The sun is shining, dreams of big bass dance in our minds, pollen is coating everything, and the water is warming up just like the weather. A perfect mix of everything that makes us hopeful of finding some of those big female bass before they get on bed or up on bed. And if we are truly lucky, a new personal best opportunity.
Water temperatures are dancing in the 60s, and with the warmer days, they are moving into the magic spawning zone. And the bass are going to want to move up and spawn. Depending on your body of water, some early birds may be moving up, but the big girls are waiting for that perfect time. There is no magic formula to determine when she will move up. Full moon, water temperature, water conditions: they all play a part in it, but when nature tells her to go, she will.
So what do we need to be doing? Paying attention is really the only answer. Get out those glasses and scan the bank for signs of the males up around the bed they have cleared. If you don’t see the female up there, she is more than likely holding just off the bank around the first drop off. And she is more than likely still eating heavily, building up her reserves for when she does move up.
What do we need to be throwing? For me, I love to throw soft plastics, I love a frog, and I love a crankbait, but I don’t limit myself to just those baits. A spinnerbait this time of year is great, and it can be used up shallow to out deeper. It can be worked around, over, and even through cover. And it is a proven winner. From the Classic to Elite Tournaments, it has won a lot of money. It is one of those baits I learned to use early and still do.
And throwing a SPRO Little John is one of those baits I love to throw. But I will also mix in the SPRO Fat John this time of year. The hunting action of the Fat John really can entice a lot more bites. I have learned to trust it around wood, knowing that it can get hung at times, but the reward of a huge bass is worth it. Just pay attention to how it hits and don’t force it through the cover.
But topwater is really great right now. And if the bass are up on bed, a topwater bait worked over it can draw some exciting strikes. The choice of bait depends on where you are fishing. A frog, like the SPRO Bronzeye, is my main choice for fishing around lily pads, but a buzzbait, like the Brazalo Custom Lures Bushwhacker, is also a great choice. If the water is more open, a SPRO Haint or a Heddon Spook Jr is my choice for a walking bait.
Working the lily pads, around wood and up shallow with a soft plastic or a jig is always fun. Something about that sudden strike and setting the hook hard that just gets the blood flowing. A Missile Baits Magic Worm fished wacky rigged is always a way to entice strikes. And it does catch big bass. If I want a Texas rigged bait, right now I like to use a Missile Baits Chunky D in Pearl White. I can see it better, especially if I can see the bed.
Something about white will really make the bass angry. And a jig is my other choice. Black and blue Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip with either a Mini D Chunk or if I want a bigger profile, a Chunk D. Just be very, very patient with moving your bait. Sometimes just a simple little shake is all it takes to elicit a strike.
And I will say, working the shallows or drop off with a glide bait can be really good. I’m not great with it, but I can only say I am hooked to throwing it. Something about the bite! Sometimes it can be arm jarring. You may not get them all in the boat, but they will be big. Heartbreaking when they come off, but if you get them to the boat, so rewarding.
Now is the time to get out there and search for a personal best. The bigger they get, the more difficult to beat, but it’s about the hunt. I know we will go through the dinks, but it is a job that we all wish we had. The arise every morning and be able to go fishing is the dream we wish to live. Never give up that dream. It is what keeps us living like a kid and I refuse to grow up! See you when you get to the lake!
All Baits Can be Found at Discount Tackle
