3 Lures To Have Ready For Pre-Spawn
With Spring fast approaching, it is time to start thinking about tackle preparation and map study to help you be prepared to catch the bass once they get into their pre-spawn mode.
Pre-Spawn is generally marked for the largemouth bass with water temps ranging from the mid 50’s to the low 60’s. For smallmouth bass, this will usually be marked by the low to high 50’s. For this I want to focus on the largemouth though.
Once the water temperatures hit their mark, you can begin your search in areas that offer shallow water with a quick deep water access. The transition of the bass with be an exit from their deep water haunts and hangouts, to the shallows. The spawn is what will drive them to the very shallows. On the way however, they will feed up on whatever is available in order to fatten up before the exhausting spawn takes place. For this reason I like to focus in on shallow secondary points, ditches, pockets, and any other type of structure and cover leading from the front to mid creek areas and tributaries.
For those of you who fished right through winter, these travel routes may be much easier for you to locate by merely focusing in on the closest creek channels and points to where you were catching them over the course of the winter. For those of you who did not, here are 3 lures that I recommend using to help you locate their migratory routes. If you find one, you can be assured that there are more nearby and more on the way.
Jerkbait
I prefer suspending models. This bait mimics the bass’s number one forage and can be fished in a number of ways. You are able to cover allot of water with a fast retrieve or slow down to a painfully sit and wait presentation. Eitherway, the erratic action of the lure gives off the appeal of an injured bait fish which translates to an easy meal for the bass to take advantage of. My favorite places to fish this bait is over the top of and along ledge lines as well as fast dropping shorelines.
Rattl’ Trap
A staple on the deck of most anglers boats in the early spring time. You are able cove heavy amounts of water with a very fast retrieve. The cadence of the retrieve is usually one of a steadily fast nature but can be varied. Whenever I am unfamiliar with a lake or want to cover an area quickly, this is my bait of choice throughout the pre-spawn. The tight wiggle and noisy rattles create a vibration that call bass in from a long way and makes it easy to hone in on. My favorite areas to fish this bait are on top of flats or shallow pockets. *If I want to run my lure at a definite specific depth than I may substitute for a lipped crankbait.
Jig n’ Pig
In the late winter and early spring, most crustaceans will begin to emerge from their deep burrows and the bass are well aware of this and ready to take advantage. Anytime I come across rocky areas or heavy brush I like to scourer the area with a jig and pig. Bass will certainly use these areas as ambush points. My favorite time to use the jig is when the spring time weather presents fronts or heavily winded days and I feel like the bass are pushed back down to the bottom. I am able to keep control of my bait on the bottom and slow down if I feel like the bass have become somewhat lock jaw due to the change in weather.
While spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and many other lures are effective throughout this time of year if presented correctly, the three baits I have mentioned are constants. Year after year they are productive staples for any anglers arsenal while fishing pre-spawn conditions.
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POSTED IN: Miscellaneous, Tips/Tactics
1 opinion for 3 Lures To Have Ready For Pre-Spawn
charles
Apr 12, 2008 at 10:42 pm
i’ve found that the best pre-spawn lures are finesse worms and jigs i fish mostly in farm ponds near lafayette my home town. however i will sometimes fish jerkjaits very slowly on warm days well thanks and every else make sure to leave a comment
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