Winter and Early Springtime Bass Fishing

Seasons for catching bass come and go. Of the seasons, there is not one that I enjoy any more than early springtime. This time of year produces catches of the years’ largest females as their weight is naturally increased by Mother Nature. The large egg laying females begin their annual migration to the shallows following the smaller young males upon the changing moon phases. The thinner, smaller and aggressive males move into the shallows first finding the best places for the females to lay their eggs. As the frontal conditions are constantly changing this time of year, a short warming trend combined with a Full-moon or New-moon phase will send these larger roe filled females quickly to the shallows from their staging locations. They will search out the younger males who have already prepared a bed by fanning a roundish area of lake bottom until it is free and clear of sediment or debris. These bed areas are usually about 36” in diameter of clean sand bottom which can be spotted from several yards away. These females will arrive to the bedding areas, seek out a bed that suits them, lay their several thousand eggs and then return to the staging areas all within a few days. The younger and more aggressive males are left in the bedding areas to protect the beds from the natural predators such as the bluegill, shiners and even other bass who will eat their own fry (young hatched eggs). As the eggs quickly hatch the males protect these small schools of fry until there are large enough to move off to grow up on their own.

As this early springtime bite may last several months depending on the lake’s location the aggressive bites you get from these bass will be some of the years’ best. In the cleaner shallow water of usually four feet in depth or less sight fishing for these aggressive males and large females is not only exciting but can be equally frustrating as well! The aggressive young males will protect the prepared beds with their life. As you spot these bedding areas either by seeing the beds or by fan casting areas with fast moving search baits, the males will pick-up a bait by the tail, remove it from its bed and spit the bait out of its mouth as you watch without feeling a bite. A male may remove the same bait multiple times off his bed before he gets mad enough to eat your bait and you are able to hook him. Other days either prior to or just following the moon phases as these bass are in the deeper water staging locations close to the bedding areas At this time they will bite just about anything more aggressively than any other time of year as they feed heavily getting ready for the chore of spawning. In between the moon phases search baits like large 4” to 5” swim baits, plastic frog baits, top water poppers and chugger baits will get massive strikes as these fish will compete with one another trying to get a meal before another bass can. As you see these aggressive fish pushing a wake as they zoom-in on a slow rolled swim-bait, a plastic frog or popper it is very hard not to set the hook before they crush your presentation. At no other time during the year will the fish fight harder or be happier to eat most any bait you present.

As you search your local lakes looking for the best bedding locations look for areas most protected from the “Northeastern” blows. Look for areas with hard and sandy bottom with the cleanest water you can find in the shallows of 4’ or less. Find areas with scattered vegetation like Kissimmee grass, cattails, hard reeds or buggy whips, thin lily pads both large and small with deeper water and heavier vegetation close by. The areas on the lakes most protected or on the north-side will warm-up the fastest as the winds will push the cooler water towards the southern lake areas. Having a good pair of polarized sunglasses is a must. As you spot existing beds in the shallows or smaller male bass moving about in these areas, you can bet the larger females are close by. On days either prior to or just after a new or full moon, fish the thicker cover adjacent to the beds you see or close to these spawning areas. The larger females will be just waiting for Mother Natures’ time clock to move them into the bedding areas where the males are awaiting their arrival. During these periods of time between the moon phases the larger females will also feed but are typically found in the thicker or denser vegetation. Flipping or pitching heavy slow moving baits in the holes and pockets in these areas will produce some of the years hardest and rod jarring bites. The egg bearing females are heaviest of the year at this time. A normal female 8 lb bass may be as much as 2 to 3 lbs. heavier at this time due to feeding aggressively and the weight of the eggs they are carrying.

To help protect these egg carriers, please take great care when handling these females after catching one. Make sure to remove the hook quickly and return the fish to the water; try to only keep the fish out of the water as long as you can hold your own breath. Upon reviving the fish get your camera and, measuring tape ready, position the boat for a good photo and only then take a few good photos, measure the fish and return it to finish its spawning cycle and fight another day. At no time of year are these large females more vulnerable to death due to miss handling of these fish!! Please help make the practice of catch-photo-release the norm for these large females and past on what you learn to others. Tight lines and good luck!