Early Spring Bass Fishing

[sam fisherman]

Early Spring Bass Fishing - Jerkbaits, the Deadliest Lure Known to Bass
By Gregory Jackson
Early spring bass fishing season is approaching fast. Warmer weather, warmer water temperatures, and cabin fever have many anglers tuning up their gear in anticipation of a great bass fishing season. We all know that early spring bass fishing can be as unpredictable as the weather in Indiana. Hot one minute, cold the next. However, there is a lure that you can add to your arsenal to greatly increase your chances of boating a limit or a trophy bass this time of the year. Let's call it a secret weapon, if you will, and the secret weapon is the jerkbait.
Yes, these so-called jerkbaits or small lipped, minnow shaped diving baits can be downright deadly on bass. Jerkbaits can be a little more difficult to use than other lures, but when fished properly, they will call bass from amazing distances which is a bonus in early spring since bass are often times cruising around the shallow to medium depths looking for a meal. What separates the jerkbait from other lures is that you can crank it fast, crank it slow, pause it, twitch it, jerk it, suspend it, and basically use it to tantalize the fish into striking it. Which is just what the doctor ordered for those finicky, early spring bass.
The jerkbait is not a lure that you fish just by casting it out and reeling it back in. You have to work it with your rod tip and your reel. Once you have mastered the art of working a jerkbait, you will be able to finesse the fish into striking. With a this type of lure you will be able to produce an irresistible motion that you cannot get with other lures. This is what makes it a great cold water bait.
The secret to catching early spring bass is finding them. Constantly moving, looking, and searching is the key to locating early spring bass and a jerkbait is the perfect lure for doing this. Jerkbaits are great search lures. Fish them in shallow water less than 10 feet deep over weeds or other types of cover close to spawning areas in early spring. Put your foot on the trolling motor and don't take it off until something bites. Cover lots of water and then find other places to duplicate the pattern.
Jerkbaits come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Some float, some suspend, and some sink. If you are not already relying on a jerkbait for early spring bass fishing, then I would recommend giving them a try. Select a variety of these types of lures then tie one on and give it a try. You'll be glad you did and you just might find a jerkbait to be one of the deadliest lures known to bass.
Would you like some more information on some other great bass fishing lures? Visit early spring bass fishing at www.squidoo.com/top-5-bass-fishing-lures
Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregory_Jackson
EzineArticles.com/?Early-Spring-Bass-Fishing---Jerkbaits,-the-Deadliest-Lure-Known-to-Bass&id=3893660



5 Tips For Early Spring Bass Fishing
By Gordon Casada
In the spring bass are moving from deep water holding areas into the shallower shorelines, feeder streams, and creeks. They are looking for places to prepare for spawning, and are actively on the hunt for food. At this time of year the most plentiful food source available to the bass are worms. The worms have washed into the water by the spring rains, and the winter melt off.
Add all of these 5 tips to your bass fishing repertoire for use on your next spring bass fishing excursion.
1. Warm Water - bass spawn between 65 and 70 degrees, so bring a temperature gauge. By measuring the temperature of the water, you can predict what type of bass you are likely to catch. Male bass move from the deep waters into the shallows when the water temperature is between 65 and 68 degrees. Female bass on the other hand, move into the shallows when water temperature is around 69 to 70.
2. Target Shallow Water - at this time of year there are hungry bass cruising towards the shoreline. Spawning bass will also be available in these locations, and are vulnerable when they are on their spawning beds.
3. Bring a Compass - the water in the north or northwest corner of any lake will usually be slightly warmer. This is due to the position of the sun in the sky at this time of year.
4. Spawning Beds - before you cast you line, survey the shoreline. Look for hard bottom areas in 3 to 6 feet deep water for bedding bass. You can spot a bass' spawning bed by its' circular indentation that is about 2 to 4 feet in diameter.
5. Bait - you will find bass swimming in two distinct modes: spawning bass and cruising bass heading for the shallows.

