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FINDING AND
CATCHING EARLY BASS
In early spring, catchable bass may be scattered most anywhere in a lake. The highest percentage of the most catchable bass though can be expected to be found along the northern shoreline where the sun beats the longest each day.
The percentage is even higher in isolated back waters along the northern shoreline where water warms faster yet. Remember, the warmer the water, the more active the fish.
Even in these areas the bass aren’t going to be active all the time.
If an early season lure like a ¼ ounce white single spin doesn’t produce, try panfish baits like small jigs and in-line spinners.
Day in and day out, the single most productive presentation for early spring bass is to stop retrieving your lure and let it set. A tube bait works great for this as does a jig and pig or jig and grub. So does the little 4-inch long natural colored, baitfish shaped lures. But any small soft plastic bait that doesn’t have a lot of built in action will up your odds of catching early bass.
STUBBORN BIRD
I would like to have a dollar for every time a dominant tom refused to move toward my hen calls. Those stubborn old birds will usually fan themselves out and stay put, insisting the girls come to them.
When you’re faced with this situation, first of all you need to figure out his strutting zone and find an open spot in clear sight of where he likes to parade around. The next morning, get there early and put out a breeding-pair decoy setup or a hen decoy and then spike a jake on top of it as if they were mating. Then set up 20 yards from the pair, be prepared to do little or no calling, and watch that jealous tom come running at the decoys.
Occasionally, an old stubborn tom can’t be moved by love but he could be enticed into a good fight. In that case, set out a big, half-strut or full-strut gobbler decoy.
FISHING 101
If you want to become a better fisherman, fish as often as you can. Doing so will improve your grasp of the fundamentals. Also, fish with as many experienced anglers as possible. Always be observant and look and listen to what is going on around you.
Watch the water, listen for surface activity and concentrate on what your lure is doing at all times. When you catch a fish, pay attention to the type of structure and depth the fish came from and look for areas just like it on other parts of the lake.
Never become discouraged and keep a high level of confidence. If you lose a big fish or get “skunked”, so what? Remember, there’s a lot more fun to fishing than just catching fish.
TWITCHING
Jerkbaits, or twitchbaits as some people call them, are perfect for imitating an injured baitfish. Bass really like them when they are moved with little twitches followed by slight pauses.
They’re great as a finesse lure during post spawn when bass stick around flooded bushes for awhile before heading out to their summer haunts. They’re also the first surface lure you should try in the spring. Twitching your rod and then pausing will cause it to dive, rise back to the surface and then float motionless on top. Try different twitches and pause lengths until you find what they want.
On clear, smallmouth lakes, try twitching over the deep edge of a spawning flat when the water temperature reaches around 70 degrees. Smallies will swim a mile to hammer it.
FINDING AND CATCHING EARLY BASS
Article from March/April 2010 Issue
 In early spring, catchable bass may be scattered most anywhere in a lake. The highest percentage of the most catchable bass though can be expected to be found along the northern shoreline where the sun beats the longest each day.
The percentage is even higher in isolated back waters along the northern shoreline where water warms faster yet. Remember, the warmer the water, the more active the fish.
Even in these areas the bass aren’t going to be active all the time.
If an early season lure like a ¼ ounce white single spin doesn’t produce, try panfish baits like small jigs and in-line spinners.
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