Early spring bass fishing – an ideal time for catching bass

In the early days of spring, when most folks are dreading the thought of taxes and a loss of capital, the time is right to take a slice out of your day and head for the water. A proven way of eradicating anxiety and pressure, bass fishing now is exactly what you need to kick-start your spring festivities.

If you happen to find warm waters where the bass are already feeding in the shallower reaches, you are truly in luck, as they are likely to be aggressive and so fun to catch. Cold waters, however, can make your spring bass fishing challenging. Much like hunting for deer in the wild with bow and arrow, the bass will be sluggish and extremely hard to catch. Still, if you are in need of a distraction and a challenge to take your mind off the hustle and bustle of city life, then it shouldn’t matter that much.

Temperature is the key

Focussing on the right gear for your spring fishing trip goes a long way. The popular belief is that spring bass angling is much like using spinnerbait. However, experts suggest that spinnerbait should not be the only string in your bow when going spring bass fishing. Gauging the temperature of the water where you plan to do your fishing ought to be the very first thing you consider. What it does is give you an idea of the size of your catch and the time it’ll take to get it.

Match your lure choice to the conditions at hand

Bass are generally considered to be warm water fish, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that you cannot catch them in colder water. You can indeed end up with a good catch even when the waters are cold, even just after the ice has melted and the water is killer cold. Having said that, the ideal temperature for a good catch lies between the range of the 60s and 70s and is the average water temperature during mid to late spring, depending on your latitude.

It’s important to dispel a classic layman error here: a warm spell of weather does not contribute towards a favorable bass fishing trip, meaning a shorter period of warm weather in between cold spells does not bring the bass into the shallows or cause them to feed aggressively. Bass habitually take a fair amount of time to acclimatize to the changing temperature. It will take a sustained period of warmer temperatures before bass start to become active and move into shallower waters.

Best places for bass fishing

Pick your springtime fishing spot where the water will be warming the most

Once it is established that waters are going to be warm, the selection of an ideal spot with all the right ingredients for bass should be the next step. The places which have the best position for benefitting from the heat of the sun must be at the top of your list. These include stumps, rocks, and wood, which are likely to be warmer from soaking up the spring sunshine, offer the prospect of a better catch. Also, the places with healthy vegetation, in and on the water surface, can also attract bass in great numbers. Some waters are famous for containing a lot of plant life, so a bit of knowledge about the bed plantation before planning your fishing trip can go a long way.

Lures

To effectively catch spring bass, the use of varied lures usually does the trick. A spinnerbait is often the most promising contender as it tends to be the most productive around shallow cover. Active fish buy this type of lure, but if the bass aren’t really aggressive in their feeding this lure doesn’t really work as effectively. In the case of less aggressive bass you need to work your method up slowly, so perhaps start fishing with a single-bladed spinnerbait and slowly reach for the depths.

Don’t rush in the cold water

Take your time when fishing in cold water

Rushing with excitement while the water isn’t yet warm enough and before the bass have actually spawned, will most certainly result in a poor catch. Fish in the appropriate areas with patience, skill and a steady pace. Try to work small patches fully and catch as many as you think possible before moving to the next spot.

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