WANTED: Early Season Largemouth Tips

[Gort]

I am pretty new to the bass fishing game. I've always fished walleyes and panfish, but since I have gotten a cabin recently on a largemouth bass (and small pike) lake, I'm finding myself doing a lot of bass fishing. I have done well in the summer months, but am not sure what techniques I should try early in the season when the weeds and lily pads aren't on the lake yet. What lures/baits/techniques work particularly well early in the season?

Also, there are a TON of small sunnies in this lake, so I need to avoid them with any techniques I attempt to employ.

Thanks in advance for any and all tips. I'm really looking forward to the opener next weekend...

[Deitz Dittrich]

Gort-It really depends on how early season.. My favorite way to catch early season bass is with a jerkbait. Both hard plastic ans soft plastic.. The northern shore of the lake usually has the warmest water and thus the most active fish.

Swimming worms, and inline spinners can also produce a lot of early season fish. Wacky rigged do nothing worms can also put a lot of fish in the boat!

But again, day in and day out, the jerkbait will put the majority of fish in my boat this spring.

Here is an article I wrote on jerkbait fishing if you are looking for some tips on how to fish them...

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=359126&page=2&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

[Gort]

Excellent article, Deitz. One bit of information that I wish was in there is some of your favorite jerk baits I haven't bought a jerk bait in years so I'll need to pick up some of the better ones. Suggestions?

Thanks again!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Rapala Husky Jerk

Rapala X-Rap

Smithwick Roague(both floating and suspending)

Bomber long A(both floating and suspending)

Those are the ones I have the most confidence in. I did buy a couple of Lucky Craft Sammy jerkbaits. And they were awesome, but I ended up loosing both to pike quite quickly and cant justify spending $15 on a jerkbait when I feel the husky jerk does as well.

[Bubbadust]

And don't forget that you can't target bass until the season opens on May 28.

[Gort]

Thanks much, Dietz!

[sjmullin25]

just wondering how fast your retieve is for jerkbaits in the early season? do slow it down a bit or speed it up? pause and jerk or what? any help sweet!!

[Deitz Dittrich]

sjmullin.. welcome to fishingminnesota.com...

my best help I can give you is to read my article... it should explain retrieve a litttle... its jerks and pauses,

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=359126&page=2&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

[Yellow Dog]

Dietz -

What do mean a wacky worm rig? Is this a special type or just the way you can rig any worm? I've nearly always done Texas or later the Carolina.

Also, did you get my e-mail on the hokey pokey?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Yes I did YD, but didn't know it was from you!.. Thanks! LOL

Wacky Rig..

[dan sexton]

Gort,

I would like to suggest the drop shot technique. This is a sure way to catch many fish along with some nice ones as well. I just fished a local lake and the weather changed, with a cold front blowing in and we tried evrything that should work for pre-spawn, spawn and post bass. The only bait that we could catch fish with any consistancy was the drop-shot. We had 10.03 for 5 fish with a big fish weighing 6.01. All the fish came from 2' to 15', both in the grass and right on the outside (some rock had to be present). We were using the 5-1/2" curly tailed "Robo Worms" in Aarons Majic, MM III, and Warmouth colors. We caught over 20 fish (from 6" to 13" and the big 'un) in 6 hours.

Hope this helps! Good luck on the opener guys,

Dan