pre-spawn bass

[th64]

Always ignored those articles on the pre-spawn because they are always spawning or post on opener. Any advice on pre?

[tolle141]

I think they'll be in the middle of it on opener. Tied into four on Saturday. 3 were males moving into the shallows (52 degrees) and one BIG female who was making her way there.

[Juan Grande]

Especially after a 90 degree day tomorrow and 70s all week.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I caught some pretty shallow on sunday. Warm, shallow bay that had 54 degrees while the main lake was upper 40s. Definitely wasnt a lot of action and they are not even thinking spawn but they are moving up to the warmer water. Depends on where you are but in the metro I too think it will be mid spawn on opener.

[RumRiverRat]

Fished a lake for a few hours midmorning on Monday and found an area where the Bass had definitely moved up.....had to leave the area since I was targeting Pike and the bass were practically suicidal, hitting a Mepps Musky Killer Tandem Bucktail.

[bassfshin24]

I was out pike fishing last night and ended up with a couple bass. All were in 2-4ft. A couple small ones and a couple nice ones. Lost a 4.5-5lber at the boat. The pike were crazy though. Ended up with 10. This is about the only time I fish pike but man the can crush a bait.

[Cecil]

Deitz and I went out Saturday and caught somewhere around 70 fish, most of the fish were in 4-7 feet. The shoreline had to lead into a spawning bay, and HAD to have some weeds. Water temps were 48-52. Mostly males, but some females were in there as well. We had one spot that was LOADED with fish and it couldn't of been a more stereotypical pre-spawn spot.

[slopmaster]

I caught 4 fish on Sunday that would have pushed 18-20lbs and lost a solid 5 right at the boat. Water temps ranged from 44-50 on the lake I fished. This fish went 20" and you can see she has marks that look like she is making a bed and I caught her in 48.5 degree water.

I'd say I was a bit spoiled for it being my first day on the water this year and ended up getting a 5lber on my 3rd cast of the day.

I caught my fish on main and secondary rock points leading into spawning bays. I had 0 bites in the spawning areas, which I expected with the water temps. Also the rock points did have small amounts of weeds on them as well.

[bassfshin24]

Very nice start to the year slob! What did you get them to bite on. A NS jig perhaps?

[slopmaster]

One of them did come on a NorthStar Flip/Swim jig in New Gill color and my soon to be father in law got a 3lber on the same jig as well, both 3/8oz. My other 3 fish came on a Havoc Craw Fatty with a 1/4oz weight. Tried a bunch of other baits with no luck.

I had my GoPro with and did manage to get 3 of my 4 fish on vid before it died so I'll be putting a little something together soon hopefully.

[Craigums]

River, WI, other state, or Pike fishing? I'm not accusing, Im truly curious. I was on a metro lake "pike fishing" with a bandit 200 and didn't get any bass, Did hook up to a musky though that shook off. Water temps were 52*F though

[slopmaster]

Craigums- No problem, it was not in MN or on the river and I was targeting bass, legally. That's all your getting out of me though lol

[RumRiverRat]

Absolutely laid waste to the pre spawn largies on Pool 2 this morning. Fished about 4 hours and put 38 in the boat. Biggest would have weighed close to 6lbs, she was full of eggs. Every fish I caught completely engulfed the Chatterbait I was using, they were definitely on the chew. Fished a foot to 4 feet of water in the the very backend of a slough with a mud bottom. Not sure where they would spawn back there with the soft bottom.

Caught some on a 4" Swim Bait on a 1/4oz jig as well.

[RumRiverRat]

First pic is the big fish of the morning. For size reference that is a 4" Swimbait with a 1/4oz jig. Fish was full of eggs. Just a sow.

[JeremyCampbell]

Beautys!

[RuddyDuck]

Some nice fat bass there!

I am guessing that in Northern MN the bass should still be in spawn mode by the opener. Guess we will find out in a week or so. Strange year with the late ice out, and mid 90's yesterday.

[thatoneguy]

In this part of northern MN, bass will almost certainly be pre-spawn. Water temps in Steamboat Bay on Leech Lake were 41 degrees on Sunday. I know we have warmer weather coming, but I doubt it will get to spawning temps by a week from Saturday. It should at least be warm enough that they're up in some of the usual haunts feeding, though.

[Juan Grande]

Nice fish, where the heck were all those when we were out on Pool 2?

[Superduty]

Nice fish, where the heck were all those when we were out on Pool 2?

I bet it wasn't 98 degrees and sunny the day you were out there!

[Juan Grande]

True Superduty. The last time I fished Pool 2 with RRR it was 40 degrees and raining.

[Craigums]

Nice fish RRR, Is there certain situations you prefer to throw a swimbait over say a swimjig or spinnerbait?

[RumRiverRat]

True Superduty. The last time I fished Pool 2 with RRR it was 40 degrees and raining.

The 13 mile one way trip to and from Grey Cloud is more enjoyable when it is 86 to 90 before noon.

[RumRiverRat]

Nice fish RRR, Is there certain situations you prefer to throw a swimbait over say a swimjig or spinnerbait?

I have decided to throw swimbaits, both hard and soft, more this year.

It became almost too easy to catch them on a chatterbait. So i figured what better way to get confidence with a lure other than throw it at a bunch of hungry fish.

The only reason I throw a chatterbait on the river in the spring is because of Superduty.

After another epic 3 hours on pool 2 today and for the 3rd time in 2 years(once on Pool 4) I have absolutely absolutely laid waste to the Green bass with a white chatterbait.

The key had been in the retrieve speed, almost a slow crawl along the bottom. Too fast and the fish just bump it. Get the speed right and they engulf it.

I am sure a double willow spinnerbait would have worked as well.

Every fish I caught today was over 16" and thick. 3 over 20" Best 5 would have weighed 22 maybe 23 pounds.

[Markula]

Those are beautiful bucketmouths!

But that is not Grey Cloud Slough. I live there, and can assure there is no low view of the horizon anywhere in there.

The water doesn't look like river water either.

Keep up the great work though!!

[Deitz Dittrich]

oooofffff dahhh Tripple R.. any picts?