Spotted Bass Q's

[The Baron]

I'm panning a trip to NC for March break next year, with my son and a couple buddies.  We'll be after "bigger than here" LMB primarily, but might take a moment to try and catch our first ever spotted bass.

 

Are spotted bass likely to be caught while we're after largemouth, probably fishing shallow or cranking points?  Or are they more of a deeper water fish?  I don't feel a need to go after them specifically, but would be fun to say we caught some.  Or are spots special for some reason and maybe someone out there will say spots are their favourite to catch?

[Jig Man]

Here in Southwest Missouri our lakes have largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass.  You are likely to catch all three in the same area.  Spotted bass often are present in schools so if you catch one you just might get several in the same place.

[WRB]

Spotted Bass are similar to Smallmouth Bass regarding prey, lure preference and location.

If Blueback herring are in the lake then Spots group up on the herring schools, watch for birds and use 4”-5” surface lure like Gun Fish 117 Herring.

Finesse living rubber jigs in brown/green with green trailer chartreuse tipped tail.

Soft plastics greens w/chartreuse tail and cinnamon brown w/ orange tipped tails work everywhere for Spots.

Tom

*Roboworm  mean green, desert craw.

[Logan S]

Not sure which lake you're going to, but in most the NC lakes that have spotted bass in them you'll more likely have to try not to catch them if you favor largemouth.  

[Alex from GA]

Especially in March they are staging for the spawn and you'll find them where the LM are.  Spots/Alabama Bass spawn somewhat deeper than LM.  You'll find when you think you have a really good fish on and it turns out to be a 12" Alabama Bass that they pull really hard.

[wonkyrig]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

Spotted Bass are similar to Smallmouth Bass regarding prey, lure preference and location.

If Blueback herring are in the lake then Spots group up on the herring schools, watch for birds and use 4”-5” surface lure like Gun Fish 117 Herring.

Finesse living rubber jigs in brown/green with green trailer chartreuse tipped tail.

Soft plastics greens w/chartreuse tail and cinnamon brown w/ orange tipped tails work everywhere for Spots.

Tom

*Roboworm  mean green, desert craw.

 

Tom/WRB is on the money per usual. I'd add a shaky head, a fluke, and a rock crawler. Spots are maniacs, I love them.

[Bird]

They call spotted bass invasive around here but I'd say " invited " .

They fight extremely well and are voracious eaters, easy to catch.