Fishing for pre-spawn wisdom

[Swamp Girl]

Prior to 2022, the last time I fished for largemouth bass was when I was a teen. I'm 66, so it was half a century ago. I planned one trip with my brothers. We had arranged to fish a farm pond that was about 50 miles away. We always fished by bicycling to ponds. We were going to camp one night beside the pond and fish one evening and one morning. We were so excited, but the morning of the big day, we awoke to a howling head wind and snow. We set out, but it was horrible and after that, we always waited until it was solidly warm.

 

Well, I'm not waiting this year. I bought a thermometer and I'm going to let the local water temperatures tell me when to launch my canoe. I'll do that at 50 degrees. 

 

I've watched videos and read articles about pre-spawn largemouth bass and I've made several tackle orders applying that knowledge. I've filled my tackle box with shallow-running crankbaits, chatterbaits, soft plastic paddletails, and jerkbaits. I've been studying the lake depth maps too (I don't use electronics.), marking deep water adjacent to shallow water and noting points. I've also changed my lines and lubed my reels. And I replaced hooks on my well-scuffed Whopper Ploppers. And I've scouted 32 new bodies of water. Some of them show great promise, based upon what I've seen and read. For example, two of them have alewives run into them by the millions (I've watched the videos.). Those bass have to be fat!

 

I'd appreciate any wisdom around pre-spawn largemouth. 

[PressuredFishing]

Last year was my first successfull pre spawn... Best advice I can give, is to go out earlier than you think, it's a misleading window.

[softwateronly]

 

 

23 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Prior to 2022, the last time I fished for largemouth bass was when I was a teen. I'm 66, so it was half a century ago. I planned one trip with my brothers. We had arranged to fish a farm pond that was about 50 miles away. We always fished by bicycling to ponds. We were going to camp one night beside the pond and fish one evening and one morning. We were so excited, but the morning of the big day, we awoke to a howling head wind and snow. We set out, but it was horrible and after that, we always waited until it was solidly warm.

 

Well, I'm not waiting this year. I bought a thermometer and I'm going to let the local water temperatures tell me when to launch my canoe. I'll do that at 50 degrees. 

 

I've watched videos and read articles about pre-spawn largemouth bass and I've made several tackle orders applying that knowledge. I've filled my tackle box with shallow-running crankbaits, chatterbaits, soft plastic paddletails, and jerkbaits. I've been studying the lake depth maps too (I don't use electronics.), marking deep water adjacent to shallow water and noting points. I've also changed my lines and lubed my reels. And I replaced hooks on my well-scuffed Whopper Ploppers. And I've scouted 32 new bodies of water. Some of them show great promise, based upon what I've seen and read. For example, two of them have alewives run into them by the millions (I've watched the videos.). Those bass have to be fat!

 

I'd appreciate any wisdom around pre-spawn largemouth. 

 

I completely agree with @PressuredFishing If it's safe and you're comfortable, I've found the biggest fish get going the earliest.  After the ice comes off, waiting for the turnover is about as long as I would wait if i had the option.  

 

scott

[casts_by_fly]

At that 50-55 degree mark (I start fishing at 40 or so), I'm looking at funnels and transition areas where the fish have deeper water and shallower water nearby to flats or access to the flats.  The bigger fish are really thinking of moving up at that point and steady weather keeps them moving shallower.  The bulk of the fish are mid-depth.  A cold front or storm will pull the fish a little deeper, but they still have spawning on the brain.  So give them a place that they can drop back a few feet deeper without having to swim across the lake.

 

This is a picture of a local lake.  The creek channel is the white at the top and at one time swung past this point.  The tip of the point drops to 10-12' about 40' from shore but you can see either side of the point flattens out.  One side has chunk rock and a tiny bit of wood in the right place.  The other side is pretty barren.  I'll fish this through from deeper to shallower to see where the fish are holding that day.  In this spot at that time of year, crankbaits are my friend.  I'll have a DT6 and a DT10 tied on, plus probably a lipless on another rod.  There is no grass here and I've never caught a fish on a chatterbait there despite catching them elsewhere on the lake in similar situations/spots on the same day.  if they are looking up that day and the water is clean I'll have a topwater tied on (sexy dog).

 

[casts_by_fly]

Here is another example.  The white is the main lake The top right corner is an island just out of picture.  The fish could be on the steep 'cliff' bit at the bottom or starting to wrap around the point.  Or they might be on the more gradual slope of the island either on the main lake side or on the left where its starting to shallow up.  This little back bay has docks, grass, and rocks.  Its good for a fish or two most any time of the year.

 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, PressuredFishing said:

Last year was my first successfull pre spawn... Best advice I can give, is to go out earlier than you think, it's a misleading window.

 

Been preaching that here for years.

