Targeting Prespawn Bass

[BaSsFiShEr20]

Targeting Prespawn Bass

I was asked once if I had a favorite seasonal pattern.One that I prefered above all others.
I thought about it a minute. Easy. Prespawn. Prespawn generally occurs when the water is between 55
and 62 degrees. It is that one magical time of year when everything comes together for some of the best
bass fishing you will have all year. If you do YOUR part. The key to good prespawn fishing is not in your
lure selection, but in your ability to locate the fish.This is as simple as haveing a basic knowledge of the
species you are after.Remember, this is a transitional pattern. The bass will be moveing.
Since the bass are going to be activly feeding in preperation for the spawn,catching them should be easy.
To locate them, look for key pieces of cover and structure between their deeper winter haunts, and the shallower spawning grounds.For instance, Say you know where there is a cove the bass always spawn in.
Rather than target the back of the cove, or the cover along the shoreline, look for the bass to be staged
along the ends of tapering points near deeper water, near the mouth of the cove, or in bends along the creek channel near the spawning area. The areas closest to the spawning grounds on the deep water side
are generally the best.The bass may suspend near this cover or structure, but they are much easier to catch then the bass that suspend in open water.
My two favorite baits for targeting prespawn bass are a 1/2oz. Lipless Crankbait and a Suspending Jerkbait.
I target the points, and the ends of the points that have the sharpest dropoffs into deeper water with the jerkbait. I will pause it as it comes over the dropoof and many times a bass hanging just off the end will nail it.
I fish the inside bends of the creek channels with the lipless crankbait. I like the inside bends of the channels because this is where the bruch and debris accumulates. I use a Lipless Crank in this situation because it can be counted down on each cast to determine what depth the fish are holding. If you are fishing the bends in the channel and there is current present, fish WITH the current. Bass, being ambush predetors, face into the current to catch prey swept to them.You will get many more strikes by fishing with the current than against it.
Try to imitate baitfish or crawdads with your lure selection.The bass will be activly feeding on the shad and baitfish young born that year, as well as the newly emerging softshell craws.

Good Fishing,
Charles