Catching spring 'pre-spawn' and spawning bass.

[Slyster]

Why do many TV fishing shows talk about locating and targeting "pre-spawn bass" and even bass during spawning... we can't fish bass before the 'opener' (I assume this means after the bass have finished spawning right?)... what locations are all of these shows filmed on? Do nearby states (or perhaps Canada) have no closed season on bass or what? Even Lindner shows have shows on bass "just after the ice is off" and during the spawn etc...

Just curious.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Sly- the reason is this. Minnesota is one of very few states that have a closed season on bass. All of which are in the far northern part of the United States. Any state south of Minnesota have no closed season on bass fishing and can fish them year round. So they get to fish pre-spawn and spawning fish.

Iowa has ice and no closed bass season, so you could fish for bass in Iowa right after ice out.

[CrappieJohn]

The Mississippi River below the Red Wing Dam is also open to bass fishing year round.

[Mark Christianson]

The northern 1/3 of MN is open for bass earlier than the southern 2/3's as well. (or however the fraction breaks down)

Bass would be pre-spawn and spawn up there as well.

I wish it would get changed so the whole state could go earlier!

[DougSpringBay]

Hey Guys,

We are blessed up here on Vermilion. Our bass season opens on the MN Fishing Opener, and we can start Bassin' May 13th. Depending on the year, usually by the 15th to 18th, the bass fishing starts to go, but much better near the end of May. I have seen fish on beds as early as May 21 and as late as July 6th. We are a great Pre-Bass opener lake. give me a holler if you would like more info. I am a transplanted southerner (SE Kansas - Fished the Ozarks lakes and Oklahoma lakes) when bass was my only fishing passion. Though there are some great lakes in that area, I would put MN bass fishing up against them any day of the week, except maybe in March and April--- We have ICE they have FISH ON!!!!

Doug