How to catch POST-SPAWN bass
-the best baits for the season-
CONTENTS
- WHAT IS POST-SPAWN?
- POST-SPAWN AWARENESS
- POST-SPAWN BASS LOCATION
- LURES FOR POST-SPAWN
1. WHAT IS POST-SPAWN?
The term ‘Post-spawn’ refers to the period in which bass have completed their annual spawning ritual. Both the females (who have finished spawning) and the males (who have finished guarding the beds) are exhausted and lethargic due to the rigors of the spawn. Since they lack the physical strength to actively chase food, their activity level is considerably lower. Bass, in particular, are notorious for being difficult to fish for both during and after the spawn.
2. POST-SPAWN AWARENESS
Not all bass enter the Post-spawn at the same time, so the periods of pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn are mixed depending on a myriad of factors. The females leave the beds as the males take over guarding them. Water temperatures vary according to the depths and structure of the lake. In order to effectively fish and make the bass bite during mixed spawn conditions, anglers must be able to identify and understand the stage of spawn the fish are in. Anglers need to know the whereabouts and surroundings of the beds, and select the right lure for the situation. Once an angler figures out which point in the spawn MOST of the fish are in, they can decide how to target them. For example, if you’re able to identify post-spawn signs (empty beds), it makes sense to target the post-spawn phase.
3. POST-SPAWN BASS LOCATION
During post-spawn, the location of the bass can be done by dividing the fish into two groups:
The bass that have not yet recovered immediately after spawning, and the bass that have already recovered.
Unrecovered bass immediately after spawning
During post-spawn, bass often hover around the spawning area. They are weak and hungry, but lack energy. The males are also still guarding the beds, and they stick close. The location of the bass during this period is mainly around vertical structure and other cover. Easy meals are the key here, so bass will seek structure to hide behind such as dock posts, downed trees, embankments, vertical submerged bedrock, weeds (aquatic plants), etc. These hiding spots make ideal ambush points to snare baitfish and crustaceans for easy recovery meals, while maintaining close contact with the spawning bed. This structure is the angler’s target.
Recovered bass
While post-spawn bass tend to still remain in shallower water, the location of bass that have recovered from spawning varies. Since their physical strength is gradually recovering, it is a characteristic of the recovered bass to begin actively hunting for food instead of waiting for it to come to them. What this means for the angler is that since bass prey on a wide variety of baitfish and crustaceans, it is advisable to attack using an array of lures without defining a particular area.
4. LURES FOR POST-SPAWN
As before, we will divide recommended lures and techniques into two categories: The ones that target unrecovered bass, and those that target recovered bass.
(1)Lure selection for unrecovered bass
As discussed previously, bass at this time are generally located around structure. In deeper water, they’ll generally hover at middle depth, so targeting from the surface to middle depth is the preferred range. Also, the unrecovered bass do not have the energy to chase a quick meal yet, so a slow presentation is vital. To that end, here are a number of lure and presentation ideas:
Free-rig can slowly drop soft-plastics
Immediately after spawning, the bass won’t chase a fast-moving lure. Therefore, a free rigged hook with a soft-plastic worm or creature bait falling slowly into the strike zone is ideal. Dropping it over structure and slowly working it through is another good technique. Using a flat soft-plastic can slow down the fall speed, thus increasing time in the strike zone.
Swimbait that can be reeled slowly
Using a swimbait that can be reeled slowly through and around cover is a good strategy for weakened bass. The angler is searching for a reaction strike, even if the bass are not biting. Swimbaits that are weedless are even more of an advantage, as they can contact the structure tightly and can stay in the kill zone longer!
[JACKALL] Deadslowler
A Dead-Slow Specialized Swim Bait that Excels Particularly During Cold Water Periods and Around Obstacles
B U Y N O W[Imakatsu] Huddle swimmer series
A Soft-Plastic-Style Finesse Swimbait Created by Huddleston and Imakatsu
B U Y N O W
I-motion specific lures
I-motion lures, or suspended lures that settle into defined depths, are effective for low hovering bass looking up. The i-motion lures can be pulled slowly, and are characterized by their natural movement and baitfish appearance, thereby triggering vertical strikes from bass.
[Megabass] Karashi IGX
An i-motion lure with sensation of retrieving bait, ideal for i-motion technique beginners
B U Y N O W
Top water lures
Top water lures are effective for bass because bass hover low and look up. A slow retrieve past structure, or a dead stop twitching motion will lure lethargic bass into a reaction strike. Remember, the bass wants something slow and easy to get.
(2) Lure selection for Recovered bass
Bass during this period are scattered to feed on various prey in order to recover physical strength, so using a lure that can explore a wide area can improve results. Unlike unrecovered bass, recovered bass are more likely and able to chase faster moving baits. During this period, experimentation with speed and retrieval technique is of key importance.
Moving baits with " drawing power" and " fast " elements
There are many types of lures that can be employed during this phase, when the bass switch from ambushing prey to actively hunting them. Now is when the angler can begin to ‘get back to basics’, as it were. For example, spinnerbaits are strong around cover and in more open water. The lipless-crankbait and bladed-jig begin becoming more appealing, along with their versatility in open water. Swimbaits are excellent in adaptability regardless of the conditions, and are great when weedless in attacking near cover. Since the bass are more active, increasing the speed in this phase of post-spawn allows the angler to cover more area faster. When you want to cover large areas without a bunch of hangups, weedless swim jigs are an excellent option. The object during the recovered phase is covering a lot of water with various lures without sticking to one.
Swimbait
[Imakatsu] Gillroid Baby
A versatile bluegill-like swimbait that allows for changing the strength of the action
B U Y N O W[MEGABASS] MAGDRAFT
Megabass's signature swimbait that excels in durability, hookup ratio, and swimming stability.
B U Y N O WSpinnerbait
Lipless crankbait
[JACKALL] TN Series 38/50/60/70
Japan's most versatile lipless-crankbait with an array of options, featuring the O.M.S. weight system.
B U Y N O WSwim Jig
[Megabass] Uoze Swimmer
Swimjig with the appeal performance of the blade added to the slip-through performance
B U Y N O WChatterbait
Top water with " drawing power" and " fast " element
A top water bait with a strong action and smooth retrieve is effective for finding scattered bass once their physical strength recovers and they can chase a lure that moves quickly. A buzzbait that can cover a large amount of water quickly and effectively, or a popper with good sound and action are good options. Another good choice is a floating crankbait or jerkbait, retrieved at half or three-quarter speed.
