Fishing Pre-spawn

[bassfisher14]

Ok, I have done a search on this, but nothing has come up except for people mentioning that the bass in there area are in pre-spawn right now. Well, the bass in my area are and I am going after some tomorrow. I have heard that willow leaf spinner baits, JnP's and crawdads work good. Does anyone have any ideas on what else I might want to try?

The weather is supposed to be clear with a few clouds, 44 in the morning climbing up into the 60's by noon with no wind. The water I am going to be on is a little stained, but not bad.

[james33]

Target points near deep water that lead to spawning areas. Start out on the point then work your way to the bank and maybe even down the bank a little ways from the point. Thats the best advice I can give you not knowing the lake myself. As far as what to throw. Try a suspending jerkbait, slow roll a single spin spinnerbait (#4-#5 blade colorado style works best for me), Jig, tube, and by all means don't be afraid to throw a rattletrap and move it pretty fast. Adjust the color to the type of water. I know this is pretty general but I hope it helps anyway.

[macgyver]

I don't neccessarily use the same baits as IL, but I do try to hit the points, especially if they are near a cove or flat. I would also use you electronics(if you have them), and look for something out of the ordinary. Such as a hump, or dip, or even a slight indentation type of area. Anything where you can get say 2-3 feet of depth change quickly. I'm also betting if they are staging you will already find some up shallow.

Lizards

[BaSsFiShEr20]

I posted it before, but here it is again. hope it helps.

Targeting Prespawn Bass By Charles Graves

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 shorlins, 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

[bassfisher14]

Just wanted to say thanks for the help guys. Made it out this morning right at daybreak. Started fishing a black willow leaf and had my first bass within 30 minutes. It was a little small, but what the heck. It was a bass. Things were looking good until I hung up and lost my spinner bait. I decided to try some other tactics without any success. Finally, about 10:00 I caught another bass on a Rattle Trap. First one I have ever caught on a RT, I have always been a plastics and wire bait kind of person. It weighed in at about 2 pounds. That was all I caught for the day due to spending more time trying to locate them, then just fishing for them. I still had fun though. I'll post pics sometime later today when I get them downloaded off my camera.

[zooker___________.]

great article bassboss! thanks for posting it again.