bass prespawn water temperature

During the pre-spawn, the bass are actively feeding to build up energy and moving in from the deeper water. Throughout the prespawn, Hite places more merit on past and future water temperature than he does current temperatures. By now, most bass have moved shallow and are actively feeding to gain strength for spawning. It begins at about 45 degrees for a water temperature maybe a little earlier. Another method is to start in shallow water and then go deep. Conversely, short casts spooked fewer fish but covered less water. "This time of year, the predominant wind direction is out of the northwest," he explains. I used a host of plastic baits fished in different ways with great success. To take advantage of the prespawn period, you must know how these bass are responding to the current water temperatures and where they are located throughout the prespawn. “In these conditions, I like to look for shallow water with adjacent deep water and focus on the break lines.” During the prespawn period a warm front can push more fish into shallower water. Once the water hits 50 degrees, bass are definitely in a prespawn mode. I didn’t spend nearly enough time using this bait, but plan to do so in coming years. On this map, he’ll search for inside and outside creek channel bends. Regardless of the weather, stealth is key. Ahead of me I could see big, broad green backs and tail fins sticking out of the water as largemouth bass attempted to herd baitfish toward the banks. Lesson learned: bass don’t read books or scientific articles, so expect the unexpected. However, during most springs, you will probably have a rather narrow window of time when both males and females are present and not spawning. It also involves using the right set of tools. Unfortunately, it’s not as cut-and-dry as hopping in your boat, checking your graph and going fishing. After locating several promising areas, he’ll get on the water and scour the areas for the best available shallow cover. During this time period, the fish will begin to move into the actual spawning areas. The winter thaw has ended and it’s getting warmer which means, it must be spring! These bass become more aggressive feeders, not only because of the effect of the increase of the surrounding water temperature on their metabolic rate (their rate of using food stores for energy,) but also because of the related need to feed and store energy for the impending spawn. I like a palomar knot when tying most superlines to a swivel or hook, but make sure to use a double palomar knot when using Nanofil. Similarly, a weightless Zoom Super Fluke rigged Texas style with a 3/0 or 4/0 EWG hook and a 4-inch worm on a shaky-head jig will be something I try more this year. The most productive bait I used was a 4¼-inch Bass Pro Shops Stik-O-Worm, a Senko-type soft-plastic bait. When the water temperature gets close to 50 degrees, bass are going to start moving into their prespawn areas. Early prespawn bass fishing gives anglers an excellent opportunity to catch monster bass. You can fish this rig by simply casting out and letting it sit for a minute or two or by slowly dragging it back toward the boat by gently lifting your rod. Bass spawn when the water temperature is between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Prespawn Spring Bass – Water Temperature is Crucial. That final day really moved the fish and they were on top of the point and moving in toward the shallows,” ad… “I always want to make sure I know the past and future forecasts for the lake I’m fishing.”. The fish will begin to scatter a bit and the smaller males will begin to build the nests. I had good luck with a 7-foot medium-heavy-power All-Star rod coupled with an Abu Garcia Revo reel spooled with 20-pound-test Spiderwire braid tied directly to the frog. The previous two weeks had been unseasonably cool and rainy. 95 $19.95 $19.95. Days with a breeze make it more difficult to see fish, but the fish tend to be less spooked by your presence. Due to these rains, the water in the pond was up about two feet more than normal and I was expecting a typical day of pre-spawn bass fishing – cruising the shoreline looking for wood or rocks that might hold a bit of heat and a few bass. However, the consistent fact was that they were feeding and shallow, most in less than three feet of water. December 23, 2020. For frogs, I had good luck with both a Spro Bronzeye frog and a Snag Proof frog. Remember that this is, for the most part, finesse fishing at its best. My favorite color was watermelon gold flake, which in my mind looks like the sides of a juvenile yellow perch. Prespawn warming trends can turn into outrageous fishing days. This weekend is much different however. The true prespawn period occurs when the water temperature reaches the mid 50’s. Migration routes are important now in lakes and reservoirs. This specific area was filled with matted humps of dirt and clay, some undercut banks, and several beaver huts. Long casts obviously allowed me to cover more water, but I tended to spook more fish. originalDevice: deviceType:desktop. For this reason, Hite doesn’t let current temperatures dictate how he goes about finding large concentrations of bass. If alerted to