There are no two ways about it, pre-spawn fishing can be challenging.  I like to call this time of year "Transition Time!"  This is when the weather starts to warm up and bass begin their transition from their deep wintering holes to waters generally ranging from 10 to 15 feet deep.  A great location for bass at this time of year is off of main lake points, creek channels, or submerged structure adjacent to or heading towards shallow bays or waters.  This is when bass begin to "stage" and get ready for the spawn.

In these days leading up to the spawn, the water is slowly warming.  I know in tournament meetings and in on-line postings, everyone is asking, "What is the water temperature?"  This is not to be overlooked, it is really important at this time of the year and dictates where the bass are going to be.

I have found both in tournaments and during practice that the best fishing during the pre-spawn is late afternoon, especially on sunny days. This is when the water is the warmest during the day and when the aquatic foods are most active.  I have even seen tournaments moved up an hour to accommodate this.

As bass transition from their deeper wintering holes and move toward their spawning areas, be sure to pay attention to any available cover that might be in these areas.  Typical cover would be submerged wood, weed growth, docks in slightly deeper water, brush piles, etc.  I can remember a tournament in the spring of 2005 where I was in a creek channel separating the deep part of the lake (15ft) and a shallow bay loaded with emerging vegetation and seeing bass literally swimming by me one after another.

As spring finally arrives those still water coves and bays are going to be the areas you want to key in on.  That still shallow water warms much faster than any moving water, deep main lake water, and creek channels that flow through the lake.  So during the later part of the day, look for bass in those bays and backwater coves that are shallow and exposed to the sun.  Try the northwest corner (the Northwest Factor - as it is known to bass anglers) of the lake where the water may have warmed slightly more.

Great Pre-Spawn Baits I Like To Use:
Jig & Pig
Texas or Carolina Rigged Worms & Lizards
Crankbaits & Rattletraps
Suspending Jerkbaits

By:

JD
Lunker USA
http://www.lunkerusa.com

All Reels - All Casting, All Spinning
Brand Specific - Abu Garcia, Bass Pro, Daiwa, Mitchell, Okuma, Pinnacle, Plfueger, Quantum, Shakespeare, Shimano (Antares, Calais, Curado, Castaic, Chronarch, Metanium, Scorpion, Stella, Stradic, Sustain), Zebco

Rod & Reel Combos, Casting, Spinning  
Daiwa, Quantum, Shimano, Ultra Light

All Fishing Line - Ande, Berkley (Big Game, Fireline, Trilene, Vanish), P-Line, Power Pro, Rapala, Seaguar, Silver Thread, Spiderline, Spiderwire, Stren, Sufix, Yo-Zuri

All Baits & Lures - Bagley, Bomber, Cordell, Creek Chub, Heddon, Lucky Craft, Megabass, Norman, Rapala, Rebel, Smithwick, Strike King, Uncle Josh, Yamamoto Baits (Senkos), Zoom

Spinnerbaits - Blades, Skirts, Tools
Brand Names - Strike King, Terminator 

All Terminal Tackle, All Hooks (Eagle Claw, Gamakatsu, Jig Hooks, Mustad, Owner), All Weights, Tackle Boxes

All Electronics & Navigation 
Fish Finders/Depth Finders - Bottom Line, Eagle, Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance
GPS - Garmin, Lowrance, Magellan

All Apparel - Footwear, Hats, Lifejackets, Rain Gear, Shirts, Sunglasses, Vests, Waders
Brand Names - Bass Pro Shops, Columbia, REI 

Bass Boats - Bass Cat, Champion, Nitro, Pro Craft, Ranger, Skeeter, Stratos, Triton, Tracker

Motors - Evinrude, Honda, Johnson, Mercury, Suzuki, Yamaha

Trolling Motors - Minn Kota, Motor Guide

Research Material - Books, Videos


Lunker USA is a registered affiliate of ebay.  Please read Lunker USA's "Disclaimer" in regards to linked materials.