The prespawn is the best time of year to catch giant bass, yet anglers often miss out on it. The early February to mid-March timeframe is great for finding and catching the talked-about fish of a lifetime. In this article, we will discuss five must-have baits for prespawn fishing.
First, vibrating jigs such as ChatterBaits work exceptionally well during the prespawn. The erratic action of a vibrating jig can send a bass into a feeding frenzy, especially as they aggressively pack on weight in preparation for the spawn. Additionally, vibrating jigs are ideal for submerged vegetation, a popular hiding spot for bass in less than 10 feet of water. You can fish it slowly through vegetation, popping it free whenever it snags a blade of grass, making for an effective presentation.
Secondly, a spinnerbait is another essential for prespawn fishing. It uses vibration, colorful skirts, and blade flashes to attract fish, and works great around shallow woody cover. Unlike vibrating jigs, it is easier to slow roll a spinnerbait around stumps, laydowns, and brush piles.
Thirdly, a crankbait, both lipped and lipless, is an all-time favorite for prespawn bass fishing. Red lipless crankbaits work well on fisheries with submerged vegetation, while medium-diving and finesse crankbaits are ideal along 45-degree banks that transition from deep to shallow heading into creeks and pockets. The trusty squarebill is a great bait to throw shallow as fish push farther up.
Fourthly, a jig is an all-time favorite that works best around rocky banks or riprap. Last but not least, a jerkbait is the go-to for prespawn bass. Bass are still sluggish during this time, and water is clearer. A jerkbait can draw fish in as they have time to catch up to the pausing bait and they can see it better with higher visibility. The pump, pump, pause method is hard to beat.
In conclusion, the prespawn fishing season offers great opportunities for anglers to catch giant bass, but only if they have the right baits. With these five must-have baits, you can increase your chances of catching the fish of a lifetime.