| The pre-spawn period is widely considered one of the most productive times of the year for bass fishing. During this stage, bass begin moving from deeper winter areas toward shallow spawning locations. As they prepare to reproduce, they increase their feeding activity to build energy for the upcoming spawn. This increased feeding behavior often makes bass more aggressive and willing to bite. Larger female bass also move closer to shallow water during this time, which gives anglers a better opportunity to catch trophy fish. Worms, craw-styled baits, insect larvae, beetles, and lizards can be very effective for presenting a natural meal in these areas. Understanding how bass behave during the pre-spawn allows anglers to take advantage of one of the most exciting fishing windows of the year. Bass commonly travel along predictable migration routes as they transition toward spawning grounds. These routes often include points, channel edges, and gradual depth changes that connect deeper water to shallow flats. Fishing these transition areas carefully can help anglers intercept bass before they reach their spawning beds. Slowing down and making repeated casts to productive spots often increases the chances of triggering a strike. Paying attention to changes in water temperature and activity levels can also reveal when bass are beginning to move shallow. When anglers combine seasonal knowledge with careful observation, the pre-spawn period can consistently produce some of the biggest bass of the entire year.Our Fresh HellaMite is designed to imitate a major aquatic food source, delivering a realistic profile of an insect larva that fish can’t resist. We dropped 3 new “Just the Tip” series HellaMite, including Blue, Methiolate, and Chartreuse! Each is scented for complete and total attraction underwater, along with being made in the USA by real fishermen. We also just released new high-visibility magenta-red Methiolate HellaMite and restocked Hot Sauce, Alabama, Midnight, and HellaMite Fun Pack, which is loaded with 18 HellaMite baits in all six proven colors, plus it comes with three Owner Block Head Ned Jigs. This bundle pack has everything you need to stay rigged and ready year-round. Grab our newest Lil Bass, Hot Sauce, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. We’ve also restocked our Green Pumpkin and Smoke Purple HellaMite. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Its unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition year-round. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes. Each cast becomes an opportunity for a nice catch, thanks to the superior performance and versatility of the HellaMite. |
| One important concept anglers must understand is that bass do not move into the spawn all at once. Water temperatures can vary across a lake depending on depth, sunlight exposure, wind protection, and current. Because of these differences, some bass may already be close to spawning while others remain in deeper staging areas. This creates multiple phases of fish behavior happening at the same time across the same body of water. Anglers who recognize this can adjust their approach depending on where they are fishing. In slightly deeper staging areas, slowly worked like worms or craw-styled baits can help trigger bites from bass that are still transitioning. Recognizing these staggered movements can help anglers locate active fish throughout the entire pre-spawn period. Some bass may already be positioned near shallow spawning areas while others are still following migration routes from deeper winter habitat. This means productive fishing can occur at multiple depths during the same day. Anglers who explore both shallow and slightly deeper structure often have better success during this transition. Paying attention to where bites occur can help reveal which stage of the pre-spawn bass are currently in. Once a pattern begins to develop, similar areas across the lake can often produce fish. Staying flexible and adjusting locations based on fish behavior is one of the most effective ways to stay on bass during the entire pre-spawn transition.We use our Fresh Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. If you’re quick enough, you could secure a pack of our newest high-visibility magenta-red Methiolate Scorpion! Also, the popular 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink Scorpion colors work wonders. The Fresh Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. Its intricate detailing and texture mimic the nuances of a real crawfish, making it hard for bass to resist. Of course, water clarity always plays a role in color selection but in any season, you can’t miss using colors such as Green Pumpkin Seed, Brown Bark, and the Magneto. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. The Scorpion paired with a stand-up jig is deadly because the jig actually sits the bait upright in a defensive stance. The slight color variations across the bait further enhance its appeal, mimicking the natural color shifts found in live prey. Each Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Our Scorpions are made by anglers from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action that triggers strikes! |
