| Spring may be the best time of the year to catch | | | | Look for them on the submerged ridges of long |
| largemouth bass, but lots of fishermen don't make | | | | points, in shallow coves and over expansive flats |
| the most of it. Far too many of us tend to fish the | | | | where they may be basking. They may be wary, |
| same way day after day, randomly casting along | | | | however, so make long casts. Rattling lures are very |
| shorelines in a hit or miss fashion. If the bass don't | | | | effective, and they cover open water quickly. |
| cooperate, we figure they just aren't feeding and let | | | | 5. Fish Small Bodies of Water: |
| it go at that. Sure, we manage to catch a few bass, | | | | One of the most effective tactics in the early spring |
| but that's because even a blind hog will find an acorn | | | | is to pass up the big lakes and spend more time on |
| occasionally. If this sounds familiar, it's time to make | | | | smaller waters. Ponds and small lakes warm more |
| some changes. This means giving more thought to | | | | quickly because they aren't as deep, frequently have |
| things like weather, water temperature and the | | | | clearer water and are sheltered from the wind. As a |
| changing patterns bass adapt to as they go through | | | | result, small-water bass often become active weeks |
| their long spawning cycles. The following tactics can | | | | before they do on large impoundments. Fishing |
| get you started on the right track. Use them and | | | | pressure is also often less intense. On a massive lake, |
| you'll not only catch more bass this spring, but you'll | | | | you may spend hours fishing spots virtually devoid of |
| also have a much better shot at hooking into a | | | | fish and not even know it. However, you can fish an |
| lunker. | | | | entire pond in just a few hours and be relatively sure |
| 1. Get Started Early: | | | | that big bass will at least see your offerings. |
| One thing that bass have in common with us is that | | | | 6. Don't Pass Up Murky Water: |
| they think about spawning a long time before they | | | | You might want to avoid lakes the color of red mud, |
| get around to it. That means largemouths - and | | | | but moderately stained water with a greenish tinge is |
| especially the biggest females - often begin making | | | | better than water that's too clear. Bass can see lures |
| forays into shallows to check out spawning areas | | | | surprisingly well in all but the muddiest water, and |
| weeks, even months, before the first leaves appear | | | | they can hear even better. If other conditions are |
| on the trees. During this prespawn period, it's not | | | | favorable, don't let a little mud deter you. Bright, |
| unusual to make outstanding catches in March and | | | | noisy rattling lures and spinnerbaits are your best |
| April, even February or earlier from the mid-Atlantic | | | | bets, and chartreuse is probably the best color. Silver |
| states on south. One key is to fish during warm | | | | also seems to work well, and black is surprisingly |
| spells in the early spring, especially if these periods | | | | visible in muddy water. |
| last several days. It doesn't take a heat wave to | | | | 7. Pay Attention to the Bottom: |
| launch big bass on a feeding spree. Often daytime | | | | Even many knowledgeable bass fishermen overlook |
| highs in the upper 50s will do it. Look for two distinct | | | | this vital factor. When bass move into the shallows, |
| patterns. If it's still early in the spring, fish points and | | | | they're looking for food and also an ideal spot to fan |
| deeper shorelines in water four to eight feet deep | | | | out a bed. For spawning, bass will seek out a sandy |
| using spinnerbaits, rattling minnow lures, jig n pigs or | | | | or pea-size gravel bottom before they settle for |
| diving crankbaits. Bass use these mid-depths as | | | | anything else. You won't find bass spawning on solid |
| transitional staging areas before they move shallow | | | | rock or bottoms that are too soft and mucky from |
| into the shallows. Don't neglect the shallows, | | | | accumulated silt. How do you determine what you |
| however. Even early, big bass often move inshore, | | | | can't see? If possible, fish where you've caught |
| but a cold snap will quickly force them back to | | | | spawning fish before in previous years. Otherwise, |
| deeper water. When you find bass in shallow areas, | | | | you can often identify the type of bottom by |
| they'll be hungry. Try them with spinnerbaits, rattling | | | | looking at the nearby shoreline. The residue on your |
| lures or shallow diving minnow imitations. | | | | anchor may also give you a clue, or you can probe |
| 2. Fish the Weather Fronts: | | | | shallow spots with a paddle. Even your depth sounder |
| Those warm periods in the spring are frequently | | | | will help by distinguishing the rock or muck best |
| followed by bitter, fast moving cold fronts. | | | | avoided. |
| Knowledgeable bass fishermen learn to look for these | | | | 8. Don't Overlook Cover: |
| patterns because the best fishing is likely to occur on | | | | Fishing the right cover is the most important tactics |
| the last warm day before that sharp cold front | | | | at this time of year. Early in the season before bas |
