Yet to catch a big fat pre-spawn bass

[Luke Barnes]

Yes I bank fish ponds 95% of the time but I still haven't caught a big girl full of eggs. I guess I go at the wrong time or fish the wrong spots. I want to change that this year. I know there are plenty of threads about what lures for the spawn and all that. I'm curious to know, how do you tell when they go into that pre-spawn feed up and start making beds if you cant see the bottom of the pond or lake? I read water temp has the world to do with it. In ponds that I can cast to the middle I can fish the entire pond basically, but if they live shallow to begin with where do they go to spawn? 

[Shimano_1]

Most of the pond bass I've ever seen or caught on beds have been spawning close to or on the bank.  If it were stained enough that you can't see, I'd go at it with a jerkbait, rattlebait, and a jig or plastic flippin bait. If your catching them well on the jerkbaits or rattlebaits away from the bank, they're likely in prespawn mode, they're aggressively feeding up in preparation.  If you're catching them on or near the banks on the flippin baits they're likely spawning.  Lotta times I've figured this out in dirty water because they pick it up and maybe run with it but aren't eating it. If this happens just be patient and keep flippin back to em til you swing and connect! 

[jbsoonerfan]

This time of year, instead of casting to the middle of the pond, pick a spot about 15-20 ft off the bank to either side and "parallel" fish the pond. Your chances of catching a big girl go up quiet a bit when the bait is in the strike zone longer.

[Big Hands]

Seems like that by the time you realize the spawn is happening, it's already over, or close to it. The more often you fish, the more you'll be keyed in on slight changes, and you'll start noticing little things, and you'll become more consistent and catching fish.

 

I had never caught a bass over 5 lb when I caught my first over 10 lb. It bit a four inch Roboworm slipshotted on 6 lb test mono. It's possible to target big bass for sure, but sometimes they just surprise you when you're just trying to catch something/anything. 

 

Just keep in mind that they don't get to be that big by being stupid and doing what all the other fish do. Most successful big bass fisherman I know of march to a different tune and just do their own thing in their own way. Their success is rarely accidental or incidental the way it is for many of us. 

 

Way BITD, a friend and I were dragging the old original AC Plugs across main lake points on leadcore line at 25' depths, and there was one five day stretch in February that we caught a 10+ lb bass each day. There were not a lot of people doing what we were doing at that time. Most people were bobbing Rapala Ice jigs in 60' of water and thinking all the bass were 50' or deeper. Meet 'em where they live.

[Luke Barnes]

2 hours ago, Big Hands said:

Seems like that by the time you realize the spawn is happening, it's already over, or close to it. The more often you fish, the more you'll be keyed in on slight changes, and you'll start noticing little things, and you'll become more consistent and catching fish.

 

I had never caught a bass over 5 lb when I caught my first over 10 lb. It bit a four inch Roboworm slipshotted on 6 lb test mono. It's possible to target big bass for sure, but sometimes they just surprise you when you're just trying to catch something/anything. 

 

Just keep in mind that they don't get to be that big by being stupid and doing what all the other fish do. Most successful big bass fisherman I know of march to a different tune and just do their own thing in their own way. Their success is rarely accidental or incidental the way it is for many of us. 

 

Way BITD, a friend and I were dragging the old original AC Plugs across main lake points on leadcore line at 25' depths, and there was one five day stretch in February that we caught a 10+ lb bass each day. There were not a lot of people doing what we were doing at that time. Most people were bobbing Rapala Ice jigs in 60' of water and thinking all the bass were 50' or deeper. Meet 'em where they live.

So maybe I should stick to one or two bodies of water to figure out changes? 

 

Maybe I just need to make the drive and have @jbsoonerfan show me how it's done!

[jbsoonerfan]

8 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

So maybe I should stick to one or two bodies of water to figure out changes? 

 

Maybe I just need to make the drive and have @jbsoonerfan show me how it's done!

You are more than welcome on my boat any time!

[WRB]

There 2 ways to do this, cast and hope a big bass strikes or don’t cast until you study the pond. Determine it’s primary prey population and location by walking all around the shore and looking for beds and bass.

Tom

[Biglittle8]

5 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

This time of year, instead of casting to the middle of the pond, pick a spot about 15-20 ft off the bank to either side and "parallel" fish the pond. Your chances of catching a big girl go up quiet a bit when the bait is in the strike zone longer.

☝️This!

[Deleted account]

Got her (them) yesterday for the first time this year. Everything came together and got size and numbers. big one a tad over 6, best 5 about 23 lbs, AND, an 8 or 9 lb Koi in the mouth with a square bill. (plus 3 pickerel and a giant crappie) I joked with my wife that if I died in  my sleep, it was the greaper coming to claim my soul. Memorable day for sure.

[Luke Barnes]

17 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

You are more than welcome on my boat any time!

Thank you sir and maybe one day I'll make the few hour trip and take you up on that! 

 

17 hours ago, WRB said:

There 2 ways to do this, cast and hope a big bass strikes or don’t cast until you study the pond. Determine it’s primary prey population and location by walking all around the shore and looking for beds and bass.

Tom

Are beds usually close to the bank? I would imagine they would look for flat even ground but I really dont know anything about spawning bass.