| Unlike the spawn itself, which can occur over a shorter window, the pre-spawn period often stretches out for weeks. This happens because bass gradually migrate toward spawning areas as conditions become favorable. Weather patterns, warming trends, and water clarity all influence how quickly fish move shallow. Some bass may arrive early, while others wait until temperatures stabilize. Because of this, anglers can experience productive fishing for an extended portion of late winter and early spring. As bass stage and feed along migration routes, using soft plastics like beetles, worms, and craw-styled baits can be effective for covering these transition areas. Staying patient and continuing to check staging zones can keep anglers on fish throughout the entire seasonal transition. Sudden warming trends can often trigger waves of bass to move closer to shallow water. Conversely, cold fronts may temporarily slow the migration and push fish slightly deeper again. This constant movement creates multiple opportunities for anglers who stay aware of changing conditions. Monitoring water temperature, weather patterns, and fish activity can help reveal when bass are beginning to reposition. Fishing areas that connect deeper water to spawning flats can often produce consistent results during this period. By staying mobile and following the seasonal progression, anglers can continue catching bass throughout the entire extended pre-spawn window.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fast, we’ve recently just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost, and 10w30 Synthetic Lizard designs! The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait to use in any condition. Water clarity always plays a super big role in color selection but in any season year-round, you can’t miss when using colors such as Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, or Green Pumpkin. Its flexible tail design ensures added movement, tempting even the most cautious fish. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Made from long-lasting durable high-grade non-salted plastic for total and maximum attention-grabbing action underwater. |
| During the pre-spawn, bass are naturally drawn toward areas that warm up faster than the rest of the lake. Locations that receive more sunlight tend to warm earlier and create favorable conditions for baitfish and other forage. Shallow bays, protected pockets, and areas shielded from cold winds often warm more quickly. These locations can become early gathering spots for bass preparing to move toward spawning flats. Even small increases in temperature can trigger feeding activity and attract fish to these zones. Fishing slowly with lizards, worms, or insect larvae can help imitate natural forage in these warming areas. Identifying these warmer sections of water can significantly increase an angler’s chances of locating active bass. Northern shorelines often warm faster because they receive more direct sunlight throughout the day. Darker bottoms such as mud or clay can also absorb heat and raise water temperatures slightly. These temperature differences can concentrate baitfish and attract bass looking for an easy meal. Early in the season, these warmer pockets may hold some of the most active fish in the lake. Carefully working soft plastics along shallow cover and structure in these areas can produce consistent bites. Paying attention to sunlight, wind protection, and shallow depth can help anglers quickly narrow down the most productive water.Our Fresh Beetle delivers ultimate versatility in a soft plastic bait. Its slim yet wide body design and four claws are engineered to naturally glide and wobble as it moves through the water. This design ensures they remain enticingly active longer than conventional baits. Its unique texture also provides a realistic feel, making bass hold on longer once they bite. Water clarity plays a big role in color selection but year-round you can’t miss when using go-to colors such as Chocolate Mint, Ox Blood, or 10w30 Synthetic beetles. The hyper-active swimming claws are designed thin with long-lasting durable non-salt plastic to make them come alive with the slightest movement. The Fresh Beetle offers an enticing 4-inch profile and is scented for complete and total attraction! You can rig these Beetles as a Jig/ Chatter Trailer, Flippin/ Punching, Texas Rig, Swing Jig, and Carolina Rig. Making the beetle beyond perfect in any weather condition year-round! |
| Before bass fully move onto shallow spawning beds, they typically stop and stage nearby. These staging locations allow fish to rest, feed, and wait for ideal spawning conditions. Common staging areas include secondary points, deeper edges of shallow flats, and cover located just outside spawning zones. Bass often hold around wood, docks, or submerged structure while preparing for the final move to shallow water. These areas act as transition points between wintering habitat and spawning grounds. Slowly presenting craw-styled baits or worms around these staging areas can be extremely productive. Learning to identify and fish these staging spots can help anglers intercept bass before they reach the spawning beds. Bass may remain in these locations for days or even weeks, depending on weather conditions. A sudden warming trend can quickly move fish closer to the spawning flats, while a cold front may keep them staging slightly deeper. These areas often reload with fish throughout the pre-spawn period. Working the same productive structure from multiple casting angles can help reach bass positioned in different spots. Slow, controlled presentations with soft plastics often give bass more time to react in these staging zones. Anglers who carefully fish these transition areas can consistently encounter bass preparing for the spawn.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from, but we just released our newest high-visibility magenta-red Methiolate 5-inch Worm, and we also recently restocked our Charmeleon Worms and Brown Worms. We also recently added Midnight, Glow, and Ghost Worms, along with Electric Chicken Worm and Goby Wan Worms! If you’re fast enough, you might be able to grab them before they’re completely sold out. Or you could experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s still ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also Restocked 6-inch Worms, including Watermelon Red, Green Pumpkin, Black & Blue, Fire TGR, Wild Berries, Bone, 10w30 Synthetic, Zombie Blood, and Chocolate MNT! All available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift to different colors under the light. |
