spring bass fishing

[Michael H]

I have never fished for bass in the spring, So i dont know what lures to use what kind of lures should i use for pre spawn, spawn and post spawn

(ie.spinnerbaits, cranks, jigs ect.) and how should i be fishing them? (ie. fast slow ect.)

Thanks

[basspro48]

Well, depending on the region you live in, the bass should be spawning soon. The farther south you are the earlier they will spawn, ex. the bass in south Florida right now are spawning already but where I live in south/central Virginia the bass won't spawn until probably late march or april. But then again it all depends on the water temperature, bass will start to stage in the shallows when the water reaches 52-54 degrees and when it reaches 56-57 degrees they really start spawning.

Most fishing during the spawn is done while looking at bedding fish, "sight fishing", which can take a lot of patience. For baits I mostly use bright colors like white or bubblegum so you can see the fish take the bait. I use white trickworms weightless with a spining rig, white tubes, white sweet beavers, and GYCB Kreature baits. Just pitch the bait on the bed and shake it, don't move it to much because you're just trying to make the fish mad so he or hopefully she will go over and grab it, when she does set that hook as hard as you possibly can!!!

[CJ]

Alot of this will depend on where you are fishing.I'll list some lures and presentations for starts.I'm sure alot of the guys will help you out on this.In early March to mid April is post-spawn around Western Ky(Depending on water temps).I usually start out with a jerkbait,smaller crankbaits,rattletraps,jigs and tubes.I work most everything slow.Fish are usually going to be sluggish until the water temps hit mid 50s.One of my favorites is a shadrap in crawdad color(its orange and brown)I throw it along main lake points and breaks usually looking for chunk rocks or just rocky bottoms.An important thing is to make sure you are making contact with bottom almost constantly.My other favorite is a jig.I also work it slow,though I may lift it some off the bottom to try to get suspended fish to strike it.By the way pre-spawn fish suspend most of the time,but not all the time.Thus pointing us toward a jerkbait.I like a smithwick pro rogue.I throw it as far as I can reel it down to depth then try to find the prefered presentation.For example twitch,twitch,pause or twitch,twitch,twitch,pause.The pause is important.Thats usually when they hit it.I fish all of these presentation usually close to a point or break that drops steeply into deep water.

When water temps hit upper 50s to lower 60s,this does depend on lake elevations,the fish will usually move toward shallower water.I put down the suspending jerkbait and pick up shallow running cranks like a Bandit 100,a jig,spinnerbait,and last but not least a t-rig.This is when I start fishing heavier cover and not rocky structure.I will work a little faster.I usually always start out the day fishing a little slow,this gives me time to observe signs that may tell me whats going on.I have found in the past some lures will work consecutivley,but the presentation may change daily.I try to place my lure right in the brush or right on or next to the log.There may be some days in the spring that the fish don't bite as well.I found that if you down size a lure,I usually go to a finesse worm on a split shot,it usually pays off.Well I hope this helps.Good Luck!Spring is the best time of year for bassfishing.

[basser89]

basspro and CJ have both given you good information!

I'll add read up in the fishing articles section! Also try "googling" Van Dam's 6 season guide. IMO, its gives you a good break down season to season! Hope this helps!

[Rattlinrogue]

It's pretty much already been said,but my top two spring baits are a plastic lizard and a spinnerbait.

[Rattletrap]

Basser89. Do you have a link? I can't seem to find KVD's season stuff.

[roadwarrior]

Go to the BassResource.com Library (Fishing Articles at the top), there is a wealth of information on seasonal fishing.

Slug-Gos, hard jerkbaits and lizards are deadly in the spring.

[RoLo]

Spring is the easiest time of year to fish, especially late spring.

I can remember when I first started bass fishing. I caught more bass by accident in spring

then I caught the rest of the year on purpose.

Other than a buzzbait, you can fish just about anything your heart desires.

I personally like tube lures and jerk plugs in early spring, which promptly widens out

to stick worms, action-tail worms, plastic grubs, jig & trailer, spinnerbait (esp. single colorado)

and twitch-type topwaters.

[basser89]

Hey rattletrap,

Try this link:  http://www.illinoiswaters.net/heartland/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1743

It used to be on Bassmaster's site, but I couldn't find it there last night. Hope this helps!

[Nick_Barr]

I personally like throwing big spinnerbaits and shallow running crankbaits, even lipless cranks over the tops of weedbeds, in which tose pre-spwn fish are roaming on the top of the weedbeds searching for food.

[Michael H]

Thanks for the help. I will try most of the suggestions as soon as the water warms up.