Pre-spawn Strategies for Targeting Big Bass
- 1. Why is the pre-spawn period the best time to target big bass?
- 2. Characteristics of big bass movement in the pre-spawn
- 3. Fishing methods
- 4. Summary
1. Why is the pre-spawn period the best time to target big bass?
Spring is the spawning season for bass. Bass that have spent the winter in the depths with little temperature variation start to move up to the shallows for active feeding before spawning (= pre-spawn) as the water temperature gradually rises.
However, not all bass move up from the depths at once. The larger, healthier bass move up first, and it's not until the water temperature has fully risen and the warmth is felt that the smaller individuals finally move up. In other words, if you fish for pre-spawn bass that have moved up to the shallows early at the end of winter, you have a higher chance of encountering big bass.
Moreover, bass after overwintering are more easily deceived by baits due to fewer anglers in winter, and they are more active in feeding, which leads to better catches. Early spring is truly the best timing for fishing.
Although it is difficult to distinguish between male and female bass, females are expected to be larger than usual as they are carrying eggs.
2. Characteristics of big bass movement in the pre-spawn
2.1 Big bass in the shallows
In early spring, big bass move up to the shallows earlier than other bass. Crustaceans are not yet active when the water temperature has only started to rise slightly, so small fish are the main bait for bass during this period. Bass also look upward, so it's best to use baits that swim in the middle layer of shallow areas.
2.2 Big bass in the mid-range
On days or times when the water temperature drops sharply, big bass often stay in the mid-range, which is one level deeper than the shallows. Big bass have a higher awareness of feeding than smaller individuals, so it should be possible to selectively catch big bass by focusing on feeding.
Also, on days when the water temperature drops, the activity of baitfish also decreases at the same time, so it's good to keep that in mind when fishing.
3. Fishing methods
3.1 Fishing in the shallows
[1] Crank shallow crankbaits aggressively
Bass that have just moved up from the depths sometimes lurk in the shadows of shallow cover, waiting for bait to come by. So, let's reel in crankbaits while occasionally hitting the cover to draw out the lurking bass. Two strong crankbaits that are effective for hungry big bass are EVERGREEN's X-OVER, which features a unique action that combines the techniques of crankbaits and jerkbaits, and ZERUCH, which has a flat body for a large flashing effect and strong water pressure. Both baits were developed by former B.A.S.S Elite angler Morizo Shimizu, focusing on catching big bass.
[2] Fish with speed in open areas
Compact crankbaits allow for fishing with a sense of speed while slightly suppressing the action compared to crankbaits. Among them, IMAKATSU's GekiasaShad is designed specifically for shallow water, and if you just reel it above the line of sight of bass with a high appetite, the bass should chase after it and bite. If you want more drawing power, switch to the GekiasaFlat, which has a flashing effect from its flat-sided body.
When the bass aren't biting well, fast reeling can sometimes be effective, so it's reassuring to have the IXI Furious, which maintains its action even when reeled quickly in the shallows.
[3] Spinnerbaits on windy days
Early spring is characterized by many days with strong winds. On such days, bass tend to stick close to shallow cover such as reedy shorelines, so spinnerbaits with high snag resistance become effective. Even when it's difficult to predict where the bass are, you can still catch bass roaming the shallows by tracing their line of sight at a constant range, generally around 3-6 ft deep.
DEPS' B Custom, which was born in Japan's largest clear lake, Lake Biwa, where a world record was set, is a spinnerbait made specifically for big bass. Unlike other spinnerbaits that simply vibrate and flash strongly, it features a head that generates subtle waves and vertical movement to deceive even big bass that would quickly lose interest. Choose a weight of 1/2 oz or more so that it doesn't float up and can be pulled at a constant range even when reeling slows down as it slips through cover.
