Pre Spawn

[WallStreetAmigo]

As winter sets in here in the north, I thought I would ask for some opinions/ideas on what tactics work from ice off to the spawn. I didn't get much chance to fish the pre spawn period last year.

Next year I have my first club tournament in April and won't have too much time to practice pre-spawn techniques. What works for you guys and what should I focus my energy on when the lakes are liquid again?

[ROBZILLA]

Remember that bass really start to feed weeks before the spawn, to save energy for the spawn. Thats why they don't seem that hungry at the spawn. They only reason they hit is if you drop a lure on their head while they are sitting in the beds. This is an strike to get the lure away from the bed. They are just protecting the nest.

[1FASTLASER]

When I lived in Northeast Pennsylvania the very best metod that worked for me at this time of year was to locate the spawning areas. On my lakes I already knew them so that part was done. Normally spawning areas are situated so North winds cant hammer on them.Hopefully you already have a good idea as to where these areas are. Now all you have to do is follow the structure out to the main lake points and that will be your starting point. Usually if your are proficent at using your electronics you can locate the migration routes to the spawning areas and really make it that much easier. Usually there will be a creek channel or a certain depth ledge that the bass use to migrate from the main lake to the spawning area and back.
After locating the main lake points that lead into the spawning area I always start with cranks that closely imitate the local bait forage. If they arent wanting to chase a bait out comes the stick baits and if'n that still doesnt raise a bite I go to the pnj.
In all actuality water temp will dictate what they are doing and what they should hit. I have found that water under 50 I personally have done better with the stick baits and pnj's. as the water temp rises above 50 the cranks come into play with spinnerbaits throwed in for good measure. Soemtimes they will jump all over a spinner fished at the right retreive rate.

[keithdog]

I have always had better luck fishing the north/northeast portions of a lake after ice out. They are usually the areas that warm the quickest due to southern winds blowing the warmer water into that portion of the lake. I also look for areas that are sheltered where the sun can warm the water quicker. In past years, my lure of choice has always been the Rattlin Rouge worked slowly with soft twitches and tugs on the surface in shallow water. My next choice had always been the tandem spinnerbait with colorado blades worked very slowly along the bottm and near structure. Last year however, I started using the Chatterbait right after ice out. I landed a nice bass on my second cast of the year, and it just continued untill the water warmed. I think the reason the chatterbait works so well in early spring is that it offers a lure that can be worked on the surface or worked slowly along the bottm. And it offers very enticing action at any speed. I just plain cleaned up on bass with a chatterbait after ice out this year, and that will be my go to lure this comming spring.

[pig n jig]

There is a alot of good info in these posts on this thread.
At ice out depending on what lake I am fishing I will search the creeks on the north end of the lake if there are primary creeks.As the others already mentioned, I look to the North end. Its usually been hammered the least by the strong North winds from the previous winter months. I am constantly watching my depthfinders temperature reading and keeping track of where the warmer water areas are.I also look for the stained water areas as for it will warm up quicker.I love a red rattle trap retreived quite rapidly.I know it goes against the thinking the colder the water, the slower the presentation, but it flat out catches fish. I use spinnerbaits and a baby paca craw on a skirtless jighead, or a Mizmo blue craw colored tube bait.
If I am fishing a lake that has no primary creeks running into the north end, I look for shallow coves with a hard rocky bottom. I downsize to a smoke, or avocado colored Kalin grub, or a 4" reaper on a 1/4 oz. leadhead and start searching for fish.I will throw a rattletrap once waters warm up to 50 degrees, or above on the main lake, I like to fish the break offs from a shallow flat, or from a known spawning area.
In mid April the creeks are red hot here,some of my personal best fish were caught this time of year in the creeks. At the same time the main lake gives up very little unless you can find a warmer water, such as chunk rock stretches , shallow flats with stained water......

[ROBZILLA]

Sometimes I wonder what passes through a bass' tiny brain as it joins us in our world for a minute, or as it gazes from confinement. Brainy they are, as fish go. I've had several that obviously recognized my son and me by appearance and would splash a greeting (or at least express anticipation of a meal).