| Bass often relate to areas where the lake bottom changes from one type to another. These transition zones can include places where rock shifts to sand, clay turns into gravel, or where different sizes of rock meet. Changes in bottom composition can attract baitfish and other forage species, making them natural feeding locations for bass. They also provide a structure that bass use while traveling between seasonal habitats. Because these areas concentrate fish movement, they are excellent places to slow down and fish thoroughly. Using beetles, worms, and craw-styled baits can be especially effective when worked carefully along these bottom transitions. Paying close attention to these changes can often reveal some of the most productive areas on the lake. Bass frequently position themselves along these edges where the two bottom types meet. These areas can act like underwater highways that bass follow during the seasonal movements. Slight depth changes combined with bottom transitions can make these locations even more attractive to fish. Anglers who maintain bottom contact can better detect when their bait crosses these important zones. Slowly dragging or hopping across these transitions often triggers bites from bass holding nearby. Learning to recognize and fish these bottom changes can greatly improve success.Introducing the Newest 8-Inch MagDingo Worms! These are the ultimate game-changer in bass fishing! Engineered for anglers who know SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a fixation for the larger bait. The MagDingo Worm boasts a solid 8-inch body with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. We just released a new high-visibility magenta-red Methiolate 8-inch Worm! Get your hands on our most popular color before it’s too late! We also restocked the Charmeleon MagDingo, but supply is limited. The 10-count packs are available in a variety of 8 crucial colors, including the 10w30 Synthetic, Black & Blue, Zombie Blood, Green Pumpkin, Wild Cherry, and Watermelon Red. Each worm is made in the USA from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for maximum attraction, the 8-inch MagDingo Worm promises year-round effectiveness in lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you’re rigging it on a Shakey Head, Drop Shot, Texas Rig, or Carolina Rig, these worms are your ticket to landing trophy-sized smallmouth and largemouth bass. |
| Pre-spawn bass often feed actively as they prepare for the spawning season. Because they are willing to move and chase prey, anglers can benefit from covering water to locate active fish. Once bass are found, slowing down and working an area thoroughly can lead to multiple bites. Feeding fish often position themselves along travel routes leading toward spawning areas. Points, shallow flats, and transition zones are all common feeding locations during this time of year. After locating bass, presenting soft plastics such as worms, insect larvae, or craw-styled baits can help imitate natural forage. Combining efficient searching with natural presentations can dramatically increase success during the pre-spawn season. Bass often group together during this period, so finding one fish can quickly lead to several more bites. Making repeated casts to productive structure can help determine how many fish are holding in an area. Paying attention to strikes or changes in activity can reveal where bass are positioned along the structure. Once a productive zone is identified, slowing down and thoroughly working the area often produces the best results. Soft plastics worked carefully along the bottom can imitate prey that bass feed on commonly during this transition. Balancing movement to locate fish with patience to fully fish productive spots can greatly improve success during the pre-spawn period. We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from, butthe All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. Owner Mosquito Hooks work for dropshotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. We’ve also released new Nako Tungsten Tear Drop Shot Weights, crafted from 97% eco-friendly tungsten for stealth, durability, and vibration, with easy-to-read size stamps and a crimped swivel for quick swaps. The new Haymaker EWG Worm Hooks are also now available, featuring an extra-wide gap for various soft plastics, a Z-lock shoulder bend for secure bait placement, and an angled-up super needle point for fast, powerful hooksets. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you precious time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook, which is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. WEEDLESS Block Head Jigs feature high-quality construction that helps increase your hook-up ratios and keep your bait clean from snagging rocks or vegetation. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics. The Offset Block Head Jig, offers the same mushroom-style head with a unique offset hook, making it a go-to for weedless Ned Rig applications. For creature-styled baits, a more popular choice to use is the Stand-Up Jig because it sits the bait up-right in a defensive stance! The Range Roller Jig Head is crafted for precision with its high center axis design, perfect for hover-strolling and mid to bottom strolling with forward facing sonar, ensuring an enticing rolling action that triggers bites. Shakey Ultraheads can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. We also just released Keep’em Fresh Bait Bags! These bags are the ultimate solution for anglers who need their gear to perform. Built like a tank, this bag is 20x stronger than regular zip bags and offers 100% waterproof protection with a rock-solid double zipper seal. Whether it’s for soft plastics, snacks, or your smartphone, this reusable and versatile bag keeps everything safe from water, mud, and grime. It’s lightweight yet spacious, it fits snugly in your tackle box or backpack. |