Understanding the Post-Spawn Period
- 1. Understanding the Post-Spawn Period
- 2. Post-Spawn Bass Behavior
- 3. Post-Spawn Fishing Patterns
- 4. Conclusion
1. Understanding the Post-Spawn Period
Bass spawning can be divided into three phases: pre-spawn, mid-spawn, and post-spawn. Many anglers know that bass behavior changes during each phase, requiring different fishing approaches. In this blog, we'll explore the "post-spawn" period that occurs immediately after bass complete their spawning.
The post-spawn period is a transition phase when bass gradually recover their strength and prepare for the next season. Immediately after spawning, bass are sluggish and depleted of energy, so they won't actively chase food. As they gradually regain strength, they begin pursuing baitfish and shift their position from shallow water to mid-range depths, and eventually to offshore breaks. During this period, bass are in a contradictory condition where they "want to eat but can't move much," making your lure presentation and depth selection crucial factors in determining your success.
2. Post-Spawn Bass Behavior
• Bass Immediately After Spawning (Pre-Recovery)
Bass that have just finished spawning have expended significant energy and enter an "almost immobile" state for a while. These bass will seek shelter in cover or structure near their spawning areas to focus on recovery. Their activity range is extremely limited, and they barely chase after food.
For example, in reservoirs, many bass will tuck themselves near obstacles close to spawning areas along the shore, such as fallen trees, standing timber, or submerged rocks. They may also remain around floating brush or underwater structure.
• Partially Recovered Bass (Mid-Recovery)
After about a week following spawning, as bass begin to regain some strength, their behavior starts to change. Though not fully recovered, bass begin moving from the shallows toward offshore breaks and flats, and start pursuing bait. However, they're not yet chasing at full speed, instead targeting opportunities where they can "move a little and eat."
Some bass may start orienting toward the surface for feeding, or position themselves in areas with fresh water inflow to ambush prey.
3. Post-Spawn Fishing Patterns
Bass spawn at different times, with larger fish typically spawning first. As discussed earlier, determine whether the bass in your fishing area are completely immobile immediately after spawning, or if they've recovered somewhat and can move a little.
Here are fishing patterns for the main types of fisheries: small ponds, rivers, and reservoirs.
3.1. Small Ponds
Ponds warm up faster than large reservoirs, so they often enter the post-spawn phase earlier. Although bass want to actively feed to recover their strength, they lack the energy to chase prey swiftly. Therefore, bass will hug shallow cover like reed edges or lily pads, waiting for easy-to-catch prey. Focus on incorporating pauses and falls in your presentation to entice strikes. For example, slowly work topwater baits near reed edges, then follow up with slow-falling baits to trigger bites.
• Using Topwater to Draw Bass Out
When you find reed edges where bass are likely holding, use a topwater lure with a slow retrieve to draw them out. Bug-type baits that mimic insects falling into the water make perfect targets for bass that can capture prey at the surface without expending much energy. JACKALL's Need Cicada works well for this—its large, spread wings create a strong presence on the water surface, attracting bass from a wide area.
If you sense that bass aren't actively feeding and are being selective about their prey, try MEGABASS's POPX for its delicate action. Its precise, subtle splish-splashing sound and splash can entice tough post-spawn bass without overstimulating them. Try walking-the-dog to imitate a struggling insect on the surface.
• Using Weightless Rigs for the Strike
Once you've located bass with topwater lures, focus on that spot with slow-falling soft-plastics to close the deal. Post-spawn bass that have lost weight during spawning often start their feeding activity by picking at small prey like shrimp or minnows rather than chasing larger meals. Therefore, baits with small, weak movements like wacky rigs or neko-rigs tend to get better responses.
If you're targeting worm-like presentations, try JACKALL's Flick Shake. When dropped on a wacky rig, its bent body creates subtle, autonomous movements that trigger strikes. If you sense that bass are becoming more active, switching to the higher-density Yammy and implementing a slightly faster fall can be effective.
For bug-type baits, try JACKALL's Wam Wam Flare. You can vary the fall action by using either Texas-rigging or reverse-rigging, but for post-spawn strikes, Texas-rigging with a horizontal, slow action allows you to precisely target reed edges.
If you feel that bass are becoming more active and responding well, you can reverse-rig it and use a slow backward-sliding fall to generate interest, entice pursuit, and trigger strikes.
For crustacean-style baits, JACKALL's Jimmy Shrimp is a good option. Its two paddle tails create subtle movements during the fall from the moment it hits the water, stimulating bass. The head fins stabilize its posture, ensuring natural movement without spinning when dropped weightless.
3.2. Rivers
In flowing waters, post-spawn bass recover their strength while ambushing prey at inlets (where water flows in) or current seams where fresh water enters. It's effective to present your bait as if it were prey that has drifted in with the current.
• Using Spinnerbaits to Imitate Drifting Baitfish
The post-spawn period often coincides with shad spawning season. Shad that have lost energy after spawning will drift with the current, so DEPS B-CUSTOM is recommended to imitate these weakened shad. By slowly retrieving it along inlets where current hits, it resembles an easy target that even energy-depleted bass can catch.