Through science, we've learned how fish use their acute senses to cope in their underwater world. But that doesn't remove the mystery of why they do what they do or where they go at times. But certain activity trends are discernible, particularly when we examine bass behavior through the seasons of the year.



Anglers typically divide the year into four seasons, but the In-Fisherman Calendar features 10 Calendar Periods. Some of those periods can be further subdivided to explain fish behavior from a seasonal standpoint.





Seasonal changes in fish behavior are more dramatic in the North than in more temperate or semitropical latitudes. But seasonal shifts in behavior and location occur throughout the species' range, and understanding these shifts can help anglers define the best angling patterns.



The seasonal approach of the In-Fisherman Calendar works because it takes into account the great variation in climate within the range of the largemouth and smallmouth bass and the five other black bass species. The term "spring conditions," for example, means nothing. On March 20 in central Minnesota, lakes still were covered by two feet of ice, while the spawn was in full swing in Texas reservoirs. Meanwhile, newly hatched bass were over an inch long in the most southerly fringes of the largemouth's range.



QUICKLY THROUGH THE CALENDAR PERIODS
The Frozen Water Period is the longest calendar period of the year in the North Country. In Kansas reservoirs, though, this calendar period may last a month one year, then not occur at all the next. Waters in the southern third of the United States rarely or never freeze, so minimum water temperatures occur during what we've come to call the Winter Period, characterized by the coldest water temperatures of the year.



At ice-out in northern lakes, bass enter the Coldwater Period, covering the rise in water temperature from annual lows to about the 50F mark. In reservoirs of the mid-South, this period may last for more than a month. In Florida, it passes quickly and may not even occur during mild winters.



At about 50F, the Prespawn Period begins in northern waters and lasts until bass have mated. The Spawn Period covers egg deposition and fertilization, a short time span for fish like walleyes and stripers. But for bass and other species that guard eggs and fry, the Spawn Period may stretch to three months or even longer in Florida lakes.



Of course, male and female bass differ in their involvement in spawning. After laying the last of their eggs, female bass enter the Postspawn Period while males remain in the Spawn Period until they abandon their fry. The Postspawn Period covers the short recuperative phase, followed by the Presummer Period, a transitional phase occurring as water temperatures rise toward the summer maximum. If warm conditions prevail, this period passes quickly, but it lingers under cool, overcast weather.



The Summer Peak Period occurs as a body of water reaches maximum productivity in terms of plankton blooms, insect hatches, underwater weedgrowth, and swarms of fry. This dynamic period lasts just a week or so, perhaps two, but typically offers excellent fishing. The Summer Period follows, the longest period of the year for the southcentral and southern regions. Most of a fish's annual growth occurs during the Summer Period as bass feed heavily, but fishing success can be highly variable.

[ROBZILLA]

http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine...assSeason2.jpg

the beginning of a peak in bass fishing. The Postsummer Period lasts until fall turnover, which typically occurs in deeper lakes and reservoirs when water temperatures have fallen into the low 60F or upper 50F range. This Turnover Period is short, lasting until water temperatures have stabilized in the low to mid-50F range. This disruption in the stability of summer typically means difficult fishing.



The Coldwater Period follows turnover, as water temperatures continue to fall to annual lows. In northern waters, this leads to freeze-up, sometimes just a month or so later. And the annual cycle completes itself.



WINTER PERIOD SPECIFICS
Bass are cold-blooded creatures, more properly called poikilothermic, as their body temperature closely corresponds to surrounding cold water temperature. Bass behavior is strongly affected by seasonal shifts as well as immediate weather patterns.





During the Frozen Water or Winter Period, largemouth and smallmouth bass display the least activity of the year. They typically hold in the deepest water they ever occupy. For at this time, the depths are slightly warmer and more stable than water near the icy surface. Precise depth depends on characteristics of the body of water.



