Early Spring Smallmouth Bait Tips

It's early spring, the ice has just exited your favorite smallmouth pond and you're ready to make a long winter's cabin fever a thing of the past.

It's time to dust off and freshen up your smallmouth gear, head off to the pond and connect with some of the big, prespawn smallies as they ascend from their winter haunts invading the flats to "put the feed bag on".

But after opening your tackle packs, decisions have to be made; 

What baits are going to give you the best shot at enticing one of those big ole smallies into striking?

Being a northern smallmouth bass guy,  bass guru Kevin VanDam has a few suggestions his top baits when chasing smallies on his favorite northern waters. 

Take a few moments and listen as KVD describes the baits and presentations in this short video from the folks at Strike King:

Although KVD mentions specific SK baits in the video, any similar bait from your favorite manufacturers will work too!

Spinnerbait Tips for the Prespawn

Spinnerbaits are a versatile lure that can be used in a variety of conditions and situations, especially during the prespawn. 

By adjusting the size, color, and blade configuration of your spinnerbait, you can tailor your cool water spinnerbait presentation to the specific conditions you'll face this time of year. 

Here are a few reasons why you might choose to use a spinnerbait in this season:

They Trigger Aggressive Bass: In the spring, bass are often more aggressive as they prepare for the spawning season. Spinnerbaits can create a lot of vibration and movement in the water, which can trigger a response from these aggressive fish, especially when paired with a good trailer like a paddletail swimbait.

Dirty Water Abounds: Spring rains can cause the water in lakes and rivers to become murky to muddy. Spinnerbaits with large Colorado blades can create a lot of flash and vibration, making them more visible and enticing to bass in these conditions.

Prespawn Bass Love Cover: During the prespawn, bass start their move into shallow water as they prepare to spawn. Spinnerbaits can be very effective around shallow cover such as logs, rocks, docks, and weed beds, due to their snag resistant design.

Bass Movements and Preferred Baits During the Prespawn

The bass prespawn period typically refers to the time from late winter/early spring and leading up to the spawning season.

The exact timing and stages of this period can vary depending on factors such as nature of the water body, its geographic location and weather conditions that year, but generally, it happens in three main stages:

Pre-spawn staging: This stage occurs in the early spring when water temperatures start to rise into the low to mid 40°F range. Bass start to move from their deeper water wintering a holes toward shallow water areas such as flats, points, and creek mouths where they will eventually spawn. During each push towards the shallows, they begin to feed heavily in preparation for the nest building, courting and ultimately the spawn.

Pre-spawn migration: As water temperatures continue to rise from the upper 40s and to the upper 50s, bass start to move across mid-depth points and flats to their final spawning areas. They may move up tributaries, up along deeper points or follow shallow flat breaklines, before moving into adjacent shallows looking for the perfect spot to build their nests. During this stage, bass are very active and will aggressively feed on baitfish and other prey.

Spawn: The spawning stage occurs when water temperatures reach 60-68°F, usually in late March to late May in most regions. Bass build nests in shallow water typically around some type of cover and engage in courtship behavior. Females lay their eggs in the nest while males fertilize them. During this stage, bass are less likely to feed but may become more territorial and aggressive towards intruders.

It's important to note that all bass do not spawn at the same time and that these stages overlap depending on the specific conditions in a given location. Understanding the prespawn period and the behavior of bass during this time is the key to catching more springtime bass.

Top Prespawn Bass Baits

Let Roadbeds Lead You to Prespawn Bass

Roadbeds can be productive areas for catching prespawn bass since they serve as migration routes for bass moving from deep water to shallow water areas.

Here are several tips for fishing roadbeds for prespawn bass:

Locate the Roadbeds: Look for areas where roadbeds run parallel or perpendicular to the shore near drop-offs that lead to deeper water. Roadbeds can also be identified on a lake map (see image below), so it's worth doing some research before heading out on the water.

Fish the Drop-Offs: Target the drop-offs along the roadbed with a slow-moving bait such as a jig, Texas-rigged worm, or creature bait. Focus on the areas where the roadbed transitions from shallow to deep water as this can be a prime location for staging bass.

Try a Crankbait: Square bill and lipless crankbaits can also be effective on roadbeds. Use a slow and steady retrieve and make sure the lure bumps the roadbed occasionally to mimic struggling forage.

Experiment with Different Depths: Vary the depth of your bait until you find the depth where the bass are holding. Try fishing at different depths along the roadbed until you locate staging bass.

