Once the cold winter starts to thaw and the warm spring weather rolls in, many anglers begin to dream of all the great bass fishing that lies ahead. The spring is one of the best times of the year to target and catch big bass, and there are plenty of ways to do it. Let’s go over some essential gear, tips, and tactics that you can use this spring to catch that next big bass out of your favorite fishing hole!
Essential Springtime Gear
Once winter ends, it is a good idea to break out all of your bass fishing gear and take inventory of what you have, what you need, and what might need to be replaced. In addition to checking your rods, reels, and fishing lines, you will need to ensure you have the right baits and lures that will attract the bass this time of the year.
The best early and mid-spring bass fishing lures tend to be those that are able to cover a lot of water and have a good presentation. This also includes those that allow for longer casts that can be used to actually locate the bass, especially if you find yourself fishing large lakes or rivers with plenty of water to cover. It also helps when these lures have a slow and steady presentation, as the bass could still be fairly slow-moving with the cooler water temperatures.
So what does that mean for you in terms of what lures to bring along? While you should always bring and use whatever lures you use with the most confidence, a few popular and favorite lures for spring bass fishing include things such as:
All of these lures can be set up to cover just about any type of conditions that you may find on the water and can be used to find and trick big bass this time of year. Make sure you bring along a variety of different colors, patterns, and sizes as well!
Locating Bass During the Spring
Once you have gathered all of your gear, it is time to hit the water and to actually locate the bass. This is one of the most important steps in spring bass fishing, as you need to figure out the spot where the fish are thriving. During this time of year, the fish will be in the pre-spawn season which causes them to move from their winter areas to more shallow flats where they will stage for the actual spawn.
Bass will usually follow these similar movements no matter what area you fish, regardless of whether it is a river, lake, or small pond. As the bass make their way to these shallow areas, they will also linger in certain areas along the different points, ridges, and structures. These are often some of the best places to begin your search.
While actually locating bass in early or mid-spring can sometimes be challenging, it can also produce some of the best fishing of the year. As bass move from their winter areas and get ready to spawn in the warmer weather, they will start to feed more heavily and will attack a lure that is presented correctly.
As long as you have a little patience, you can find these key areas to start targeting the fish in order to be most effective.
Additional Tips and Tricks for Spring Bass
Every angler wants to go out and have the most successful day on the water as possible, and these simple tips and tricks can help even the most seasoned angler have a little more luck on their next trip!
- Repeat what works. It is important to pay close attention to what you did in order to catch a bass this time of year and repeat the process as best as you can. Bass behavior will fluctuate often with the weather and temperature this time of year, and every day may require a different change in tactics. If you do catch a fish, try to repeat what worked in order to catch even more. Bass will also tend to conjugate in certain areas that they like, so where there is one, there are likely more to be caught!
- Watch the water conditions. Spring weather can often be unpredictable, and the bass will respond differently to different weather and water conditions. Once you find an area where you are finding and catching bass, make a mental note of the water conditions. Things like temperature, color, depth, and bottom conditions can help you find similar areas during the same type of weather or temperature conditions later on and catch fish much more quickly on a subsequent trip.
Cover as much water as possible. As we mentioned before, one of the most important aspects of bass fishing this time of year is to actually find the bass first. This can be done by covering as much water as possible until you find a good pocket of fish. Use your gear to make for longer casts, allowing you to cover more water than you might usually do during other times of the year. If you have targeted an area for a solid amount of time and haven’t had any luck, don’t be afraid of moving on to greener pastures.
Final Thoughts
The warmer spring weather is often anticipated by anglers all over the country, but the first few fishing trips of the year can sometimes be a little challenging until you get the bass figured out.
Hopefully, you now have a few simple tips and tricks to help you better understand bass behavior and tactics for the early spring season, and you can go out and catch that fish-of-a-lifetime this spring season!