| passes through. Sometimes fishing peaks as the wind | | | | go shallow, those deeper staging areas almost always |
| begins to rise and the weather deteriorates. Ideally, | | | | have plenty of stumps, brush or rough bottom |
| you'd like to start fishing in your shirt sleeves and | | | | structure. As the season progresses and bass begin |
| finish in a goose down jacket. Slow moving fronts | | | | to move towards the shallows, you'll want to |
| that don't create sharp and rapid drops in | | | | concentrate on a different type of cover. High water |
| temperature aren't usually as reliable, but they may | | | | is common in the spring, and you'll often find bass in |
| still provide decent fishing. After a cold front passes | | | | flooded brush, willows and trees on points. Fish the |
| you'll almost invariably have very poor fishing the first | | | | tip of a point and both sides, then get in close and |
| couple of cold, clear days. | | | | cast among the trees and stumps, if possible. Be sure |
| 3. Keep Track of the Water Temperature: | | | | to fish flooded stands of willows and other similar |
| Get a thermometer and use it. Although it is possible | | | | brush in the backs of coves. Bass love to spawn in |
| to catch early spring bass in nasty weather in 40 | | | | these areas, and the biggest females will move in |
| degree water, your chances improve greatly after | | | | earlier than you might expect. Fish flooded brush and |
| the surface water temperature passes 50 degrees. | | | | willows first by probing the outer edges with lipped |
| For many anglers, the magic mark seems to be | | | | crankbaits and rattling lures, then move in close and |
| about 57 degrees. At that point, and as water | | | | fish the thickest cover using spinnerbaits and jig n |
| temperatures rise into the 60s, bass often become | | | | pigs, both of which are nearly weedless. Weighted |
| more active both in mid-depth staging areas and | | | | soft plastic lizards, Texas rigged, are also effective in |
| increasingly in the shallows. Largemouth bass begin | | | | heavy, shallow cover. |
| active spawning when the water temperature | | | | 9. Fish Close: |
| reaches 68 to 72 degrees F, and some bass eat less | | | | Think of spring bass fishing as hand to hand combat. |
| often when they're actively bedding. However, all | | | | With few exceptions, you've got to mix it up inside |
| bass don't spawn at the same time. Even at the | | | | to be effective, especially after the fish have moved |
| peak of spawning there will be plenty of fish still | | | | into the shallows around heavy cover to spawn. |
| feeding aggressively, including some that haven't | | | | Make short, accurate casts into and under willows |
| spawned yet and some that may have finished. | | | | and clumps of grass or other cover. This is also |
| Where it's legal, it's also possible to catch fish while | | | | where flipping is effective. Spinnerbaits, jig n pigs and |
| they're on their beds, although such fish should | | | | lizards are your tools now, and you want stout rods |
| certainly be released. The trick is to approach quietly | | | | and strong line - at least 20 pound test - for muscling |
| and use smaller lures or lightly weighted plastic worms | | | | whoppers out of cover. There's one other tactic that |
| and lizards. Even a bass that's not feeding will | | | | you definitely don't want to overlook in the early |
| sometimes attack these baits simply to remove the | | | | spring, and it may come as a surprise. Many weeks |
| threat. | | | | before traditional topwater lures begin to be |
| 4. Fish the Correct Side of the Lake: | | | | effective, bass often show a fatal attraction for |
| Bass are especially sensitive to temperature changes | | | | buzzbaits, those splashy, gurgling surface spinnerbaits |
| at this time of year, and will often seek out spots | | | | with the huge blades. Even very early, whopper |
| where the water is only marginally warmer. Your | | | | largemouths will often eat these lures when they |
| thermometer will help, but knowing where to look will | | | | won't hit anything else. Fish buzzbaits close around |
| save time. Creeks feeding into lakes often carry | | | | cover (they seldom hang up) or make long casts |
| rainwater runoff that is warmer than the lake water, | | | | over flats. Use a steady or slightly erratic retrieve, |
| and bass tend to gather in and around the mouth of | | | | but keep them moving. |
| these creeks. Such areas also provide likely spawning | | | | 10. Stick To Proven Lures: |
| grounds. Sunlight and wind also influence surface | | | | You can cover every spring situation with a selection |
| temperatures, and you'll often catch more bass in | | | | of spinnerbaits, rattling lures, jig n pigs, buzzbaits, soft |
| coves and along shorelines on the north and east | | | | lizards and shallow and deep diving crankbaits, but |
| sides of the lake. Not only do these areas get more | | | | you may not need them all. Of these, the spinnerbait |
| afternoon sun, but they are also protected should | | | | will handle both heavy cover and mid-depths, |
| there be chill winds blowing from the northeast. Only | | | | whereas the rattling lure is a superb choice |
| the surface layer will be warmer early in the spring, | | | | everywhere except in the thickest cover. |
| so don't be surprised to find bass suspended on top. | | | | |