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Crankbait Tactics for Huge Pre-Spawn Bass | |
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Comment The Post Below...
Hello Anglers,
Small creeks tend to hold more big bass. This is because
they receive little fishing pressure. Small creeks are
usually fed by springs and they are really clear. With the
clear water you will have to use natural colored lures.
Try casting up stream and bring your lure back down stream
and fish it around rocks and logs. Don't forget, because
most of these streams are spring-fed they are cool, so if
you get hot don't be afraid to jump in.
Remember you can comment on any story or read comments
by visiting: Bass Matters Blog
Enjoy a week of fishing!
Brock
email Brock
Crankbait Tactics for Huge Pre-Spawn Bass
By Steve VonBrandt
One of the most effective ways to catch huge pre-spawn bass
in lakes and rivers are lipless crankbaits. These baits are
especially effective when the water temperature is between
49 and 58 degrees, especially in stained or muddy water in
lakes, ponds, and rivers. Some of the techniques outlined
below will help you catch bigger bass all over the country
in the early spring starting in March, and peaking in April.
TYPES OF BAITS
There are a variety of lipless crankbaits on the market that
catch bass, but in the spring, in most of the waters in the
Northeast, the "Rat-L-Trap" by Bill Lewis Lures, the
"Rattlin' Rapala," and the "Viva Vibe," are some of the best.
All lipless crankbaits have a different sound. Some are much
louder than others, and will produce when some other quieter
baits won't. At other times, the quieter rattling baits will
produce more. You just have to experiment with several baits
until you find the ones that are producing best in the
particular body of water you're fishing. Sometimes the same
baits, in the same size, by the same company, make slightly
different sounds that can be better than the other.
Experimentation is the only way to find which bait works the
best. Some baits won't run as true at different speeds, and
they turn sideways a little more than others, so you just
have to watch them in the water, and find the best ones.
The hooks should always be changed to a premium hook system
such as "Gamakatsu" or "Owner" or "Eagle Claw" Premium.
There are many other great hooks, but I prefer these. Most
of your lipless crankbaits should be used in a 1/4 to 1/2
ounce size, but recently, bigger bass in the Northeast and
in Florida have hit the bigger Slat Water Traps in the 3/4
to 1 ounce sizes.
COLORS OF BAITS
The best colors for the spring, especially if you have a lot
of Crawfish in the lake, are red, red/orange, and brownish/
orange. Some have spots on them and these are very effective.
The standard Chrome, and Chrome with a blue back, and Chrome
and Red, have worked especially well for the larger bass. If
the water is extremely stained to muddy, we found that the
red, and the chartreuse/brown combinations work well in this
kind of situation also.
If you have a lot of bluegill in the area, and less crawfish
or shad, then the bluegill/Suncracker patterns work very
well. The primary forage in the lakes are the best patterns,
unless you know that many anglers are aware of this, and are
using these colors also. Then switching to unconventional
patterns can fool some of the wary bigger bass.
Continued...
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TECHNIQUES
Most people just cast the baits out and reel them straight
in. While this will always catch some bass, there are more
specialized methods that trigger strikes from the bigger
bass. Cast the Rat-L-Traps out, and depending on the depth
of the water, count them down to the level of the fish
before starting the retrieve, and if it is a sandy and/or
gravel/rocky type of bottom, let them sink to the bottom,
then slowly raise the tip of the rod till you feel the lure
vibrating, reeling the slack up a little, then lower the
rod tip, and do it again.
Many times they will hit as it is on the bottom, and first
starts to be lifted up. If these techniques don't work in a
few hours, use a slight pumping action of the rod as you
reel, keeping contact with the bait. If it hits a rock,
weeds, or other structure, hesitate a second, and then rip
it off quickly, and reel it in with a steady retrieve. You
can also yo-yo the bait similar to a spoon or spinnerbait
in deeper water near points and drop-offs, which can be
extremely effective in colder water or on inactive fish
that are suspended.
Most of the time in water below 58 degrees they hit very
mushy, like grass or leaves, but most of the time it is a
bass. As they get close to the boat they will see you and
make a dash for the trolling motor, and down to deeper water,
sometimes even breaking the surface to throw the lure. The
bass have to played very carefully as lipless crankbaits
come out of the bass's mouth much more easily than you might
imagine. Most of the bass will be in the shallower water off
the flats, near deeper water, rip-raps, if available, or any
place where there is baitfish and or cover near the North
shore or bay, close to food sources, near where they are
going to spawn.
EQUIPMENT
I like to use sinning gear for the smaller 1/4 ounce baits,
and I use baitcast gear for the larger 3/4 to 1 1/2 ounce
baits. I usually use a 7 foot spinning rod in medium action
so as not to pull the bait from their mouths, usually a S-
Glass rod, or a "G.Loomis cranking rod. In the baitcasters,
I use a 7 foot, medium to med/heavy rod, with a high speed
reel, but many people prefer a good reel in a 5:0:1 or 5:3:1
gear ratio. I always use "Spiderline" super mono in 10-12
pound test, but 8 pound test is preferred by many.
Stren is also a good line for this. Fan cast the baits in as
many directions as possible in the prime areas such as the
mouths of the back bays with creeks, where grasses and rip-
rap, are on a harder bottom, and you will start picking up
some of these monsters this spring. A good scent on the
baits, such "Yum" in Crawfish scent, can't hurt either.
Whether it triggers more strikes is debatable, but at the
very least, it masks any human scent on your hands.
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FISHING JOKES CORNER
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A local fisherman is returning from a fishing trip with 6
large size salmon in his creel. Nosy Parker comes along and
asks if the man been fishing. "Yes!" replied the stalwart.
Asked what bait he had been using our hero replied that he
had used chewing tobacco. Parker asked how one used chewing
tobacco as bait, and the fisherman replied, "I put the
tobacco on the hook in the normal way, cast in the normal
way and when the fish strikes I haul back on the line to
hook it. When the fish comes up to spit, I hit it on the
head with the butt of my rod!
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Questions? Comments? email: Email brock
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