Bite Me
A look at some good bait choices for pre-spawn largemouths
Story and Photography by Matt Williams
Ask a dozen bass anglers to name their Number One bait choice for early spring fishing and odds are pretty good you will get just as many answers. Probably more. That’s because there are a passel of lures that will work like a charm as winter begins giving way to spring and bass start getting into a “pre-spawn” frame of mind.
Just remember. Some baits tend to produce better in certain conditions and situations than others do. What works well at one lake make not be the ticket at another.
That’s largely because every lake is different in what is has to offer in terms of habitat. Some have gobs of aquatic vegetation, whereas others contain more rock, timber, stumps or flooded bushes than anything else.
Other factors that come into play are changes in water temperature, water level and water clarity as well as wind direction and velocity. On top of all that, a bass’ appetite and attitude can change overnight, seemingly for no apparent reason. A lure that really trips their switch one day may not even get a second look on the next.
Here is the skinny on some good early spring bass baits followed by some situations when they might get you bit:
Lipless Crankbaits
The lipless crankbait gets top billing because it is simple to use and highly effective in a variety of situations. Bass pros sometimes refer to it as a “monkey bait” because it is so easy to fish with that a monkey could probably catch a bass with it.
Elongated in shape with flat sides, the lipless crankbait has a hollow body cavity that contains one or more BB’s that clash and clatter as the bait speeds through the water column with a tight wiggle, creating an enticing rattling commotion that bass can hear from a considerable distance.