Pre-Spawn Is Upon Us! What's your favorite bait?

[Bassattackr]

A Rig!  They wreck it. ?

[the reel ess]

Up until about a week ago it was the Cordell Super Spot in gold/black. It caught me a 7.2 lb two weeks ago. But last time I went, the crappie were spawning and I jigged the shallows-I also caught a bunch of bass on the crappie jig on light tackle. That was a hoot. I only caught one on the Spot that day. Spawn will be upon us very soon here. 

[mheichelbech]

If I don’t start catching them soon I’m gonna start using a red stick bait called dynamite!  Not too good at hooking them but it sure does bring them to the top!

[Yakalong]

Jerk Baits 

[fishingtx]

a trap and a baby bass fluke for pre spawn

post spawn baby bass fluke and swimmbait and bluegill colored hard body swim bait

[roadwarrior]

On 3/22/2021 at 2:41 PM, the reel ess said:

Up until about a week ago it was the Cordell Super Spot in gold/black. It caught me a 7.2 lb two weeks ago. But last time I went, the crappie were spawning and I jigged the shallows-I also caught a bunch of bass on the crappie jig on light tackle. That was a hoot. I only caught one on the Spot that day. Spawn will be upon us very soon here. 

 

[Deleted account]

My favorite bait is the fish's favorite bait, and right now it's the square bill by a mile. Last year same areas, the chatter and swimbait were getting it done, I don't know why, Caught a few on a popper today. First top water for me this year.

[Mattia Casarola]

Hi. in Italy during pre spawn i prefer white chatterbait, big jerk with suspending action and lizard with shorter drop shot rig. I think that bass are looking for a good bed to do spawn and thet attack averythings come nearby the nest.

[GTN-NY]

In NY we’ve had a couple high 70-80 degree days but mainly in the 50’s. Lake water temp is around 53. 
Is this still pre-spawn?

I saw nothing along banks and caught nothing in the 9-15’ depths. Weeds haven’t started growing yet. 

This is my worst/hardest time to fish
 

[softwateronly]

22 minutes ago, GTN-NY said:

In NY we’ve had a couple high 70-80 degree days but mainly in the 50’s. Lake water temp is around 53. 
Is this still pre-spawn?

I saw nothing along banks and caught nothing in the 9-15’ depths. Weeds haven’t started growing yet. 

This is my worst/hardest time to fish
 

Yes this is prespawn.  Bucks start cruising the shallows in the mid to high 50's, and actual spawn seems to start @ 58 - 62.  

 

This is when I personally do my best.  What works for me is identifying the spawning flats, last years knowledge of the spawn is the best, but it should be relatively shallow and protected water.  I then triangulate the nearest deep water 25+ with nearest feeding breaklines in the 8-15' depths. At your water temps, you should be able to find staging and feeding bass in this zone, from dirt shallow to hugging the bottom in 20+ft.  Spend your time in this concentrated area and it should produce, and drag the bottom more often, you'll find fresh bright green weeds which might indicate to spend more time there.

 

Also if a continued wind beats on a bank for a day or two, I would definitely target it.  The gathering of all the warmer surface water in one area seems to set the whole food chain off.  I also target colorlines where the dirty water meets the clear water.  For these 2 instances, I fish baitfish imitating baits and move them quickly and erratically. 

 

Others are far better and more experienced but this has worked for me. 

 

scott 

 

 

[cdlittle]

Been killing it on jerkbaits. Few lipless and standard crank fish in the mix. Can't get a bite on the dropshot to save my life. 

[the reel ess]

I went last Thursday and caught a male off the bed. Went back Saturday and caught it again. I switched up lures. Jig the first time and lizard the next. There haven't been any females on the bed. They may have been since Saturday though. I'm going again Saturday AM.

[Goby]

Blade baits until the water warms a bit, then Erie Darters.

[the reel ess]

I got three off three consecutive beds Saturday with a T rigged lizard. But those were the only beds I saw with fish. Well, I saw one big mama cruising another bed, but I spooked her. I went back about 30 minutes later and didn't see her and couldn't get a bite with the usual spawn baits.