How you find bass during the prespawn

[clemsondds]

Just curious what it is you look for when starting out on a lake during 47-58 degree temps.   Are you looking at maps before. you go to the lake and looking for topography (secondary points near flats), looking for bait near the backs of creeks, looking for points near the creek channel...

Just trying to get an idea of how you start out the day...

I have a friend who cruises around looking for bait before he puts a line in the water, and then I have another friend who looks for particular types of structure and when he finds it, he starts fishing...no matter what he sees on his graph or the water clarity.  So just got me thinking what do most of you do during the prespawn to give yourself the highest chance of finding bass quick?  Thanks

[casts_by_fly]

 

[clemsondds]

Thank you! What do you do if there are multiple places like this all over the lake…any other criteria to narrow it down? (Eg bait, water clarity, water temp…) 

[A-Jay]

9 hours ago, clemsondds said:

  So just got me thinking what do most of you do during the prespawn to give yourself the highest chance of finding bass quick?  Thanks

First thing I go is to off eliminate the word quick

and more importantly the detrimental mindset that comes with it. 

There's no time limit for me on effectively covering water.

I look for clean water and usually in the wind.

I'll fish presentations that match the surface water temps and 

the mood of the fish as it results to the water temps.

The presence of some type of bait is helpful.

A-Jay

[Glenn]

 

[casts_by_fly]

4 hours ago, clemsondds said:

Thank you! What do you do if there are multiple places like this all over the lake…any other criteria to narrow it down? (Eg bait, water clarity, water temp…) 

fish them all until you figure it out. Like a jay said, take your time- you’re not in a tournament. If it’s really cold still, find a sunny shoreline. Wind blows baitfish food around and they follow it. I hate fishing muddy water so I don’t. In the spring, warmer water is better generally speaking. 

[clemsondds]

If the lake is muddy…what would you do? I assume run the lake till you find cleaner water…but say you the cleanest you can find is 1ft visibility with 48 degree water temp? 

[casts_by_fly]

11 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

If the lake is muddy…what would you do? I assume run the lake till you find cleaner water…but say you the cleanest you can find is 1ft visibility with 48 degree water temp? 

if there is cleaner to be had then sure. 1’ isn’t what I’d call muddy though. I’m talking 6” or less type muddy. I’d probably go home if that was the case. But if the water is 1’ dirty then I’m looking for cover on the sunny side of the lake.  At 48 degrees I’d expect the fish to be closer to the winter end of their range than the spawning end. In that scenario I’m looking for the steeper transition zones moreso than the flats.  
 

also, I’m ignoring ffs for the sake of this post. I have it and would use it (maybe even in the 6” muddy scenario) but not everyone does. And the thought process would still be the same for finding where they are. Just easier to confirm with live imaging. 

[WRB]

Knowledge of big bass pre spawn habits takes time studying and reading.

Where I fish the lakes are man made highland or hill land type reservoirs that spent a lifetime fishing.

Pre Spawn starts after the bass leave thier winter holding areas as the core temps start to warm activating the need to spawn. Females are the biggest bass and my target to catch. Male bass leave the females earlier to stakeout bed sites. 
The areas where pre spawn bass group are called staging and located where prey source is abundant but far from the spawning areas.

Think major points and secondary points as starting places.

Tom

PS, read Bill Murphy’s book In Pursuit of Giant Bass.

Tom