Top 5 Best Bait Categories for April
0. Full Mid-Spawn Period Begins
As April arrives and water temperatures consistently exceed 59°F (15°C), bass enter their spawning period known as "mid-spawning."
Male bass create nests in spawning areas and remain there to protect the eggs after spawning is complete. During this time, they focus entirely on defending against predators and generally don't engage in feeding activity. Female bass, on the other hand, move to shallow water just before spawning, and after completing the spawn, they return to secondary points to recover energy for the next spawning cycle.
Therefore, fishing during mid-spawn can be divided into two patterns: "targeting male bass' defensive behavior by casting lures directly into nests" and "targeting female bass during their recovery period between spawning cycles."
- 1. Nest InvadersâBluegill
- 2. Nest InvadersâCraw & Insects
- 3. For Recovering Low-Activity Female BassâHover-strolling
- 4. For Recovering Trophy BassâSlow Big Baits
- 5. For Nearly Recovered Female BassâLong Bill Jerkbait
- 6. Summary
While fishing directly at nests can be exciting as you can visually see the bass while exploiting their defensive instincts, there are also negative opinions about this approach from an ecological conservation and ethical standpoint. Please use your own judgment when deciding how to fish.
1. Nest InvadersâBluegill
This technique involves using baits that mimic bluegill, a notorious egg-eater, and casting them into bass nests. Bluegill approach nests from various angles, keeping male bass constantly alert. When intruders enter, bass will aggressively repel them using their bodies and mouths.
To simulate bluegill that boldly invade nests, we recommend using MEGABASS Sleeper Gill. This soft-bait excels at fast retrieves and creates a rolling body action with tail vibration, generating a strong presence that triggers the bass's defensive instincts. Try using it on days with moderate turbidity when bluegill activity seems high.
Conversely, when the water is clear and bluegill become more cautious, TH Tackle Zoe is recommended. Molded from an actual bluegill, it has high visual accuracy that makes it difficult for bass to identify as a fake. Combined with its I-shaped movement pattern, you can approach slowly. Target bass reactions with sudden twitches after letting it rest on the bottom.
You can also rig and drop directly into nests from above. Using a free-rig with GEECRACK Bellows Gill creates the illusion of a substantial threat suddenly appearing from above, with the soft rhythm right after the weight hits bottom combined with the baitsâ full-ribbed voluminous design. This surprise should compel bass to strike.
2. Nest InvadersâCraw & Insects
Bluegill aren't the only predators targeting bass eggs in nests. Crayfish and insect larvae, which normally serve as bass forage, also target the stationary, defenseless bass eggs.
For craw-style soft-plastic, JACKALL Jimmy Shrimp or NORIES Escape Twin are effective choices. Dragging them slowly on a Carolina-rig to crawl across the nest will make them resemble egg-eating crayfish. Jimmy Shrimp is particularly appealing because it doesn't flip over when touching the bottom. The main difference between these two is their level of attraction power. Escape Twin has larger, more voluminous paddles, making it better when bass are staying a bit farther from the nest.
For insect larvae that wander into nests, a bottom placement followed by point-shaking is effective. Use sinking insect-type soft-plastics like JACKALL RV Bug or GEECRACK Imo Kemushi. This technique targets the bass's instinct to remove foreign objects from their nests.
For more details about fishing techniques that utilize bass's defensive behavior during spawning season, please refer to our blog on this topic.
3. For Recovering Low-Activity Female BassâHover-strolling
Female bass spawn 2-3 times per spawning season. After each spawn, they move to deeper secondary points to recover energy for the next spawn. While they gradually resume feeding activity, females that have just completed spawning and recently returned to recovery areas won't have the energy to chase bait. The "Hove-strolling" technique works well for approaching such bass. A slow, subtle presentation in the middle water column with minimal movement is effective. JACKALL Drift Fry 4.0â is perfect for Hove-strolling. This is a bait we'd recommend to anyone wanting to try this advanced technique.
For more details about the Hove-strolling technique, please check our dedicated article.
4. For Recovering Trophy BassâSlow Big Baits
Bass that complete their first spawn early and are preparing for the next spawn are likely to be trophy-sized. Larger bass tend to become active earlier than smaller ones, and by April, they may already be looking toward their second spawn. These trophy bass aim to recover their strength as efficiently as possible, so use larger baits with a slow, easy-to-eat swimming action. we recommend a dead-slow retrieving with JACKALL Dead Slowler. This allows you to work tightly around cover where bass may be holding.
5. For Nearly Recovered Female BassâLong Bill Jerkbait
For bass that are almost fully recovered from their first spawn and entering a feeding frenzy in preparation for the next spawn, use long bill jerkbaits to attract them in the middle water column. MEGABASS ONETEN R series is ideal for mimicking small fish swimming at depths one level deeper than the shallows, with different models offering various diving depths. Within the ONETEN lineup, this model features a relatively natural action, making it appealing to the selective bass of this season.
6. Summary
We've introduced the recommended bait types for April's mid-spawn period.
We covered two patterns: fishing that utilizes the male bass's defensive instincts to protect their nests, and fishing that appeals to the feeding activity of female bass recovering between spawns.
- [1]Bluegill targeting bass nests use multiple approach angles. Alternate between fast retrieves and bottom placement for variety in speed
- [2] When using craw-style baits on bass nests, drag across bottom; with insect lures, use point-shaking
- [3] For pre-recovery ultra-low activity periods, use Hover-strolling technique with minimal movement
- [4] For trophy bass seeking efficient recovery, use slow-retrieved big baits
- [5] During aggressive feeding periods before the next spawn, use long bill jerkbaits that dive one level deeper