As the late Winter through Early Spring time frame arrives, with water temps in the low to 40 degree range, giant bass begin their instinctual migrations from main lake basin areas toward secondary staging zones.
On their journey from migratory routes and fingering filter zones, obsidian eyes search the depths for signs of forage as the largest bass in the system start to gorge themselves before the spawn. The Time is here now to begin your search for multiple big bass throughout the 3 stages of Spring, now I would say it is best time to start spring bass fishing season, we already wrote about spring bass fishing tips here we will focus on their migratory movements and other aspects of bass fishing.
During The first stage of migratory movements, early season persistent cold fronts may cause bass to stall on routes and vertically stack in various depths throughout the water column.
These fish can be tempted to take perfectly presented baits during specific bite windows. Recognizing factors such as specific weather elements that trigger specific locations and incremental time changes in bite windows, throughout the day or night during the stages of spring will triple your catch rate for giant bass.
Persistent Southerly winds during early Spring can elevate water temperatures in the Northern regions of any body of water that you fish. Combining these locations in conjunction with staging areas closest to spawning grounds will be a prime starting point on your quest for the heaviest fish in the system.
A combination of learning the migration routes used on any systems you fish, along with properly analyzing off shore structure in basin zones that contain forage will put you in the prime locations for multiple giants.
As water temperatures rise into the high 40’s through low 50 degree range, giant females become more active in general and bite windows, though still short, may produce good numbers of trophy bass clustered in small compact locations.
Over 55 years ago, I stayed in one zone all day on lakes in the Northeast for a bite or two a week after Ice-Out. Some of these fish were a few of my heaviest bass from the Northeastern Region of the Country.
Learning when these minute bite windows occur during each specific temperature ranges and total focus on all the environmental elements that factor in to cause these windows to occur, at each small difference in water temperature, will keep you in the zone through all 3 stages of the Spring.
Wind Direction and velocity, in combination with early Spring water temperatures, Staying astute on locating A-D column fish throughout the entire water column should be your primary focus. Your electronics are key to reading activity levels, neutral, negative mode bass, forage position and increase of bass activity levels during Spring Bite windows along with the coordinating correct speed and over all presentations are crucial pieces to the consistent success during the early Spring time frames.
Consistent days of stability in weather conditions with rising air and water temperatures tend to consolidate numbers of the first incoming migratory fish into staging zones. I’ve encountered this scenario so many times fishing various bodies of water across the country and the bite can be unreal at times.
I’ve seen this scenario with first and second round migrating and staging fish during early Spring and Late Fall on these Southwestern Reservoirs for the past 9 years and it’s an amazing occurrence when all the elemental factors fall into Place.
We’ve taken 7 to 11 in numbers of huge bass from small zones during both cold water periods [ Spring and Fall ]in a short time frame year after year, and some days will be days you will always remember. On those days, keep detailed logs with water temperature, exact locations, weather elements, how long or short bite windows occurred in each location, Barometric reading [ low to high] and moon phase.
Learn to trigger suspending post-front stacked bass that will locate in all zones during specific times is a must and can completely change your entire trip during any early to mid-spring period.
Bass don’t all spawn at once, as there are usually 3 spawning groups that can extend your spring bass hunts into June. As the water temperature hits the 60 degree mark, more and more of the largest bass in the system start to filter into secondary staging zones and primary staging zones with a few getting up into bedding areas.
Spring Bass fishing Pre-spawn bite
This is the prime Spring pre-spawn bite we all wait for every season. A combination of first and second round pre-spawners can filter through finger routes one by one and you still have a few third round giants on off-shore structures that will be the last giants to move in.
By Late Spring and early Summer, a combination of pre-spawn bass, post-spawn bass and still the last pre-spawning fish combine for magic numbers of some of your best fish of the season. Variations in presentations vary through each stage of spring.
Many baits can be utilized, but learning to use each presentation to perfection on each cast with various baits will produce numbers of big fish quickly. Horizontal casts and straight vertical fishing both take giant bass throughout the stages of Spring. Recognizing when each will be most effective for each instance encountered on the water will be the key factor on your quest for big numbers of trophy bass this season..
Early Migration Route Bass with Brett Richardson
Zoning Early Spring Pre-Spawners, As They Filter In From Main Lake Basin’s In Preparation For The Initial Stage on Underwater Off-Shore Humps and Ledges. This 2013 Spring Produced 11 fish From 6 to 7.3 Lbs and an 8 Lber, Along With 31 Fish Over 5 Lbs. and a good Numbers Of 4 to 5 Lb Fish.
* Freelance Outdoor Writer, In-Fisherman Contributor, former Trophy Bass guide and veteran trophy bass hunter Brett Richardson has been chasing multi-species trophy fish across the USA and Canada for more than five decades. After nearly 4 years of creating a 13 specific season within season Title Giant Bass Series Dvd Collection, He has been writing For Bass Angler Magazine, Outdoors Canada, and New York Sportsman. To order any of our Bass Series Dvds, Contact: [email protected]