 

[Swamp Girl]

Two advantages I think I have for prespawn searching is my innate restlessness, which has me preferring to move, and my canoe's 32-pound weight, which means the barest breeze moves it. So, I cover a lot of water and I think that'll help me locate the bass. I also have loaded my tacklebox with lipless crankbaits and walk-the-dog lures. I'll have five rods in my canoe, each with a different kind of lure and I'll often cast a lure one time before switching. Yeah, I'm twitchy. I fish like Kramer might fish.

 

 

[Susky River Rat]

Honestly, if I were you I’d start at around 45 degrees. Unless your water only gets to that temp over the winter months then start at the first consistent warming of the water. 

[Swamp Girl]

Just now, Catt said:

 

Been preaching that here for years.

 

 

I bought a long sleeve wet suit top this winter and neoprene boots. I also bought a life jacket that has a kangaroo pouch on the front, with I'll load with emergency gear, so I'm feeling more confident fishing cold water. 

[Catt]

If your body of water is big enough that you're waiting for that push into the creeks. 

 

Guess what?

 

There's a resident population already in the creeks.

 

Care to guess which ones move up first?

[Darth-Baiter]

it's also daylight hours right?  as days get longer, love is in the air? 

[Swamp Girl]

26 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

it's also daylight hours right?  as days get longer, love is in the air? 

 

Are you saying I should play some "Barry White" as I fish?

[Darth-Baiter]

4 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Are you saying I should play some "Barry White" as I fish?

gah...i almost wished this worked.  hahahha...

[T-Billy]

Don't be afraid to fish shallow early in the year, especially if you've had a few days of stable weather. I've caught some good ones in 2' or less of 40 something degree water. Steep banks aren't always best, but you do want deep water close by that time of year.

[Swamp Girl]

10 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Don't be afraid to fish shallow early in the year, especially if you've had a few days of stable weather. I've caught some good ones in 2' or less of 40 something degree water. Steep banks aren't always best, but you do want deep water close by that time of year.

 

Tim, some of the bogs I fish are only six feet at their deepest. I wonder how that'll affect their behavior. I'll see, won't I?

[T-Billy]

3 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Tim, some of the bogs I fish are only six feet at their deepest. I wonder how that'll affect their behavior. I'll see, won't I?

That makes 'em easier to find. They'll get dirt shallow to soak up the rays on sunny afternoons when the water's cold. Cold fronts will move 'em deep and/or TIGHT to cover.

[gim]

17 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

some of the bogs I fish are only six feet at their deepest

Don't those things freeze out in the winter?

 

Shallow lakes here often have winter kill because there is a lack of oxygen after months of being covered in snow and ice.

[Swamp Girl]

38 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

That makes 'em easier to find. They'll get dirt shallow to soak up the rays on sunny afternoons when the water's cold. Cold fronts will move 'em deep and/or TIGHT to cover.

 

Do you think they'll hit a slow-crawling wake bait? I think they might because it lands so lightly and might not spook them in "dirt shallow" water.

[Jar11591]

I think the pre-spawn period gets me more excited than any other seasonal period for bass fishing. I agree with those that say start earlier than you’d think. I hit the water as soon as the ice is mostly gone, and I consider pre spawn to be the period from ice out until spawn. The time period from thaw to spawning temperatures is often very brief in my waters. 
 

Right after ice-out, a warm day with sunshine can really get the fish fired up. I have my best luck during the warmest part of the day, when the sun is really hitting the shallows. Hard cover is a bass magnet after ice out as the water warms so downed timber is generally my go-to. Jigs with big trailers, T-rigged craws and creatures, and spinnerbaits are usually how I fish downed timber. 
 

As the water warms up to around 50° or so and up, I’ve found that an overcast, but warm and humid day can be great. Downed timber is still prime, but as the water gets into the low to mid 50s, they also start to stage around spawn flats, coves or any vegetation that begins to turn green. For my waters it’s generally the pondweed that starts to green first, followed by the milfoil and hydrilla. Don’t overlook topwater when the water gets into the 50s. I’ve had some great prespawn days fishing flats or slow tapering points with a popper or walker. 
 

Another thing I’ve learned that when the water temps are rising quickly due to warm weather, there is no such thing as “too shallow”. I’ve pulled some nice ones out of water less than a foot, and the catalyst for catching them that shallow seems to be water temps in high 40s to low 50s that are rising rapidly. Again hard cover like downed timber or even docks are prime for this period. 
 

Just a few observations I’ve had while pre-spawn fishing. I have serious FOMO when not on the water during the pre spawn, especially on warm and humid late-April or early May days. You can have some great days during this time. Hard cover, mild weather, fast warming trends, jigs, T-rigs, spinnerbaits, poppers, walkers, and lipless cranks is Jar11591’s  recipe to pre-spawn success. Only a couple more months…..

[Swamp Girl]

@Jar11591

 

Thanks so much. That was super specific. 

