It's the start of the season and the weather is now warming. The ice from the lake has melted. You probably have a severe case of Cabin Fever and at this point you just need to get out and go fishing. This time of year is probably one of the toughest times of the year to catch fish due to weather and other variables that cause the fish to to get closed lipped. But, also this could be one of the best times of year to catch fish due to their hunger and their lack of lure conditioning. If you get out on the right day it could be one of “epic” days that will stay in your memories for a lifetime. What I want to discuss and have you think about is how and where to locate Bass during thFour Lures I use in the Spring to locate and Catch Bass

is time. The water temperature during this time of year for me or what I considered for spring is between 39° and 49°. I usually don't like to fish off history but when it comes to springtime fishing sometimes the motivation to go out on a cold 20° morning is based on the fact that I've caught some of my personal best largemouth bass during this time of year. I am leaving a few lures out of this discussion because they are used when I have found the fish or fish are in the area but want something else(Jig, creature bait). We need to search for them. Yes, the water temperatures are cold but they are warming so the fish are beginning to move. To help you have epic days like I have had, here are my five favorite lures to use during the Spring before prespawn

Lipless Crankbait

Probably the most popular and most used lure during the early spring fishing is the Rattle Trap. This time of year when fishing you are looking for more of a reaction from a bass than a feeding instinct bite. My main focus and yours as well will be trying to find where the bass are in the shallows.

Here are a few selection of lipless crankbaits the can help you locate the Bass:

Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap

When using a Rattle Trap I have three retrieves that I like to use.

• A fast retrieve or “burning”. This is done by a fast paced cranking motion and works best with a high gear ratio 6.8 to 1 and above.

• “Ripping” This is when you reel steadily, get caught in Weeds or other vegetation and rip the Rattle Trap out of the vegetation. When this technique is used strikes usually occur when the lure gets free of the vegetation.

• “yo-yoing” or what I like to call “spazzing”. This is usually done in Open Water where you change the direction of the lure by lifting your rod tip, changing the cranking speed or doing both at the same time. This will create a very sporadic action and unpredictable movement. The changing movement and speed can usually trigger a reaction strike.ere...

Strike King Red Eyed Shad Tungsten 2

Spro Junior Aruku Shad

Chatterbait

In my experience this is the one that I have the biggest love hate relationship with during Springtime fishing. It's amazing how I've had some of the most epic days using a chatterbait but also left to struggle on other days. one particular day I caught 15 Largemouth on 20 casts in one small area while repeating the same cast to the same area. Yes, the fish were stacked there feeding and I was so grateful and thankful to be able to experience and enjoy that moment.

Using a chatterbait requires that you also use the trailer most of the time. For the majority of the time I'm using a Chatterbait. I like to add a soft paddle tail swimbait as my trailer.

There are many brands of chatterbaits and definitely different price range chatterbaits. I particularly like the z-man line of chatterbaits. this includes the original Chatterbait, the Jackhammer Chatterbait and the Evo Chatterbait. I've used all of these chatterbaits and they all catch fish. To me it's more of a price decision when choosing a Chatterbait.

When using a Chatterbait I have three retrieves. Yes, they are the exact same retrieves I'd use for the rattle Traps.

• A fast retrieve or “burning”. This is done by a fast paced cranking motion and works best with a high gear ratio 6.8 to 1 and above.

• “Ripping” This is when you reel steadily, get caught in Weeds or other vegetation and rip the Rattle Trap out of the vegetation. When this technique is used strikes usually occur when the lure gets free of the vegetation.

• “yo-yoing” or what I like to call “spazzing”. This is usually done in Open Water where you change the direction of the lure by lifting your rod tip, changing the cranking speed or doing both at the same time. This will create a very sporadic action and unpredictable movement. The changing movement and speed can usually trigger a reaction strike.

Crankbait

Crankbaits that are optimal for shallow water conditions are the main focus here. We are targeting fish in water depth no deeper than 4ft. I am also looking for areas that have vegetation and structure. I want to use this structure as a point to trigger a reaction strike from a Bass. When using a crankbait in the shallow water I prefer a low speed retrieve. I have caught Bass on many different crankbaits with this technique. I do recommend though more than anything else is that you change the treble hooks to a set you have confidence in.

I use the Mustad KVD Elite

My main choices for shallow crankbaits are:

Rapala BX Brat 3’

OG Tiny® 4

Bass Pro Shops XPS Square-Bill Crankbait

Jerkbait

For this discussion I am leaving FFS out of the conversation. With that said I was able and still able to catch plenty of Bass with a Jerkbait in shallow water. We are not going any deeper than 6’. When using a Jerkbait you will need to have discipline and patience. Unlike the first three baits I just mentioned, this one needs to be retrieved slowly and methodically. Like a jerk and pause motion for 15-20 seconds. You have to make the Jerkbait act like how a fish in cold water would act. To get a Bass to bite here I believe you are triggering a feeding response vs a reaction strike. So, if anything at all you want the Jerkbait to resemble a fish's physical activity. In these cold water conditions fish are not swimming fast.

Here are a few jerkbait choices:

Smithwick Lures Suspending Rattlin Rogue Fishing Lure

Rapala Husky Jerk

Strike KVD Jerkbait

Final Thoughts

Locating and catching Bass in the springtime can be a roller coaster. We are out fishing when most people aren’t because its to “cold”. All I can say is we love fishing and we go when we can. Having a good foundation and ideas on what you will do during these cold days will make it more tolerable. I hope some of my ideas help you prepare both mentally and physically for these days. Regardless if you are catching be thankful you are fishing. Good Luck!