the presence of a fish, try to cast slightly to either side of it or just a little short of it, but never over or past it. Generally speaking however, smallmouth bass will exhibit prespawn characteristics in waters ranging from 50 to 58 degrees, while largemouths will do the same … Spring bass fishing presents anglers with the opportunity to catch some of the biggest bass of the year. Required fields are marked *, Copyright © 2021 On The Water, LLC. “There’s no doubt in my mind that a Mop Jig is the best prespawn big fish bait I’ve ever thrown,” Hite said. 48-55 Degrees (Prespawn) Bass follow migration routes in larger bodies of water. Some record heat in late March has the water temperatures in the 56-58 degree range on most of the lake, and the fill rate is bringing the level up to looking at the top. The water temperature on the lake has been in the low to mid 50’s for a couple of months now, but a cold snap this week may change the temperature to the high 40’s for a while. Find the warmest water during the pre-spawn, and you will usually find bass. Mojo rigs work well for fishing flooded trees or brush. After a mild cold snap rolls through your favorite lake, you’re now dealing with 55 degree temperatures, cranky bass and an empty livewell. Once the water temperature hits roughly 50 degrees, bass will be in shallow water and be willing to hit a buzzbait. Bass anglers fishing the prespawn will want to narrow their lure choices to a select few of the best prespawn bass lures. We will see. Your decision on casting distance will depend on weather conditions (calm or breezy) and fish reaction. It was May 1, and I was pre-spawn largemouth bass fishing a clear body of water in southern New Hampshire I had fished many times before. I primarily used spinning tackle for this type of fishing and most of the time used relatively light rods and reels, which in my mind increases the fun. This spring, if conditions are right, get out in New England and fish for some pre-spawn backwater largemouth bass. In falling prespawn water temperatures, bass won’t move too far from their preferred shallow dwellings, but they will slide back into deeper water and suspend until they’re adjusted to the current conditions. As the spawning cycle ends and water temperature levels stabilize somewhat during late spring and early summer, most bass move off the flats and into relatively deeper water, where they spend the hottest days. A quality pair of sunglasses will help greatly with locating fish. The spotted bass on Lake Shasta seem to be more active than in the really cold conditions, and susceptible to baits dropping into their area. 50 degree water is the magic number for when to absolutely bass fish. It all comes down to finding the warmest water possible. Large Floating Pool Thermometer Aquatix Pro Premium Water Temperature Thermometers with String, Shatter Resistant, for Outdoor & Indoor Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, Aquariums & Fish Ponds (1) 3.9 out of 5 stars 1,439. Water Temperature Dictates Spring Bass Fishing's Kick-Off As mild late winter weather persists, the bass prespawn will kick off with rising water temperatures According to the calendar, late winter should be in full command across much of the country, though a mild run of weather conditions would seem to indicate otherwise. “In these conditions, I like to look for shallow water with adjacent deep water and focus on the break lines.”. Due to the potentially short-lived nature of this opportunity, anglers can’t be too picky about weather conditions when deciding to fish these areas. I live in New Hampshire and all of these baits and techniques you mentioned are great, Your email address will not be published. February is great bass prespawn month on Indian Creek Reservoir Andre Oliver lips and grips a chunky Indian Creek bass that smashed a Luck-E-Strike … As the bass begin to vacate their deep, wintertime homes in search of shallower water throughout the prespawn, Phoenix Boats pro Davy Hite studies one element more so than others—water temperature. Rely on your trolling motor to enter these backwater areas, and once fishing, minimize your trolling motor use and move as quietly and slowly as possible. Drop-shotting worked as well. Once on the water, the New Jersey pro typically looks for northwestern banks when beginning his quest to find prespawn bass. It was sunny and calm, and the main lake water temperature was 58 degrees. The type of lake you're fishing, but remember these bass are gonna be in a place where they can move up and down a certain bank. My most productive colors were watermelon or green pumpkin, but make sure to research the most prevalent prey fish in the water you plan on fishing in order to aid in your color selection. Prespawn bass fishing sounds so simple, yet can be confusing. However, ask many tournament pros and they will tell you that one of the best times of the year to catch a big fish on a buzzbait is during the prespawn. A size 1 or 2 Gamakatsu split/drop shot hook and 1/8-ounce weight in combination with a Hag’s Tornado, Zoom Baby Brush Hog, or a Mayo’s drop-shot paddletail did the trick for me. “When the water temperature is on the rise, I’ll still target the same shallow water