In natural lakes, bass move to deep flats or basins of moderate depth in 15 to 30 feet of water, often roaming slowly throughout a wide area. Smallmouths hold more tightly, often in discrete wintering holes. In large reservoirs, largemouths, smallmouths, and spotted bass may move even deeper, beyond 50 feet in clear waters.



Bass in ice-bound waters often form large groups where they feed and move little to conserve their dwindling energy resources until spring arrives. Though not feeding, bass can be tempted with a small jig or livebait. Few ice anglers target bass, but incidental catches are common in many lakes and river backwaters.



Largemouths are more active during the first few weeks after lakes first freeze, and again seem to move and perhaps feed more toward the end of the ice-bound season. In shallow lakes, declining oxygen content in bottom waters may force fish closer to the surface in late winter. In severe conditions, fish kills may occur, with the largest fish affected first.



Bass in rivers that freeze seek backwaters with adequate oxygen and protection from current. In some cases, deteriorating water quality forces bass to shift location in midwinter. Because the number of good backwater habitats is limited in many rivers, large concentrations of bass can form.



Where waters don't freeze, bass metabolism is low and feeding is reduced. But the dense aggregations mean that a few fish often are active enough to bite, even at water temperatures below 40F, and good catches can be made. While smallmouths favor bluff areas, sharp drop-offs, or rocky crevices, largemouths often gather along deep creek channel ledges or deep timbered areas. Versatile spotted bass may hold among rock or wood, or off deep structure like main-lake points.



It's appropriate to note here that anglers who target bass in water deeper than 30 feet may find releasing their fish impossible, due to gas expansion in the air bladder, eyes, and other organs. This problem intensifies with each second a fish is held out of water or in a livewell. In extremely deep water, releasing bass can be considered wanton waste. In this regard, largemouths are most sensitive, followed by smallmouths, then spotted bass.



PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Understanding the In-Fisherman Calendar is one basis for learning the movement and activity patterns of bass. The calendar serves as a reference, a logical basis to discuss what's happening in the fish's world. Understanding that fish species progress through distinct periods of activity that vary only in their time of onset and duration from year to year based on weather conditions allows anglers to make valid predictions about bass location and appropriate presentations.



Intricacies of presentation have become a focus for bass fishing -- worm colors, crankbait diving depth, rattling lures, precision pitching, weight selection, and the like. Without a basic understanding of the seasons in the fish's world, this array of possibilities becomes baffling and then frustrating. Focus first on the nature of the beast, then presentation options will fall more clearly into place.

An article I found.

[Bob Smith]

Robzilla, is a tough act to follow! I won't write that much!! (I promise!)

When I lived in Texas (where my last spring was spent), as the water warmed into the upper 40's and lower 50's the Red Shad rattletraps, red-craw rattle traps and the pumkin/orange rattletraps were the main moving baits, while the creature baits and lizards rigged T-rig were the "gotos" in the submergent grass, as well as the PNJ or PNC. When the water went through the 50's and into the lower 60's, we would add the rattlin rogue in the black on gold with orange belly, or competitor bait in similar color pattern. Toward the latter end of this range we started looking for beds or slow down the T-rigs in the 5-10' range for the larger spawners that didn't spawn up shallow (yup! most of our bigger fish spawned out deeper!). When the water was in the upper 40s to the lower 50s we concentrated largely on the main lake points back to the first secondary point (under water), this represented the early transition area. Then the latter range was concentrated from the first secondary point on back into the cove. If the cove had a well defined creek channel meandering through the back with about 5' on the edges and 10 to 15' channel depth that was even sweeter. If that channel happened to be in a cove that faced the south southeast it was even sweeter (as the water warms across the lake this won't matter as much, but it certainly plays a roll in the early pre-spawn).

[JB]

porko,
I couldn't have said it better!
spring to me is a rayburn red rattle trap (thanks pnj for a handfull of em)
and also spinnerbaits and jigs.

[WallStreetAmigo]

I never thought I would get this wealth of information when i started this post.....Although I should know you guys by now and should have expected it!