Keep an Eye on Water Temperature: The prespawn/spawn period is triggered by the warming of the water, so monitor the water temperature regularly. When the water temperature reaches around 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit, the bass will start moving up to shallower water to spawn.

Use a Slow Presentation: During the prespawn period, the bass are often lethargic and not as aggressive as they will be in a cool water period. Start by using a slow presentation and then experiment with different retrieve speeds and actions then let the bass' reactions identify the best prsentation to trigger strikes.

Take a moment and watch the following video by bass pro Shane LeHew as he gives an "on the water" demo on cranking roadbeds for prespawn bass:

Fishing for Prespawn Bass on Lowland Reservoirs

A lowland reservoir is a man-made body of water that is typically located in a low-lying area. It is created by constructing a dam or similar structure across a river or stream, which then causes the water to collect and form a large, lake-like body of water. The term "lowland" refers to the fact that these reservoirs are typically located in low-lying areas as opposed to mountainous regions.

Lowland reservoirs are often used to store water for a variety of purposes, including irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and as a source of drinking water for nearby communities. They can also provide recreational opportunities such as fishing, boating, and swimming.

Structure and Cover in Lowland Reservoirs

Lowland reservoirs typically have a variety of structures and covers that bass use for cover and foraging. Some common types include:

Points and Humps: These are underwater structures that jut out into the reservoir, forming a point or hump on the lake floor. They create a drop-off that bass use as an ambush point for prey.

Creek Channels: Reservoirs often have creeks that feed into them, and bass will frequently hold along the channel edges, especially where the channel makes a turn or narrows.

Brush Piles: Brush piles can be man-made or natural, and they provide cover for bass as well as baitfish.

Standing Timber: Standing timber is a popular cover for bass, especially if it's in deeper water. It provides shade, cover, and ambush points for bass.

Fishing Crankbaits for Prespawn Bass

Crankbaits can be an effective lure for catching prespawn bass looking for food before spawning season begins. 

Here are some tips for fishing crankbaits for prespawn bass:

Use shallow to medium diving crankbaits: As the water is still cool but warming during the prespawn period, bass are moving from their deeper wintering areas. So, using a crankbait that allows you to reach the depth where the bass are feeding is key.

Vary your retrieve speed: Experiment with different retrieval speeds until you find what the bass are responding to. Start with a slow and steady retrieve and then gradually increase the speed until you find the sweet spot.

Target structure and cover: Prespawn bass will be looking for areas to feed and hide, so focus your efforts on areas with structure and cover such as weed lines, drop-offs, wood, and rocky points.

Finding Prespawn Bass After a Front

Cold fronts occur during the prespawn just as they do throughout the rest of the year and cause baitfish and bass to seek refuge after moving onto the flats to feed up for the spawn.

Being familiar with how bait and bass both react can be the key to salvaging an otherwise painfully slow day on the water.

Take a few minutes and listen as former Bass Classic champ Davy Hite explains his approach to connecting with prespawn bass after a front comes through...

Paddletail Swimbaits for Prespawn Bass

After bass move up from the deeper water wintering homes and start to move from points and flats into their preferred spawning pockets, presenting a lifelike moving bait can increase success with catching these transitional fish.

A paddletail swimbait can be a highly effective tool since it closely mimics many common baitfish in shape, coloration and movement.

Knowing how to fish subtle paddletail baits as a search tool can be key to catching prespawners as SK bass pro KVD explains in this short video!

Although KVD discusses Strike King's bait in this video, any similar paddletail will work!

Spinnerbaits and Squarebills for Prespawn Bass

When bass move shallow before the spawn, "putting on the feedbag" is one of their major prespawn activities before commencing their reproductive duties. 

Both crawfish and forage fish are high on the bass' menu so selecting the right baits is key to triggering strikes.

With bass roaming the mid to shallow depths in search of a meal, spinnerbaits and squarebill crankbaits are excellent choices to mimic their prey and get those hungry fish biting!

Strike King bass pro Kevin VanDam discusses the criteria he uses for selecting the right squarebill or spinnerbait when chasing prespawn bass in the following short video clip!

Cranking Tips for Prespawn Smallmouths

Medium diving crankbaits can be excellent baits to entice prespawn smallmouth bass into striking as they make their transitions from wintering areas to the spawning flats. 

Once you...

• Pick the right bait
• Identify the right depth, structure and cover
• Hone in on the correct retrieve
• Make multiple casts to each target

smallmouths usually "bring the heat" as they say and attack the fleeing crankbait!

Take a few minutes and listen to northeast bass pro Paul Mueller explain his thoughts and approach when fishing crankbaits for prespawn smallmouths...