areas near deep water, except now I will really focus on shallow cover, whether it’s blowdowns, stumps or docks,” Hite said. I was scratching my head now. “If you’re making a game plan solely based on the current water temperature without researching the previous conditions, you’re making a big mistake,” Hite said. Some of us have fancy machines on our boats that figure that stuff out for us, so it should be simple enough, right? The previous two weeks had been unseasonably cool and rainy. Early spring bass fishing is phenomenal if you can get in the habit of paying attention to past and future conditions. This type of fishing can be frustrating, and I was constantly questioning what type of cast to make. Timmy Horton Outdoors. Finally a #1 light wire hook, such as Gamakatsu straight worm light wire, completed the rig. One, here was an area, normally inaccessible to me in a boat, that was the warmest spot in the lake because its shallow depth and small size allowed it to warm faster than the rest of the lake. “I think the longer, thicker living rubber is a big deal to these aggressive prespawn bass. This creates more feeding competition, and makes the fish easier to find. At this time, the fish are beginning to move up into shallower water and staging areas feeding up and searching for the best spawning grounds. Despite the shallower water in the cove, the temperature was only a degree warmer than the main lake, and given the number of bites I was getting, the fish weren’t there. site: sports | ptype: stories | pageType: stories | Throughout the country, spring is prime time to cash in on numbers of aggressive bass emerging from their deep water winter haunts. Fishing in this situation and with these techniques is incredibly fun. Knowing where the water temperature has been and where it’s going can give you a big competitive advantage as the bass move throughout the water column to adjust to changing water temperatures. Two superlines I have found that I really like for spinning reels are Berkley Nanofil and original Fireline. This is also a great opportunity for New England canoe and kayak anglers to connect with some great bass. I caught 20 bass and spooked twice that many. It’s important to understand, however, that the body temperature of cold blooded bass fluctuates, making them especially susceptible to small changes in temperature. This also triggers some of the most aggressive feeding habits that they will have all year as they prepare for the spawn. Another prime spot to locate early spring bass is a transition bank where the fish start their migrating from their winter haunts to the spawning sites. Never run your big motor. In either case, accuracy is key, as is getting your lure to splashdown as quietly as possible. As the bass emerge from their deep, ... That really depends on the fishery, but shallow areas give me a complete overview of the water temperature which is a huge deal in the early prespawn. Though it can be some of … Most bites, when a topwater lures is not involved, come as a slight tap or with the line simply moving. However, bass anglers expecting fewer, but better quality bass will be content until the days become longer and the warmer sunnier days begin to increase the water temperature closer to spring. “If that sun comes out and really starts to warm up the water, look for big bass chomping at the bit to feed.”. You were wearing them out last week—60 degree water, sunshine and a nice breeze helped you catch a sack full of big largemouth. Pre-Spawn, Spawn & Post-Spawn. Fishing success this time of year calls for flexibility and the ability to pattern bass effectively. When he runs across shallow cover with deep water nearby, he breaks out his favorite prespawn bait—a Buckeye Lures Mop Jig. The water temperatures will begin to warm to 52-54 degrees. During this time period, the fish will be very object orientated and move toward the shallow side of any cover they can find in these spawning areas. Bass can be related to other animals such as deer when considering their movement patterns. I also did well with a Carolina rig using a mojo-style sinker. Each morning I would catch them one after another on that spot,” recalls Powroznik. ... Today, we just feel that water temperature warming up and today is getting longer this time of year, they should really be chopping. In other words, what the taper is and where these bass are gonna be located. If Hite notices a warming trend in the immediate forecast, he breaks out his secret weapon—a paper map. Calm days are great, as they allow you to look for fish activity such as surface wakes and fish finning, but they also make the fish more skittish as they are able to see you and your lure better. Is where the clarity stops triggers some of the biggest bass of the year temperature, and makes fish! And scour the areas for the spawn occurs bass spawn when the water, sunshine and a nice helped... Push more fish into shallower water also triggers some of the biggest bass of the best available shallow and. 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As a Castalia Sharkfin, or Pflueger Patriarch or Supreme XT will work well for fishing flooded or...
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