Top 5 Best Bait Categories for May
0. May: Between Mid-spawn and Post-spawn
May marks the latter half of the bass spawning season, when larger bass that spawned early may have already completed spawning and entered the post-spawn recovery period. This means there's an opportunity to catch trophy bass by focusing on post-spawn fishing tactics.
Meanwhile, smaller bass may still be in different stages - some may be immediately post-spawn and too exhausted to actively feed, while others may be recovering at secondary points preparing for their second or third spawn. You'll need to adapt your fishing approach based on the specific conditions of your fishing grounds.
- 1. Trophy Bass Looking to Recover Efficiently —Swimbaits for Slow Retrieve
- 2. Early Recovery Trophy Bass — i-Motion Baits
- 3. Bass That Still Can't Move — Bug-Type Topwater baits
- 4. Bass That Still Can't Move — Free Rig
- 5. Between Spawns — Hover-strolling
- 6. Summary
In this blog, we'll introduce recommended bait types primarily focused on targeting those trophy bass that have entered the early post-spawn recovery period.
1. Trophy Bass Looking to Recover Efficiently —Swimbaits for Slow Retrieve
Big bass that finish spawning early and enter the post-spawn phase by late May typically position themselves in well-oxygenated shallows, waiting for prey. By presenting a swimbait ultra-slowly through these areas, you can trigger strikes from these big bass that don't want to expend energy chasing prey but can efficiently recover by consuming larger baitfish.
To present slow-moving baits effectively to experienced trophy bass, realism is essential. IMAKATSU's Lazy Swimmer is a swim bait that showcases its true appeal when retrieved slowly. Even at a slow retrieve, it swims like an unsuspecting baitfish, rhythmically swaying its tail from side to side.
If you need more aggressive action than the Lazy Swimmer provides, consider switching to JACKALL's Dead Slower. Or if the Lazy Swimmer seems too prominent, downsize to IMAKATSU's Huddle Swimmer 4.5”.
2. Early Recovery Trophy Bass — i-Motion Baits
For bass in the early recovery stage, I recommend i-motion style baits that offer even less action than swimbaits. These lures minimize water displacement and swim in a straight "I" pattern, making them ideal targets for recovering bass. While this technique is still relatively unfamiliar in the U.S., it has already established itself among professional anglers in Japan as a challenging but effective new tactic.
For beginners to i-motion baits, we first recommend JACKALL's Nagisa 65SP. This pioneer in the i-motion hard bait category maintains high directional stability regardless of retrieve speed, without producing unnatural or excessive action.
When you want to keep your distance from finicky recovering bass, IMAKATSU's iArrow is recommended for its superior castability. While many i-motion baits lack in casting distance, the iArrow enables stable long casts, and thanks to its internal stabilizer, it maintains a steady swimming action even during extended chases. The Wavy Hair model is particularly appealing for its natural, lifelike appearance.
3. Bass That Still Can't Move — Bug-Type Topwater baits
While swimbaits and i-motion lures still require bass to chase somewhat, there are situations where offering a completely stationary meal would be ideal for these fish. When approaching bass that have just finished spawning and are completely exhausted, bug-type topwater lures can be extremely effective. Try enticing bass that are waiting for prey along reed edges or lily pads by dropping an insect imitation on the surface. Among bug-type topwaters, JACKALL's Need Cicada has large, spread wings that create a prominent surface presence to attract bass.
If you need to call bass from slightly farther away, MEGABASS's POPX with its subtle popping sound followed by a dog-walking action is recommended. Known as the "silent popper," the POPX creates splashes that sound like struggling insects on the surface, attracting finicky bass without overstimulating them.
4. Bass That Still Can't Move — Free Rig
While bug-type lures target hungry bass looking toward the surface, for bass that have tucked themselves into vertical structure like standing timber or aquatic vegetation, you should directly present your lure within the obstacles. Use a free-rig with small fish or crustacean-type soft-plastics that imitate bass forage during this season, dropping it straight down and working it with rod movements.
Bass won't hesitate to inhale small, easy-to-eat baitfish that wander into their weedy hideouts. JACKALL's DB Uma Free is particularly recommended, as it's designed specifically for free-rig. While flat-bodied baits that create water resistance are common for free-rigs, this bait's special arms on both sides act as brakes, allowing the slender, fish-shaped body to maintain distance from the sinker, resulting in longer presentation time to the bass.
For crustacean imitations, try Issei's Danny. Its body has a large surface area relative to its size, creating significant water resistance and more pronounced variations in speed between sinking and settling. Bass are likely to strike during these transitions.
5. Between Spawns — Hover-strolling
May still includes many bass in the mid-spawning phase. While directly targeting spawning beds is one approach, another tactic is to target female bass resting between spawning cycles. A hover-strolling can be effective for bass resting at breaks adjacent to shallows, which serve as secondary points.
By swimming your bait ultra-slowly through the mid-water column with minimal horizontal movement, you can present an easy meal for energy-depleted spawning bass. Swimming a soft-plastic slowly through mid-depth while rolling it is a challenging technique, but JACKALL's Drift Fry makes this possible even for beginners. The bill attached to the bait prevents it from rising, facilitating the hovering straight technique.
6. Summary
We've introduced five recommended lure categories for May fishing. While many bass are still in mid-spawn, targeting those that have completed spawning early and entered the post-spawn phase can increase your chances of encountering trophy bass. The key is to assess the condition of bass in your fishing area and select your approach accordingly.
- [1] For Bass That Have Entered Post-Spawn Early, Throw Swim Baits for Ultra-Slow retrieving
- [2] Make Your Bait Approachable for Recovering Bass with Extremely Natural i-Motion Presentations
- [3] For Bass Near Cover That Are Surface-Oriented, Choose Bug-Type Topwater Baits
- [4] For Bass Tucked Into Obstacles, Direct Presentations with Free-Rigs
- [5] For Female Bass Still in Mid-Spawn, Use Hover-strolling technique at Secondary Points
For those interested in learning more about approaches for post-spawn bass, please see here.
If your fishing grounds are still in the midst of the spawning season, check this out as well.
