The prespawn period is the ideal time for targeting big bass, as they are at their seasonal heaviest. They can be found in shallow waters, making them more aggressive as they try to put on weight before the spawn. Learning these ultimate techniques in prespawn fishing can help you adapt, even when it can be challenging. It’s important to know that prespawn bass are always on the move, and spring weather and water levels can change rapidly.
That’s spring bass fishing “up here.” On the Great Lakes and the natural lakes of the Northeast, shallow bass rule prespawn hunts. We could fish them deeper, but why? Can’t see them. Can’t watch them fight all the way back to the boat. Not as active off the breaks. Obviously I’m prejudiced, so I asked a few experts to help pick top prespawn tactics that truly define ultimate prespawn fishing.
To increase your chances of success, look for areas near spawning grounds where bass can stage before moving to shallower waters. These areas can include points, flats, and creek channels. In terms of bait selection, try using jigs, crankbaits, and jerkbaits. These should mimic the prey bass are feeding on during this time, such as crawfish or shad.
Ultimate Prespawn Fishing with reaction baits is where to start…
Ultimate prespawn fishing often involves putting your time in on the map study prior to even getting on the water. If you have a good contour map, you can easily identify creek channels, ditches, and drains to focus your efforts. In a lake or river system, you can use aerial photography like Google Earth. This helps locate backwaters and grassy flats from the summertime, and you can focus on them before the grass comes up.
Once you’ve identified an ideal location to search, the key is to start out with reaction baits to cover water and hopefully get a few bites. Once you locate an area producing fish, you can then slow down. Use slower presentations to achieve the ultimate prespawn fishing experience.
Ultimate Prespawn Fishing Hair Jigs
It’s fair to start with a hair jig. Right after the ice goes off, a hair jig has been catching smallmouths for me since the early 1990s. I found that using the 1/8-ounce jigs with black deer hair and dragged them slowly along bottom is an ultimate prespawn fishing method. I will also drag a brown hair jig or a white one when small shad are present.
Jerkbaits
At the same time, from right after ice-out until bass spawn, suspending baits continue to be a “universal solvent.” This works for smallmouths, largemouths and spotted bass everywhere. The very first bait I try for pre-spawners is a jerkbait. The key, especially immediately after the ice goes off, is the pause. This makes it a part of ultimate prespawn fishing strategies.
Grubs and Tubes
After the hair-jig and jerkbait days fade with warming water, I often rely on 1/16- to 1/8-ounce jig-grub or jig-tube combos. “The jig-tube continues to put more bass in the boat for me for some reason, perfectly complementing other ultimate prespawn fishing methods.”
Brought to you by:
