| 1. Water temperature - When lake temperatures | | | | hump in this channel, it could be a bass hotel. |
| rise into the upper 50 to 60 degree range, bass | | | | 8. If wind becomes a problem, switch to a |
| are on the move. This is the time when they | | | | swimbait. Or move up into a deep cove and fish |
| begin to move toward their spawning areas. | | | | the channel. |
| 2. Creek channels are like highways for moving | | | | 9. Fish a swimbait or jerkbait like a Huskey Jerk |
| bass. Points on these creek channels are stop | | | | slowly - jerk..wait 10 - 20 seconds...jerk again...hang |
| over points, fish these with a crankbait for bass. | | | | on. These work great in 2 to 6 feet of water. |
| Bounce it along the bottom around points and | | | | 10. A cold front now will send bass back into |
| drop offs. Try green and craw colors. | | | | deeper water. This too, means they will feed less. |
| 3. During pre-spawn the water is colder and bass | | | | Back to the deeper channels, boys. |
| may still be a little sluggish, so slow down your | | | | 11. In shallow coves, the water warms faster - |
| presentation. Whatever lure you use, fish it slow. | | | | bass will seek out this warmer water, looking for |
| 4. Fish points, drop offs, ledges, old road beds, rip | | | | schools of shad and crawfish. A jig and pig here is |
| rap and grassy areas with close access to deeper | | | | hard to beat.Try a small jig with a craw trailer |
| water, but near spawning areas. | | | | using a slow dragging retrieve. |
| 5. Bass love weeds! Find an area with weedbeds | | | | 12. Another recipe for success: Find a channel |
| adjacent to a channel that feeds from a spawning | | | | point close to a spawning area, bounce a Berkley |
| area. This is a good time for topwater baits, big | | | | Chigger Craw along the bottom slowly. Try a |
| worms or lizards, or a slow-rolling spinnerbait. | | | | crawdad color or pumpkinseed. |
| 6. When the water temperature in coves | | | | 13. After a few good warm days, try for bass in |
| maintains over 60 degrees, bass will start moving | | | | stump fields and spawning areas. Bump a |
| in to spawn. This is the time for fun, these bass | | | | crankbait off of the stumps, slowly, or use a |
| will be hungry, and will eat almost anything. | | | | spinnerbait or a topwater lure. Think the fish are |
| 7. If you already know where the bass will be | | | | deeper? Try a Carolina rigged lizard or a floating |
| spawning, fish the channels approaching these | | | | worm. |
| areas, and if you can locate a sharp bend or | | | | |