If you feel that bass are recovering and showing more willingness to chase, you might try JACKALL's DOOON with a faster retrieve. It minimizes rising to the surface while allowing for fast retrieval, with a natural action that's effective for tough recovering bass.
• Targeting Current-Facing Structure with Free-Rig
Trees extending into the river or aquatic vegetation are vertical structures that receive current and fresh water inflow. Throw free-rigs directly into these areas and work them with rod technique to entice bass that have taken shelter in the obstacle.
This period coincides with the peak bluegill spawning season, so try GEECRACK's Bellows Gill on a free-rig to mimic weakened spawning bluegill. Its entire body is ribbed for good water resistance and appeal, yet despite its substantial profile, the actual body is small enough to be easily inhaled by bass without creating suspicion.
If you find that the flat-bodied profile generates too little action for a good response, switching to JACKALL's DB UMA Free is recommended. This is particularly effective when bass aren't targeting bluegill or similar flat-bodied baits. Specially designed for free-rig, its specially shaped arms create an extended free-fall time with appealing falling action.
Also, consider having ISSEI's Danny on hand to simulate crustaceans drifting in the current. Its legs have a large surface area relative to its body, making it highly responsive to water resistance. This allows for easy rhythm changes in movement just before and after the weight touches bottom, making it ideal for use with free-rigs.
3.3. Reservoirs
Keep in mind that reservoirs are larger and warm up more slowly, so spawning periods tend to be extended, and recovery is more gradual. After spawning, energy-depleted bass position themselves in areas with good water circulation, such as points or shallow flats. Their movements remain sluggish, so approaches that involve slow-swimming lures or presentations with pause time are effective.
• i-Motion Techniques with Extremely Subdued Movement
Japan's advanced i-motion technique mimics small fish that are easy for energy-depleted bass to catch. JACKALL's Nagisa 65SP has excellent straight-line stability, making it an easy hard plug for i-motion beginners to handle.
For more challenging bass, you might try stepping up to DEPS' Deathadder, a soft-plastic based i-motion approach.
For detailed explanations of i-motion techniques and applications, please refer to the article below.
• Slow-Swimming Swimbaits Around Cover
Swimming a swimbait at a dead-slow pace around shallows or cover areas where bass are likely hiding will attract bass looking to efficiently recover energy by feeding on slightly larger baitfish. IMAKATSU's Lazy Swimmer is a swimbait specifically designed for ultra-slow retrieves. Its lifelike horizontal posture and natural swimming action prevent it from being detected even at slow speeds.
If you feel bass aren't responding well, try intensifying the action with JACKALL's Dead Slowler. Its paddle tail creates a strong presence in the water, appealing to and attracting bass at a distant.
If the baitfish in your fishery appear to be smaller, switch to IMAKATSU's Huddle Swimmer4.5”. It swims with almost no action, just swinging its tail from side to side, avoiding unnecessary stimulation and appearing to bass as an easy-to-eat small fish.
• Stronger or Faster Lures When Feeding Activity Increases
As bass regain their strength and gradually become able to chase prey, switch to lures with aggressive actions that stimulate their predatory instincts.
Bass that previously remained stationary will begin to disperse, requiring presentations that attract them. Also, keep in mind that larger bass tend to recover earlier, so target them accordingly.
NORIES' Volcano Gripper is a buzzbait with four big fins that create powerful water displacement. These fins create water resistance that allows for slow retrieval, making it effective for bass in the latter part of the post-spawn period that haven't fully recovered.
For bass that have become more active and are surface-oriented, MEGABASS's GIANT DOG-X is recommended for topwater attraction. Its somewhat flat body, which tilts back and forth during the walking-the-dog action, appears like glittering prey above the bass's line of sight, stimulating their predatory instincts.
4. Conclusion
Throughout this blog, we've explained post-spawn bass fishing for different types of fisheries.
- [1] Small Ponds: Bass Hold Tight to Reed Edges
- Draw them out with bug-imitating topwater lures
- Trigger bites with slow-falling weightless presentations - [2] Rivers: Bass Position at Current Inflows
- Use spinnerbaits to mimic drifting, weakened baitfish
- Probe vertical structure with free-rigs - [3] Reservoirs: Bass Recovery is Gradual
- Ultra-subtle i-motion techniques for inactive fish
- Slow swimbaits for efficient feeding opportunities
- Transition to more aggressive/faster presentations as recovery progresses
For each fishery, it's essential to identify where bass are resting to recover and adapt your fishing approach to their recovery status.
Additionally, this period often coincides with the spawning of bluegill and other bass forage, so observing the baitfish in your fishery can help you develop strategic fishing approaches. Please read our blog that explains fishing techniques utilizing baitfish spawning for more information.
Bass spawning dramatically changes bass behavior depending on the phase, so understand these patterns to enhance your fishing enjoyment.