 

However, "only a couple more months" makes me do this:

 

[T-Billy]

25 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Do you think they'll hit a slow-crawling wake bait? I think they might because it lands so lightly and might not spook them in "dirt shallow" water.

Sure. Sometimes. I didn't see a Texas rig listed in your lineup. I HIGHLY recommend picking up a 100ct bulk bag of Big Bite Baits, Yo Momma's, some 3/0 VMC flippin hooks ( The regular ones not the HD's), some medium size rubber bobber stops, and some 1/4 and 3/8 tungsten weights. I prefer the smaller 3.5" Yo Momma. They list it as 3" but it's 3.5" long, and it flat catches 'em, big and small alike.

Edit to add: Some Zoom Mag II worms, and some trick worms are must haves too IMO. I fish those on as light a weight as I can, 1/8 most often. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

24 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

I think the pre-spawn period gets me more excited than any other seasonal period for bass fishing. I agree with those that say start earlier than you’d think. I hit the water as soon as the ice is mostly gone, and I consider pre spawn to be the period from ice out until spawn. The time period from thaw to spawning temperatures is often very brief in my waters. 
 

Right after ice-out, a warm day with sunshine can really get the fish fired up. I have my best luck during the warmest part of the day, when the sun is really hitting the shallows. Hard cover is a bass magnet after ice out as the water warms so downed timber is generally my go-to. Jigs with big trailers, T-rigged craws and creatures, and spinnerbaits are usually how I fish downed timber. 
 

As the water warms up to around 50° or so and up, I’ve found that an overcast, but warm and humid day can be great. Downed timber is still prime, but as the water gets into the low to mid 50s, they also start to stage around spawn flats, coves or any vegetation that begins to turn green. For my waters it’s generally the pondweed that starts to green first, followed by the milfoil and hydrilla. Don’t overlook topwater when the water gets into the 50s. I’ve had some great prespawn days fishing flats or slow tapering points with a popper or walker. 
 

Another thing I’ve learned that when the water temps are rising quickly due to warm weather, there is no such thing as “too shallow”. I’ve pulled some nice ones out of water less than a foot, and the catalyst for catching them that shallow seems to be water temps in high 40s to low 50s that are rising rapidly. Again hard cover like downed timber or even docks are prime for this period. 
 

Just a few observations I’ve had while pre-spawn fishing. I have serious FOMO when not on the water during the pre spawn, especially on warm and humid late-April or early May days. You can have some great days during this time. Hard cover, mild weather, fast warming trends, jigs, T-rigs, spinnerbaits, poppers, walkers, and lipless cranks is Jar11591’s  recipe to pre-spawn success. Only a couple more months…..

LOL at using the term FOMO in Bass fishing, that's exactly what I feel everyday even when I'm fishing ?

[PhishLI]

5 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

Well, I'm not waiting this year. I bought a thermometer and I'm going to let the local water temperatures tell me when to launch my canoe. I'll do that at 50 degrees. 

You'll be well into May if you wait for it to hit 50 first. The best of the prespawn bite will be over just-like-that once it gets past that temp. Happens fast up here. Get on them as quickly as you can while keeping your personal safety in mind. An ultralight(foam) outrigger system would be a real difference maker.

[scaleface]

Steep sunny banks .

[Big Hands]

The lake I fish 95% of the time never gets close to freezing, maybe down around 50°, so this could be a local thing, but I wholeheartedly concur with those saying get after it earlier than you think or you'll be reading about others that did. For me, I think all of the winter months are the best time to catch bigger bass. Way BITD, I had carpal tunnel surgery for my wrist, and tendonitis surgery on my elbow at the same time so I would be laid up for three months. Surgery took place the first day after New Years Day that the doctor was operating. 

 

After a three weeks the stitches came out of the hand and I just wore a brace to somewhat immobilize it while not rehabbing it. I also took the time to go out fishing a LOT with a friend that was able to go in his boat. Since I was not able to cast, we started trolling these large 'plugs' on leadcore line. We had out best success dragging them across main lake points and letting out enough leadcore to get the plug to drag the bottom at 25'. The plug is over 11" long and when it caused a ruckus, that's when we needed to pay attention. There was a five day mid-week period in the middle of February where we caught a 10 lb bass on each of those five days (among others). 

 

We only caught one bass that weighed less than 5 lbs and it weighed 1-1/4 lbs. Every bass we caught was on the front hook and we hooked up much more frequently as the plug was dragging and bouncing on the bottom as opposed to swimming in open water. The second pic shows the condition of the lip from dragging the bottom. I have more that are much more scuffed up than that. Most people don't think of this bait as anything other than a shallow swimming or wake bait.

 

I feel that just because they hammer a bait, it doesn't necessarily mean they were looking for a meal.

 

Most people around here feel like February is the worst month of the year to catch any fish, let alone big fish. . . . Perhaps. . . .