Spawning Bass - use jigs, worms and suspended stickbaits
Cruising Bass - use spinnerbaits or crankbaits
Looking for other great fishing techniques on how to catch bass in the spring? Want to impress your fishing buddies with your day's catch? Visit www.fishforpeace.com today!
Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gordon_Casada
EzineArticles.com/?5-Tips-For-Early-Spring-Bass-Fishing&id=4548283



Lipless Rattle Baits For Early Spring Bass - Another Bass Fishing Trick!
By Gregory Jackson
If you are looking for another bass fishing trick for early spring bass fishing try using a lipless rattle bait. Yep, that's right. Lipless rattle baits in early spring can be very productive and can often times out produce most other lures under certain conditions.
As warmer spring weather approaches and the water temperature begins to rise, largemouth bass will begin their crusade towards the shallow flats, coves, and channels in search of food and spawning grounds. This is the perfect time of year to intercept these crusading bass with a lipless rattle bait.
There are many lipless rattle baits available on the market today. I would recommend going to your favorite tackle store and picking out a few different sizes and colors to add to your tackle box, and experiment with them to see which one works best. These types of lures are designed to sink until you begin your retrieve. Once you begin your retrieve these lures will run at a constant depth unless you stop your retrieve to let the bait flutter down into holes in weed beds or down the sides of wood cover. The rattle in these lures is more than just a gimmick designed to catch more fisherman than fish. The rattle alerts fish more than silent crank baits do, so the fish may begin zeroing in on the noise of an approaching lure even before it is visible to the fish.
Also, the lipless rattle bait has no diving bill, however, the slanted nose on the lure will deflect it over snags. These traits make these types of lures very versatile for covering both shallow and deep water. Try casting a lipless rattle bait into a shallow weed bed during early spring and let the lure sink down into the weeds. Then rip the lure out of the weeds, pause, and repeat. This tactic can produce some violent reaction strikes and can be deadly on early spring bass. If you haven't tried lipless rattle baits on early spring bass than you are missing out on another bass fishing trick that you can use to put more bass in the boat or on the stringer.
Are you looking for more bass fishing tips? If so, visit bass fishing tricks at www.squidoo.com/largemouth_bass_fishing_techniques
Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregory_Jackson
EzineArticles.com/?Lipless-Rattle-Baits-For-Early-Spring-Bass---Another-Bass-Fishing-Trick!&id=3793088



Largemouth Bass Fishing Techniques - Early Spring Bass Fishing!
By Gregory Jackson
Spring is just around the corner. If you are like me you are anxious to get out and go bass fishing. This largemouth bass fishing techniques article will point out some tips and strategies for early spring bass fishing.
As warmer, spring weather approaches and the water temperature in your favorite fishing spot starts to rise there are or will be a lot of changes going on in the environment that bass live in. Algae will begin to bloom and weeds will start to grow again. As this change starts to take place bait fish, crayfish, aquatic insects, frogs, and all the critters that bass like to eat will move from their winter refuges to shallow water and come to life. When this happens the bass will follow and start cruising the shallow flats, bays, coves, and channels looking for food and spawning grounds.
Early spring is a great time to intercept these cruising bass in shallow water. Look for dark bottom flats, bays, coves, and channels on the north side of the lake or reservoir you are fishing on. The water usually warms up faster on the north side of the lake since it is exposed to more sun during this time of the year. Most of the bass in the lake will be looking for the warmest water available in early spring. Look for areas on shallow flats, bays, coves, or channels that have nice, green and growing weeds. Cast your lures along the insides of these weed lines or weed clumps. Target areas 0 to 6 feet deep.
Minnow or crayfish imitating jigs along with jerk baits or lipless crankbaits work well this time of year. Use smaller lures in early spring and try to "match the hatch." The bait fish and crayfish have not reached their full size yet so try downsizing your lures to give the bass a more natural presentation. This will also require you to downsize your line a size or two to give your lure the best action possible. Don't be afraid to let your lure go down into or graze the tops of the weeds. Try casting a jig or lipless crankbait out, let it sink to the bottom, and then pull it through or rip it out of the weeds, then let it sink to the bottom again, and repeat. This technique can provoke some pretty aggressive strikes during early spring.
Find the warmest water available, find some growing weeds in shallow water, downsize your lures and you will have found some valuable largemouth bass fishing techniques for catching early spring bass.
If you're interested in learning more largemouth bass fishing techniques please visit largemouth bass fishing techniques or www.squidoo.com/largemouth_bass_fishing_techniques.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregory_Jackson
EzineArticles.com/?Largemouth-Bass-Fishing-Techniques---Early-Spring-Bass-Fishing!&id=3679510



