Time to Tie on These Top Lures

It’s here! This is not a drill! We have waited and prepared (probably over prepared) for this moment. Prespawn bass fishing is one of the most fun and exciting times to get out there, and with good reason.

The term Prespawn fishing simply refers to the time period where bass have moved away from their deep winter homes and back up to shallow water. This is that glorious window of capitalizing on active, feeding fish before they go on bed. This is their end goal though, so look for shallow flats that are a suitable spot for bedding fish.

Even though a lot of you are probably like me and spend the dark days of winter overstocking on tackle, it is important to know which baits are most likely to attract the attention of these fish, and more importantly, the ones that are likely to entice a bite. Here are three prespawn baits that are absolutely essential to have tied on every trip.

#1. Lipless Crankbaits

These baits have a tight wobble and action. They are bite sized and make a perfect meal for bass looking to feed up before going on bed. They also make great search baits because you can make long casts, work them quickly, and cover a ton of water.

Find a nice flat and start casting. A fan pattern is a really easy and effective way to efficiently cover water. Reel the bait quickly and allow it to tick grass and cover. These deflections trigger strikes, so if you are getting hung up occasionally, don’t worry. The reward is well worth it!

#2. Vibrating Jigs

These are about as versatile as you can get. They can emulate any type of forage with the right retrieve and trailer. There have been massive bags of bass weighed in from this lure alone, and it’s safe to say that it is an essential to most bass anglers’ tackle box.

They generate a ton of vibration and are practically a neon “Eat This!” sign for actively feeding prespawn bass. Color is key! Most of these bass are targeting shad and bait fish, so keep that in mind when choosing a color. This is a great approach for targeting docks, creek channels, and shallow cover. Make sure to hang on! These bring out the big bites!

#3. Jerk Baits

It has been a long winter, and if you’re like me, you’ve been looking forward to this time. Sometimes we can get ahead of ourselves. Yes, the days are longer. Yes, we are getting more and more sunshine. This doesn’t mean it’s magically spring. It’s a gradual process. A few days or weeks of warmer temps doesn’t instantly raise the water temperature, and one thing is for certain. Cold water and jerk baits are a power couple!

The profile of the jerkbait looks very close to the minnows that these bass are eating up like the dollar menu at midnight. The darting action makes them appear wounded which means an easy meal. The suspend on the pause literally says “Bet you won’t” to the bass thinking about attacking. It’s the whole package.

This is your best bet when targeting open water structures like secondary points. They are far from a one trick pony though. If you work it correctly, you can work it around shallow cover as well. I like to use the general rule of the colder the water, the longer the pause. That’s what makes jerk bait fishing so effective. It can be used in so many ways, and it’s a great bait year round. The iBobber Snappr creates more interest with the utilization of lights and sounds. It’s perfect for giving bass a different look and for encouraging lethargic fish to get out on the dance floor. Don’t stick to one cadence either. Vary it until you get bit, and then stick to it!

Most personal bests are the result of time and place. Prespawn fishing is the perfect time to break your own PB! The females are heavy, but it won’t be long before they are on beds. After that, they are long and skinny. Get out there and make it count!

-Brad Brown