Six Practical Spring Bass Fishing Tips
by John Paralteau
Early spring is the perfect time for catching bass. As days get longer so the water temperature rises. Bass reacts to that rise of temperature by feeding heavily, supplying much needed nutrition to manage with the stress of the upcoming bedding and spawn.
During that period they move in large groups. Considering that, catching a bunch of them might look like a piece of cake. However, that might not be the case, at least for those lacking of experience.
Follow these six proven spring bass fishing tips. They come from experienced bass fishermen who were kind enough to share some of their secrets:
1. Always keep an eye towards the bottom. This is probably one of the most overlooked. Even the most experienced often forget about it and go home empty-handed. During this period the bass will seek pea-sized or gravel bottom as opposed to solid or mucky bottoms.
2. Watch the weather! Weather can make an incredible difference when it comes to bass fishing. Spring temperatures rise and fall often. Any experienced bass fishermen will tell you that those warm periods before the weather deteriorates are perfect for bass fishing. Ideally, you want to go fishing on the last warm day before temperature drops. If you are in position, you need to take advantage of it.
3. Measure the water temperature. All it takes is a home thermometer to measure the water temperature. The surface water temperature should be over 50 degrees F. According to some fishermen 57°C is the perfect temperature for catching bass. From all spring bass fishing tips this one is probably the one that doesn’t require too much skill or effort. Yet, the results can easily exceed your expectations.
4. Choose the right bait. During this time period bass swim in two separate modes: cruising bass mainly heading for the shallow parts and spawning bass. For cruising bass you will need to use crank baits and spinner baits. For spawning bass use baits like worms, jigs and suspended stick baits.
5. Look for the sand grass adjacent to pebble bottom transitions. If you are aware of areas that hold grass start fishing there. If you don’t know any, you need to look for emergent grass. If you can’t find a spot like this you can always ask someone who is more familiar with the area.
6. Give murky waters a spot on your places to look as well. You need to look for relatively stained water with some green tinge in it. Bass in general have no problem seeing in relatively muddy waters, its hearing in that environment is even better. In early spring you will find plenty of these spots you want to use spinner baits or bright rattling lures. Also, as far as the color goes, you might try chartreuse or silver. According to some fishermen black is even visible in relatively muddy waters.
The number of spring bass fishing tips and hints that could be on this list can grow exponentially with the number of fishermen you consult on this matter. Everyone has at least one little secret that has worked miracles for him. How valuable and practical that little secret is, is another matter. The only sure thing is that the tips mentioned here are proven and are based on top bass angler’s real life experiences.