Tips For Early Spring Bass Fishing
By Ken Mcbroom
Many anglers hang up their rods when the water temps fall. The bite slows for sure, but bass can still be caught in cold water. There are times when the cold water bite can be just as dramatic as any other time of the year. But, you must be on the water to take advantage of these times. Many of the same presentations you use throughout the season will also work in cold water.
Once the water temps fall to 50 and below bass fishing seems to come to a grinding halt. It is true that bass slow down but they still must eat. There are definitely prime times that bass feed during cold water situations but not all bass feed at the same time so you can catch bass between these prime feeding periods as long as you are there with the right presentation. Cold water bass fishing is like all the other seasons, you must put in the time to learn that season just like you learned where to find pre-spawn or post-spawn bass or where to find mid-summer bass and how to catch them. Catching cold water bass can be a challenge but with information and time on the water you too can enjoy bass fishing even when the water is cold.
I want to introduce you to some of "the other ways" to catch cold water bass and stay away from the jigs and spoons and the other cold water techniques that you have probably read about or heard about. These presentations work and I would never eliminate them from my arsenal but there has been plenty written about those techniques and I want to share some other presentations, that catch cold water bass.
CRANKBAITS: A great bait for cold water bassin' is the crankbait. In cold water, bass primarily target dying shad which can be represented well with a crankbait. Crankbaits are so versatile and can be fished slow or fast, deep or shallow. You can pause a crankbait to allow the lethargic bass to strike. Many anglers argue that cold water bass are all deep and you have to slow roll any bait in order to be succesful. I have found that slow rolling a crankbait does work but there are times when faster retrieves trigger more strikes during certain situations. You have to experiment and learn how and what triggers cold water bass. You hear so much about the jig and trailer combo. The jig is so effective on so many lakes because of the winter kill of shad leaving bass no option but to feed primarily on crawfish, hence the jig, however, with the abundance of shad on mid-west waters I assure you the shad populations remain high throughout the cold water season and this is why the crankbait can be so effective.
TOPWATER: You say. WHAT! That is exactly what I said to my boss for weeks leading up to a company bass tournament we had in January. He brought in his limit caught on a floating rapala and I think there was one other bass caught and it was not mine. Fishing on top was unorthodox for that time of year, for us at least, but obviously it worked and made a believer out of me. The best presentation I have found, and the same one my boss used to smoke us all in that tournament long ago, is the floating rapala. The trick to fishing top water when the water is cold is to fish it slow. Just fish the same as in the spring or fall but slow way down with long pauses between subtle twitches. This method is especially effective in clear water where the bass can see the lure when fished over deep water. Dying shad sink when they die but shad with a little life left in them will swim erratically without direction and the rapala fished on top mimics this perfectly.
SINKING WORM: Over the last couple seasons I have been using a sinking worm presentation that really works well on cold water bass. This method was something I tried in the summer on main lake points to target suspended bass in the middle of the day. It worked and I thought that it might work on cold water bass as well, and it does. My weapon of choice is the yum dinger but senkos and other sinking worms should work fine as long as the sink rate is slow. You can rig the sinking worm several ways but I prefer the texas rig, even in open water. The texas rig seems to give the bait a more zig and zag along with the erratic movements that make these baits so effective. The texas rig also gives you a little more control over your worm. By adjusting the worm a certain way on the hook you can get an up, or in this case, a down swimming presentation. Give your worm an erratic retrieve, no more than a couple of feet, before allowing the worm to slowly sink for several seconds before the next short retrieve then pause. This method is a great way to search the water column and the erratic movement of the worm drives bass crazy. The pause is where many of the strikes will occur and I keep a slack line and watch for movement. Sometimes the strike is tough to detect but many times there is no problem seeing it, especially on this rig.
Cold water bass fishing can be tough at times but there are plenty of bass still willing to cooperate. I hope this information will get you out there and experimenting with these tips and enjoy a longer season of bass fishing as well as joining many other anglers in dispelling some of the myths surrounding cold water bassin'.
Visit the authors website for more down home fishing information.
www.ramblingangler.com
Check out my website for more down home fishing information.
Authors website
www.ramblingangler.com
Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Mcbroom
EzineArticles.com/?Tips-For-Early-Spring-Bass-Fishing&id=5472405



 Indiana Bass Fishing, bass Tournaments, Spring Bass Fishing, Fishing for Bass, Fishing Facts, Jerkbaits, Indiana Fishing Info, Fishing, Indiana Fishing & Hot Spots, Top Water Bass, Fly Fishing Bass, Indiana Tourism, Indiana, Spring Fishing, Mushroom Hunting, Indiana Information


 Indiana Fishing & Hot Spots PO Box 1270 Martinsville Indiana 46151 www.indianainfo.net/newforum/index.php