Best Baits for Spring Bass Fishing - Blaukat Blog
For many anglers, mid-April through early May is their favorite time of the year to fish.
Throughout many parts of the country, this time of year marks the period when bass are the shallowest they will be all year long.
Bass will not just move shallow this time of year to spawn. They begin this shallow transition as the water get into the mid-50’s and will stay shallow until several weeks after the actual spawning ritual.
When we are talking shallow, we are talking super shallow…3 feet or less, even in clear water.
Techniques are key this time of year, because pinpointing the bass is relatively easy…they move to the back 1/3 of the coves and creeks in nearly every man-made lake in the country.
Catching these bass requires a specific approach to maximize efficiency and productivity.
Here are the key baits one should consider throwing right now…
1. Wacky rigs:
Wacky rigging has been around for years and are one of the simplest techniques in bass fishing. A straight-tail worm or Senko-style bait is hooked through the middle of the bait and allowed to slowly free fall. Here are a couple wacky rig tips…
O-rings will save on baits, but they can impede hooking efficiency and creates a visual negative to the fish. Try hooking the bait in the middle with the hook only. This will give a more natural presentation and better hook-ups.
Experiment with sizes and profiles. Sometimes a wacky rig worm like a Zoom trick worm will work great, while other times they want a fatter, Senko-type bait. Experiment to find out.
Long casts are key, especially in clear water. Shallow bass are spooky and long casts will increase the amount of strikes you get.
Here are some links to my recommended equipment:
O-Wacky Tool
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/O-Wacky_Tool/descpage-OWACKYTOOL.html?from=FTM
Yamamoto 4" Slim Yamasenko 10pk
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Yamamoto_4_Slim_Yamasenko_10pk/descpage-YMSS4.html?from=FTM
Gamakatsu G-Finesse Series Wacky Jig Head 3pk
2. Ned Rigs:
Ned Rigs are deadly in the spring and are another simple lure design. Remember this when fishing them…
Use no more than 6lb. test and the lightest head you can get away with. The slow fall is key in shallow water, and bass prefer a slowly falling bait in and around the spawn.
Experiment with color. While green pumpkin and watermelon get used most of the time, it benefits the angler to use alternatives to keep a different look.
Do not set the hook. When you get a strike, just start reeling fast. The exposed hook on a Ned rig will penetrate easily by reeling fast.
Here are some links to my recommended equipment:
Z-Man Pro Shroomz Ned Rig Jigheads 4pk
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Z-Man_Pro_Shroomz_Ned_Rig_Jigheads_4pk/descpage-ZPSH.html?from=FTM
Reins RND Fat Ned Worm 10pk
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Reins_RND_Fat_Ned_Worm_10pk/descpage-RRND.html?from=FTM
3. Floating worms:
Floating worms are deadly on April/May bass. They have been staple fish-catchers for decades and now is the prime time to use them. Here are some keys with them…
Figure out the color. Pinks and other bright colors are associated with this bait, but many times, more subdued colors like green/black and natural color will get more bites.
Use a braid to flouro setup with a barrel swivel. This will allow long casts and keep the bait from twisting the line.
Keep the hook small. Floating worms are notorious fish losers. Most of this is due to the angler using too large of a hook. A 2/0 hook is perfect in a floating worm like the Zoom trick worm.
It is called a floating worm, but do not fish it on the surface. Most of the bites you get on this technique will come when the bait is down deep enough to barely be in view.
Here are some links to my recommended equipment:
Zoom Trick Worm
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Zoom_Trick_Worm/descpage-ZTW.html?from=FTM
Gamakatsu Offset Round Bend Worm Hooks Black 2/0
4. Shaky head
The shaky head is probably the top spring bass producer of all time. Not only can you cover a lot of shallow water with this bait, you can skip it under docks and cover, making it tremendously efficient. Here are some tips with it:
Figure out the right head weight. If the fish are in less than 5 feet of water, the slow fall of a 1/16th oz. head will get a lot of strikes. As the water get deeper or windier, upgrade your head size.
Size is key. Most spring shaky heads are 4-7-inch models. A good rule of thumb is to remember if you are fishing a lake with all 3 species of bass, go smaller. If your lake is largemouth only, stay with the 7-inch size.
Keep the bait straight. Take the time to slowly thread you worm on the jighead to where it hangs perfectly straight. This will give the bait a more natural presentation and add up to more strikes.
Here are some links to my recommended equipment:
Zoom Trick Worm
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Zoom_Trick_Worm/descpage-ZTW.html?from=FTM
Zoom Finesse Worm 20pk
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Zoom_Finesse_Worm_20pk/descpage-ZFW.html?from=FTM
Bagley Shakey Heads
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Bagley_Shakey_Heads/descpage-BAGSH.html?from=FTM
And finally, remember that super shallow spring fishing is about stealth. Quality sized bass do not like to be in shallow water unless there is heavy cover/muddy water present.
Try not to prop-wash too much with your trolling motor and allow your boat to drift with the breeze in shallow water as much as possible. As well, as we mentioned earlier, long casts and soft entries are crucial.
All these elements…lure selection/presentation/stealth/long casts, etc.., will add up to more and bigger bass.
Best of luck!
Author: Randy Blaukat
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