the spawn, you can catch post spawn and pre spawn bass on the same structure. Then as the spawn winds down these areas will hold the last wave of post spawners vacating the bedding areas and moving out to deeper water. Something to remember is that when you find one of these migration routes, be sure to create at least one waypoint - and usually more - to mark these structure features; because, the fish that use them moving up and will usually use the same route moving back out. Therefore, you will have areas to fish for two or three months in the spring and these routes will be used again in subsequent years to come. i would like to emphasize that you need to chase the fish while migrating; because when they are in the pre spawn mode they are more actively feeding in preparation for the spawn, so they are usually more aggressive. When you find the bass in the post spawn mode, they are beat up and tired; but soon after they move off the beds, they start to feed actively to put the weight back on that they lost spawning and the bite is on. to catch bass in each of these two modes requires some experimentation, like in most fishing excursions; but pre spawn bass will hit the YUMbrella and individual swimbaits real well. The cooler water encountered when the bass start this migration lends itself to the swimbait technique, as they are very likely to focus on a larger meal to put on weight for the rigors of the spawn that is right around the corner. i use both individual swimbaits; but really like the multiple presentation of the multiple swimbaits on the YUMbrella since they’ve became available. This is a technique that really took the market by storm ; but has lost some of its glamour as a lot of guys tried it and didn’t catch fish on the rig, so they put it down. i found
My absolute favorite technique and bait for the post spawn bass it the YUM Dinger. I use a Dobyns DX 743s spinning rod with a 5-inch YUM Dinger, usually green pumpkin, and a 3/16-oz nail weight. This is by far the best post spawn, summertime bait I have ever found. I won over $17,000 last year on this bait with my team partners.
that the time of the year is key to this presentation. When the water is cooler in late fall through winter to early spring has been the best time of the year for me. This means the pre spawn time is just about the best time to throw a YUMbrella with the Money Minnows on it. deep crankbaits like the Bomber Fat Free Shad, Booyah jigs and spinnerbaits also merit some time in your day as you dissect the areas the bass use to get to the shallows in the spring. as these same fish you are targeting in the pre spawn will be the fish that you will catch as they migrate back to the depths as post spawn fish. These techniques will work on post spawn fish also; but since these bass are tired and can be a little beat up i usually opt for a more subtle approach. Work the jig very slowly, utilize the drop shot or darthead a worm or drag a YUM Money Minnow rigged on a lead head slowly along the bottom. You can drag the Money Minnow like you would the jig to get some really big bites from these sluggish fish.
The point i want to make here is that when spring comes and the big bass become vulnerable, there are more ways to catch them than to fight and elbow your way through all the bed fishermen. Give it a try and see for yourself.
spring 2013
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