[4] Big baits with glide evasive action for dedicated big bass fishing
Big baits with an glide evasive action techniques are effective for selectively catching big bass while avoiding small bass. For big bass that want to quickly eat prey and recover their strength, large prey is the perfect condition. If you reel while drawing large glide movement, big bass that react to the side-to-side movement should bite. Use mostly clear water.
MEGABASS' hard-bodied jointed bait i-Slide 187R has a large range of motion, making it renowned for its ability to draw fish from a wide area with glide movement.
[5] Mid-strolling for unresponsive bass
If you feel that the bass aren't chasing after the bait even when you actively entice to them, definitely try incorporating Mid-strolling. The bass's feeding switch may not be fully on yet, having just moved up from their wintering spots. Mid-strolling, which is a rolling action in the middle layer of the shallows with extremely limited bait movement, allows for a highly enticing style of fishing.
It's recommended to use slightly larger soft-plastics than usual, such as EVERGREEN's Last Ace 128S or JACKALL's Drift Fly 5.2 inch, with big bass in mind.
3.2 Mid-range
[1] Cold-stunned baitfish in shad kill condition: Long bill jerkbaits
Early spring progresses through a cycle of warm days and sudden cold spells, but when the water temperature drops, bass in the shallows move to the mid-range where the water temperature is more stable.
Especially on days with large temperature fluctuations and a sudden drop in water temperature, small fish that are even more vulnerable to temperature changes than bass become paralyzed by the cold and end up in a near-death state, which is called "shad kill condition". These weakened small fish drift around and fall into the mid-range where the water temperature is a bit more settled.
And because big bass can move relatively actively even on low-temperature days due to their larger body size, they target these weakened small fish falling into the mid-range.
To show the bass these cold-stunned baitfish, it's recommended to reel in long bill jerkbaits slowly. Incorporate longer pauses to mimic the sluggish movement of fish paralyzed by the cold, and wait for the bass to bite. MEGABASS' ONETEN R has a weak, natural action that is ideal for portraying weakened baitfish. Choose from +1 to +3 depending on the diving depth to match the field.
If the bait the bass are targeting seems to be even smaller, use JACKALL's Soul Shad 62DR or 62DDR, depending on the range.
[2] Cold-stunned baitfish in shad kill condition: Hover-strolling
Here's another technique for portraying weakened baitfish in shad kill condition: Hover-strolling. Hover-strolling becomes weightless, so it can't be applied in water that's too deep, but cold-stunned baitfish often lack the strength to dive and tend to float near the surface, making them more easily spotted by big bass with a high feeding awareness and an upward gaze.
Move an extremely short distance in the middle layer while adding subtle shaking, and focus thoroughly on slow, enticing movements.
For the soft-plastics, use the aforementioned JACKALL's Drift Fly 5.2 inch or EVERGREEN's Last Ace 128S, just like for Mid-strolling. Their color schemes are designed to resemble dying fish.
4. Summary
Up to this point, we've considered fishing for big bass that enter the pre-spawn period earlier than other bass in early spring.
We can divide this into two techniques: targeting big bass that move up to the shallows earlier than other bass in response to rising water temperatures, and targeting big bass in the mid-range on days with sudden cold snaps unique to early spring.
- 【Shallow】
- 1. Use a crankbait to draw out bass ambushing in cover.
- 2. In open areas, opt for a compact crankbait with a fast-paced action.
- 3. When strong winds hit, target big bass seeking refuge in cover by tracing with a spinnerbait.
- 4. Big bass that prefer efficient feeding respond well to big baits.
- 5. If the bite is slow, go for Mid-strolling with minimal movement.
- 【Mid-Range】
- 1. A long-bill jerkbait mimics struggling baitfish falling due to the cold.
- 2. For even weaker baitfish imitation, use a Hover-strolling approach with ultra-subtle action.
Big bass that have just emerged from overwintering have a weaker ability to see through baits than usual, so early spring is a prime opportunity for anglers to catch big bass once a year.
And by identifying not only the behavior patterns of big bass but also those of the small fish that serve as bait, you can catch even more fish.