Best Baits When Fishing Around the Bass Spawn

Fishing shallow water around the spawn is one of the best times of the year to catch bass. The fish are actively feeding to prepare for the rigors of spawning as well as feeding up before summer. 

There are a number of different lures that can be effective during this time of year, but here are a few of the best:

Spinnerbaits

Spinnerbaits are a great option for bass fishing during the end of the prespawn and through the early post spawn. They can be used to cover a lot of water and are highly effective when fishing around both hard and soft cover. Spinnerbaits come in a variety of sizes and colors, so it is important to choose the right one for the conditions.

Swim Jigs

Swim jigs are a versatile lure that can be used to catch bass around cover when a more subtle presentation is desired. They are especially effective around the spawn when bass are feeding on shad and other baitfish as well as when the are protecting bedding areas. Jigs come in a variety of sizes and colors, so it is important to choose the right size, color and trailer to match the forage around the bedding areas at that time.

Hollow Belly Frogs

Frogs are another great lure to use from the end of prespawn through the early post spawn. They can be used to target bass in shallow water, where they are often either feeding on or being harassed by panfish. Frogs come in a variety of sizes and colors, so you can choose the right one to closely mimic local panfish.

In the following video, former Classic champ Jason Christie provides his insight into the best baits when fishing for bass throughout the spawn period especially when not focussed on bed fishing...

Plan Your Strategy For Spawning Bass

It’s springtime (or so the calendar says  )…

That time of year for bass and other gamefish to move shallow as the prepare to re-produce…

Though staging bass can often be fairly easy to catch, spawning fish, especially largemouths often present a challenge to the bed fisherman…

Even though some bedding bass maybe stubborn, understanding the signals they provide as they cruise around the nest area and the lure presentations required to make them strike is key to success…

In the following video, the folks at Lake Fork Tackle provide some really great insight into deciphering the spawning bass’ attitude and lures to help invoke the strike…

Best Baits for Spawning Bass

The bass spawn...

A time when bass anglers can be rewarded with their biggest catch of the year or a time of extreme frustration when trying to decipher how to get the bass to strike.

Though the word spawn my trigger visions of big bass sitting on their beds, in reality many of the bass are still fairly mobile and can often be caught on a variety of presentations. 

Take a moment and listen as bass pro Greg Hackney discusses in this video giving his thoughts on the best bass spawn baits!

Though several of his selections aren't surprising, a few definitely were to me 😎

How To Avoid Fishing Beds During The Spawn

A couple of incidences got me thinking about an approach I often use when heading out to my favorite bass haunts throughout the spring season…

Though springtime and bass equate to cruising the shallows in search of fish around spawning flats for many anglers a few of us take a different approach when starting our trips…

Best part of this approach… it avoids putting more pressure on bedding bass!

What’s so different about my approach?

I tend to start each day on the water by focusing on transitional fish with a buzzbait rather than focusing on those up on the flats partaking in the spawning ritual!

This approach was originally developed when fishing several reservoirs of the Rocky Mountain west and has also been used successfully on lakes in the mid-west and up into New England.

Now it’s time for an example…

Looking at the map of Johns Pond on Cape Cod (Mass) provided below, my day starts by heading to the southeast corner of the pond and positioning the boat over the 10 foot contour.

Remember to K.I.S.S. During the Bass Spawn

No I am not suggesting that you "Jimmy Houston" each bass that crosses the gunwale during the spawn. 🤣

But I do agree with bass pro Stetson Blaylock that at times we make bass fishing more complicated than it needs to be!

Take a moment as Mr. Blaylock gives his thoughts on why it's best to Keep It Simple Stupid when fishing for spawning bass...