| Spring is one of the best times of the year to be on | | | | plastics. During this pre-spawn period, the bass fishing |
| the water in search of bass. Whether you're after | | | | can be, and in fact usually is, fast and furious. |
| largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass, you can | | | | - Spawn: |
| expect active fish. The techniques and places you | | | | Finally, when the water temperature inches its way |
| should fish depend on where you are in the country, | | | | into the 55 to 60 degree range, the bass will begin to |
| what the water temperature is, what kind of lake | | | | move onto their spawning beds. There is an ongoing |
| you're fishing, and what the fish eat. That's what we'll | | | | debate over whether it is ethical to fish for spawning |
| discuss in this article. | | | | bass, but that's not the purpose of this article. It |
| Spring is a time of transition for bass, just like every | | | | must be said, however, that most fisherman consider |
| other species of fish and wild animal. Bass are moving | | | | it extremely unethical to keep bass caught off a |
| from their winter haunts to the areas they will live | | | | spawning bed. If you do want to catch them off |
| for the rest of the year, until cold weather in the fall | | | | their beds, there are several good ways to go about |
| brings them back into deep water. The exact period | | | | it. One excellent way to do this is by finding a bed, |
| of time when they make this movement can provide | | | | and inching a tube bait along it to provoke a bass to |
| some of the most exciting fishing of the year. | | | | bite. Others like to fish noisy topwater lures over the |
| - Early Season: | | | | same area. Then just make sure to release them as |
| Early spring fishing is the most unpredictable. Water | | | | quickly and gently as possible, to help insure the |
| temperatures are the lowest at this time, and the | | | | future of the bass population. |
| fish are more likely to be sulking in deeper water. | | | | - Post-Spawn: |
| Generally, you can expect to find bass in deep water | | | | Once the spawn is over, the bass come off their |
| when the water temperature is below 45 degrees. | | | | beds, and are hungry after several weeks of not |
| At this time, it is necessary to fish deep and slow. | | | | eating. This is a good time to score a nice fish. Plastic |
| Jigging spoons and soft jerkbaits are top baits. | | | | worms, crankbaits, and jigs are good at this time. |
| Once the water gets into the 45 to 55 degree range, | | | | The fish will be a little spawned out and emaciated, |
| the bass begin to move into shallower water, and | | | | so they aren't as heavy, and don't fight as hard as |
| become much more active. This is when more | | | | they do other times of the year. Still, the fishing can |
| traditional bass tactics finally come into play. Now you | | | | be quite fun this time of year. No matter where you |
| will want to fish shore-line cover, like stumps, rocks, | | | | live, you have some excellent bass fishing to look |
| and weed-beds. Still, it is best if you are in relatively | | | | forward to this year. So starting getting your tackle |
| close proximity to fairly deep water. Spinnerbaits are | | | | ready, and plan a trip to your local bass lake. Just |
| especially good at this time, but you can also do very | | | | keep these tips in mind, and you're likely to have a |
| well on crankbaits, plastic worms, and other soft | | | | great day! |