 As
daytime temperatures begin reaching the 70's and 80's,
the surface water temps also begin to rise. As any "bass
minded angler" can tell you, it won't be long until
those green creatures of the deep begin their annual migration
to the shallows to spawn (lay eggs). It is during this
time that most of us dust off our gear and head to our
favorite lake. When bass are shallow, they are the easiest
to catch.
Not only are they feeding, they are also trying to protect
their young, as well, thus doubling the chances of getting
bit.
Springtime bass fishing brings thoughts of spinnerbaits
and soft plastic lizards. Spinnerbaits allow you to
cover large areas of water, quickly. When fishing a
spinnerbait, you are usually looking for a reaction
strike. By this I mean, if you get the bait close enough
to a bass, it will bite the spinnerbait out of reaction
to it being in it's "zone" rather than just
for a meal. In clear or slightly stained water, a white
or chartreuse skirted bait tipped with gold or nickel
blades, or even a combination of the two, would be in
order. In muddy or extremely stained water, I like to
use bright colored baits, such as orange or a fire tiger
pattern.
Since lizards or salamanders are a natural predator
of the bass (they eat the eggs or the young bass called
fry) a Texas rigged soft plastic lizard is also a good
choice. I like to fish lizards around lay down logs
and other cover along the banks of spawning areas. Bass
generally like to relate to some form of cover when
they move up shallow, build their nest and lay their
eggs.
 Bass
begin spawning when water temperatures start to reach
the 60's. The best place to begin looking for spawning
bass is on the north banks of a creek on a lake. The north
bank is protected from the effects of cold north winds
following the passage of a cold front. These areas tend
to warm up sooner than other creeks and stay warmer, too.
Another good idea is to concentrate on the west side of
a north bank since it has all day to warm up from the
sun.
When fishing during the spawn, a good pair of polarized
sunglasses is a must. It is imperative to be able to
see bedding fish and underwater cover in order to effectively
fish during the spawn. The polarized lenses eliminate
the glare from the water allowing you to see into the
water, depending of course, on the clarity of the water.
I use Lure-Eyes marine sungear (http://www.LureEyes.com)
exclusively for all my fishing. They have titanium frames,
making them extremely lightweight, reducing fatigue
during a long day or several days of fishing. The lenses
are almost indestructible and they are priced under
$100.
When bass start shying away from spinnerbaits and lizards,
I'll switch to a Zoom trick worm or a Strike King flippin'
tube. I use a loud rattle inside the tube and will often
spike the tail or tentacles of the tube chartreuse to
give it more color. By using a large 4/0 or 5/0 Gamakatsu
wide gag hook, I have a lethal combination of bait,
rattle and hook to generate strikes from bedding bass
or those getting ready to move up onto the nest. The
tube has become one of my favorite baits for catching
bass during the spring.
When fishing the trick worm, I like to rig it weightless,
and bury the 2/0 or 3/0 Gamakatsu wide gap hook when
fishing heavy cover, even though I'll usually use light
line, such as 8-10 lb. P-Line. The lighter line allows
the bait to sink faster than larger, heavier lines.
I'll work the bait over aquatic vegetation or flooded
bushes on the banks. When fishing hydrilla beds or the
edges of flooded brush, I'll fish the bait wacky style.
This means hooking the worm through the egg sack allowing
the point of the hook to remain exposed, ensuring better
hooksets. The erratic action of the wacky worm presentation
seems to drive fish crazy, causing them to strike at
the bait, even when they are not in a feeding mode.
In most cases I can see a bass hit the trick or wacky
worm. When fishing this technique and you see a bass
hit the worm, it is important to quickly reel up the
slack in your line, feel the pressure from the fish
and then set the hook. Setting the hook too soon with
result in misses.
Spring is a great time to introduce youngster to the
sport of bass fishing, too. You have an increased chance
of success during this time of year. If you can catch
a pretty day, take a young one with you and introduce
them to the sport. It will be a great investment in
their future, yours and the sport of bass fishing.
Until next time, enjoy the great outdoors.
|
