Catching pre spawn largemouth bass requires a strategic approach, taking into account the fish’s behaviour during this crucial period. As water temperatures begin to rise, typically between 45°F and 60°F, largemouth bass transition from their winter patterns to actively feeding in preparation for the upcoming spawn.
Understanding the nuances of this pre-spawn phase can significantly improve your chances of success on the water.
Begin your pre-spawn largemouth bass pursuit by identifying suitable areas within the body of water. Shallow flats, pockets, and coves are prime locations as they warm up more quickly than deeper waters. 
Invest in a reliable water temperature gauge to help pinpoint warmer pockets where bass may congregate. Transition zones, such as points, drop-offs, and channels near spawning flats, are also likely spots to find pre-spawn bass.
Choosing the right lures is crucial during this phase when largemouth bass are more aggressive. Jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, and soft plastics are all effective choices.
Experiment with a variety of colors to determine what the bass are responding to on a given day. Bright and flashy colors can often attract their attention, triggering strikes.
Vary your retrieval techniques to cater to the bass’s changing preferences. Sometimes a slow and methodical retrieve is effective, while other times a faster, more aggressive approach may be the key to triggering strikes.
Work the water column by exploring different depths until you locate the level at which the bass are holding. Pay attention to subtle changes in the environment, as bass behavior can be influenced by factors such as weather patterns.
Patience and persistence are essential virtues when pursuing pre-spawn largemouth bass.
These fish can be finicky, and it may take time to figure out the most effective strategies for the given conditions. Keep experimenting with different techniques, lures, and locations until you establish a pattern that yields success.
As you engage in pre-spawn bass fishing, prioritize the ethical treatment of the fish. Handle them with care and practice catch and release to ensure the sustainability of the population.
Avoid fishing directly on top of spawning beds to protect the bass during this vulnerable phase. By combining knowledge of bass behavior, the right equipment, and a thoughtful approach, you can enhance your pre-spawn largemouth bass fishing experience.
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Catching pre-spawn largemouth bass can be an exciting and rewarding experience for anglers. Pre-spawn is the period before bass move to their spawning beds, and the fish are actively feeding in preparation for the spawn. Here are some tips to help you catch pre-spawn largemouth bass:
- Understand the Pre-Spawn Period:
- Pre-spawn generally occurs when water temperatures are between 45°F and 60°F (7°C to 15.5°C), but this can vary based on location and weather conditions.
- Locate Suitable Areas:
- Look for areas with slightly warmer water, such as shallow flats, pockets, and coves. Largemouth bass often move to these areas as they warm up faster than deeper waters.
- Use Temperature Gauges:
- Invest in a quality water temperature gauge to help you find warmer pockets of water where bass may be congregating.
- Explore Transition Areas:
- Focus on the transition zones between deep and shallow water. Points, drop-offs, and channels near spawning flats can be productive.
- Choose the Right Lures:
- Largemouth bass are often more aggressive during the pre-spawn, so you can use a variety of lures. Try jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, and soft plastics.
- Experiment with Colors:
- Bright and flashy colors can attract the attention of pre-spawn bass. Experiment with different colors to see what works best on a given day.
- Retrieve Techniques:
- Vary your retrieval techniques to figure out the bass’s preference. Sometimes a slow retrieve is effective, while at other times, a faster, more aggressive approach may trigger strikes.
- Work the Water Column:
- Largemouth bass may be found at different depths during the pre-spawn. Experiment with lures at various depths to determine where the fish are holding.
- Monitor Weather Patterns:
- Changes in weather can impact bass behavior. A warming trend can trigger increased activity, while a sudden cold front may temporarily slow down the bite.
- Be Patient and Persistent:
- Pre-spawn bass can be finicky, so it’s essential to be patient and persistent. Keep trying different techniques and locations until you find a pattern that works.
- Handle with Care:
- During the pre-spawn, bass are in a vulnerable state. Practice catch and release, handle them with care, and avoid fishing directly on top of spawning beds to protect the future generation of bass.
Remember that local conditions and bass behavior can vary, so it’s crucial to adapt your strategies based on the specific water body you’re fishing and the prevailing conditions on that day.
In most cases, bass gather in areas with some type of flooded wood cover that offers safety and security. Fallen trees, logs, stumps, wooden dock pilings, beaver lodges, etc., are good examples.
A pair of polarized sunglasses cuts the surface glare and allows you to peer down 3, 4, or 5 feet to detect the wood. Sometimes, you see the bass as well.
Lower your bow mount trolling motor, and slowly cruise the back ends of bays, channels, and boat harbors—any shallow areas protected from harsh winds, where sunlight penetration warms the water a few degrees above the temperature level of the nearby deeper main lake.
If you stand at the bow while casting to shoreline cover, you get a bird’s eye view of everything in the shallows, including fish swimming out a little deeper from the shoreline. A ¼- to 3/8-ounce tandem spinnerbait is perhaps the easier lure for most anglers to use at this time, typically with a straight, steady retrieve just beneath the surface.
Hold the rod tip up at a slight angle, and simply reel fast enough to make the blades spin, and the lure swim in a steady path. Early on, you don’t want lots of irregular action or excess lure speed. Slow and steady get the best results.
Pitch your casts in and around visible cover, as close as you can, without spooking bass. Crawl the lure over logs; bump it against stumps or flooded trees.
Slight changes in speed and direction make the lure appear vulnerable to attack and trigger strikes.
The best casting style for precisely probing shoreline cover incorporates an underhanded pitch that sails the lure on a flat trajectory, followed by a soft landing to avoid spooking bass in the extreme shallows.
This style of fishing is easiest to perform from the low, flat deck of a bass boat, which is almost like standing atop a flat aircraft carrier. When you’re standing a foot or more down within the high sides of a traditional deep-v aluminum boat, keep your rod tip low to the water, outside the gunwale, whereas in a bass boat, you can simply swing your rod tip over the top of the deck.
If bass aren’t right on the shoreline, focus your attention on the adjacent deeper water. This is a particularly good strategy as the water warms and weeds begin to sprout throughout the shallows, causing bass to shift their locations slightly.
They may spawn along inside weed edges, where weed growth meets open sand bottom in 3 to 5 feet of water, where bass sweep out a pit-type nest for spawning.
As bass shift into spawning mode, they become very territorial and defensive but reluctant to chase lures.
You’re best off targeting them with lures that drop vertically toward the bottom, like a tube jig, jig worm, wacky worm, small jig & trailer, etc.
Let it fall near them, and then let it sit, perhaps with a slight wiggle every 10 seconds or so. It’s enough to aggravate them into biting at times when they’d ignore faster lures swimming above their heads.
