerbait, do most of you use a trailer hook?

Nope .

[Fishes in trees]

When I go by myself, I carry all 3, throw all 3, and over the course of the day conditions will tell me the way to go for the day.  In addition to the spinnerbait, chatter bait and square bill, I will have a half ounce lipless crank tied on and a bubba square bill ( usually the Academy version of the Strike King 8XD).  I might have a Mann's Minus 1 tied on, for throwing over shallower weed beds and sometimes it has worked for me throw over average depth or deeper weed beds.  Some kind of swimming worm might be tied on another rig.   A big part of pre spawn fishing is covering the water and I get more confident covering the water with a variety of baits.

[deadadrift89]

Chatterbait for me mostly because water clarity is usually bad during pre-spawn where I fish

[clemsondds]

Does water temp affect your choice? For example, right now around our area, water temps are in low 40s...I know a lot stay deep but sometimes the days warm up a little and I like to hit shallower areas/points.  In that case, do you still go with the same as when temps are higher? Or does one of these three shine better during cooler temps? Again, just looking at these three baits...I know there are other good winter baits. Thanks!!