Awesome info here guys. Thanks a bunch! I have already printed this thread off and have it in an honored spot in my fishing book.

[BassAddict]

I agree with Jerkbaits, Spinnerbaits, and the PNJ. I've also done well on a smoke grub on a 1/4 oz leadhead. Suspending jerks are my fav until the water gets into the upper 50's to 60 degrees. I start fishing topwater when the water hits 56-58 degrees.

Eric

[1FASTLASER]

Here's another little tip I will throw in there and yes some of you might think I have losy what mind I have left. Anyways a Strike King Bleeding bait series Black and red 3/8oz BUZZBAIT is a KILLER bait at this time of year for better than usual sized bass. The key here is stick with it and fish it just fast enough to keep it on top. So being able to manuver the rod will actually help slow down the retrieve. I have put MANY MANY kicker fish in the boat using this trick in water as cold as 47 degrees is the coldest I remeber. ALOT of people have called me a Bullsh####r until they come to the scales and see the check handed to me.

[Bob Smith]

Great tip, 1FL. Years ago on Lake Conroe down in Texas, I watch my dad school me on early pre-spawn Buzzbaiting. He put together a huge limit!

[JB]

I've seen that buzzbait work around 50ish degree water temp on ky lake, but it takes a LOT of casts to get that big one to bite...still it puts some weight in the boat, while everyone else is throwing the trap

[WallStreetAmigo]

I have read that, in general, cold water means smaller baits and slower presentations. My question is this: If during the prespawn the bass are stocking up for the spawn, wouldn't that mean they would be more inclined to hit something bigger (better energy gained vs energy used to catch)? I'm not sure this makes sense, it is just an observation from my logical mind.

The spawn up here is very short and the time from ice out to the spawn is generally mid-March/Early April to mid-May. The spawn can last up to a month depending on water temps.

[Bob Smith]

Originally Posted by WallStreetAmigo

I have read that, in general, cold water means smaller baits and slower presentations. My question is this: If during the prespawn the bass are stocking up for the spawn, wouldn't that mean they would be more inclined to hit something bigger (better energy gained vs energy used to catch)? I'm not sure this makes sense, it is just an observation from my logical mind.

The spawn up here is very short and the time from ice out to the spawn is generally mid-March/Early April to mid-May. The spawn can last up to a month depending on water temps.

Just remember that bass don't read these threads or any other article for that matter! I have a 12" salamander swim bait that is absolutely marvelous during pre-spawn sometimes! The discussion above about the buzzbaits is anything but small and downsized. The red-shad rattle traps are normally in the 1/2 oz range but I have used them in the 3/4 oz and 1 oz versions also and all have caught fish. A typical T-rig (and C-rig) in north Texas during the pre-spawn, spawn, post spawn and early summer often consists of a 6" lizard, but 10" lizards are very common!

[lunker-lander]

Originally Posted by WallStreetAmigo

I have read that, in general, cold water means smaller baits and slower presentations. My question is this: If during the prespawn the bass are stocking up for the spawn, wouldn't that mean they would be more inclined to hit something bigger (better energy gained vs energy used to catch)? I'm not sure this makes sense, it is just an observation from my logical mind.

The spawn up here is very short and the time from ice out to the spawn is generally mid-March/Early April to mid-May. The spawn can last up to a month depending on water temps.

I can totally agree with WSA here. I have always heard "Small bait; Cold water. Big bait; Warm water". I always thought that the bigger bait would coincide this, make for a good, early reaction strike, but, I guess I know now....

-Lunk-

[1FASTLASER]

The old saying////////////////////Think outside the box. Ok fellas here goes it....................Your wanting to catch a limit of fish quick right? So what do ya do.......fish a lure that can get alot of hits more quickly than others. So here ya are now with a limit and no bigguns. GET OUT THE BIG GUNNS and catch that kicker fisah be it a 1/2buzzbait or a 12"swimbait.

[lunker-lander]

Finally, someone on this crazy board has made sense!

LOL; We've got a good group of Guys/Girls here...

-Lunk-