Looking ahead to pre-spawn fishing

While most area lakes and ponds are still crusted with a thick layer of ice, history says that the annual spring thaw is coming up quick. For bass anglers, that means it is time to look forward to the pre-spawn.

In the upper Midwest, regional bass species spawn anywhere from late April until mid-June. Though many regard the spawning period as the premier time to be fishing, those that are in the know will tell you that you can get into some serious numbers of quality fish before they head for their beds.

When it comes to locating fish during the pre-spawn, the devil is in the details. The goal of pre-spawn fishing is to find fish in shallower waters where they stage before they start spawning. The move to staging grounds doesn't begin in earnest until there is an extended warm-up. Once water temperatures rise to near the 40-degree mark, movement generally begins to occur.

Locating pre-spawn fish, while very much possible, is something of an inexact science that varies from place to place. Bass schools tend to be nomadic during the early going, so it pays to move until you find fish. You will want to target transitional areas where deep water sits close to shallow water. Look for points, holes or submerged structure to find the hot schools.

As far as lure choice is concerned, pre-spawn fish tend to be aggressive once you find them, as they want to bulk up before the spawn. Classic pre-spawn baits include lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits, blade baits, casting jigs and bladed jigs. The versatility of these bait styles is what makes them pre-spawn favorites. Vary your retrieve and continue to do so until you find a pattern.

Additionally, color is an important consideration for pre-spawn bait selection. Because the pre-spawn coincides with spring rains and snow runoff, you may find that visibility can be challenged during this time of year. As a rule of thumb, bold or high-visibility colors work best in stained or muddy water and more natural finishes do best in clear water.

Ultimately, the pre-spawn period is great for anglers, as the opportunity to get back to open water fishing comes right as fish start feeding heavily.

Do remember the fish you target during the pre-spawn are participants of the spawn and are needed to maintain healthy populations. If we all pitch in to that end, we can have a great resource for generations to come.