Pre-spawn bass are feeding heavy

Here's where to find them

Hey, Keith here.

As bank anglers, we often make the mistake of fishing either too deep or too shallow during the pre-spawn period, missing out on the most productive zones where bass are actually holding.

Right now, in most parts of the country, largemouth bass are positioning themselves near their future spawning grounds, feeding heavily to build up energy for the upcoming spawn. 

This makes it one of the best times of the year to catch quality bass—if you know where to look.

Most bank anglers make two critical mistakes during the pre-spawn:

First, they get stuck in their winter pattern, focusing on deep water and bottom presentations.

Second, they jump the gun and fish too shallow, hoping to catch early spawners before the water temperature is right.

Today I’m going to show you exactly where to find pre-spawn bass.

NEW: Bass lures cheat sheet 🔥

I’m excited to say that after spending multiple weeks on this project, I’ve finished updating our bass lures cheat sheet!

This bad boy will help you choose what type of lure to throw based on season, water temp, depth, and water clarity.

In addition (not pictured above) there is a second page which tells you what color lure to throw as well.

You can download and print it for free by clicking the button below:

If you use it, please let me know if it is helpful by shooting an email back to me!

Fellow Fishing Fanatic of the Week 🔥

The Fishing Fanatic of the Week is Robby Gray with a giant upstate New York Largemouth! 

Heck of a catch, Robby!

Want to show off your awesome catch? Then reply to this email with your favorite fishing picture, a little about yourself, and how you caught the stud!

BEST LINKS

What I watched this week

  • Choosing the Best Bass Fishing Lures Must Know Secrets! (Anglers)

  • Easy Guide to Pre-Spawn Bass Fishing (Fish the Moment)

Deal of the week

The Fisherman’s Factory Outlet is offering a 50% discount on Berkley PowerBait and Abu Garcia rod-and-reel combos.

DEEP DIVE 

How to find and catch pre-spawn bass from the bank

Let me tell you a quick story that changed how I approach pre-spawn bass fishing forever.

I was walking the bank of a local pond, power fishing with a white KVD spinnerbait, focusing on the shallows. After striking out completely, I made what felt like a random cast into deeper water—and that's when it happened.

The line stopped, I set the hook, and a chunky three-pounder flopped onto the shore.

That's when it hit me. The fish I'd been looking for in the shallows was actually staging in deeper water, right where she'd eventually spawn in a few weeks.

If I had to summarize how to locate pre-spawn bass in one word, it would be "halfway." These bass aren't deep, and they aren't shallow—they're somewhere in between, typically in a range of 8–15 feet. 

The reason these fish hang out in this depth is that during the spring, water temperatures can fluctuate, dropping from the 70s to the 50s after a cold front blows through.

By holding up in 8–15 feet of water, bass are able to get to deeper, warmer water when a front passes through. 

How to capitalize on this pre-spawn pattern:

Location is everything.

  • Focus on areas in 8–15 feet of water, which are usually located around 20 feet off the shoreline. 

  • Look for ledges and drop-offs near potential spawning flats.

  • Remember where you caught spawning bass last year—they'll be staging nearby in deeper water.

Throw the right lures.

Choose baits that stay in the strike zone longer. This means baits that stay appealing even if you stop turning the handle.

This gives pre-spawn bass more time to commit. The following are some lures and tips to help choose the right colored lures for pre-spawn bass:

  • Use mid-range baits that suspend in the water column. This is the section of water that is neither on the bottom nor on the surface. 

  • Use jerkbaits (Zumverno 95 SP Flashboost is my favorite) after a cold front passes through and the temps drop. 

  • For jerkbaits, use a “reel-and-pause” rhythm. Two fast turns of the reel handle then a long pause in between. This lets the bait suspend like a wounded shad for a few seconds.

  • Spinnerbaits (BOOYAH Glow Blade Double Willow) and crankbaits (Rapala DT Series) work well during warmer temperatures. 

  • Bold, non-translucent colored lures work best in murky water (white and black).

  • Natural and clear colored lures work best in clean water (smoke and silver).

Let the water quality decide the type of line.

  • Use 15-pound monofilament or fluorocarbon line when fishing clean water.

  • Use 10–12-pound braid in murky water.

Use temperature to stay ahead of the fish's movement.

  • When water temps are in the 50s, fish that middle zone.

  • Once temps hit 60s, bass will push all the way to the shallows.

Spawning zones and dates for the U.S.