When the water temperature gets close to 50 degrees here in Southeast Georgia, bass will start moving into their pre-spawn staging areas. This also triggers some of the most aggressive feeding habits of bass you will experience.  Though it can be some of the best fishing all year, it also can be frustrating. Covering water is key to having a successful pre-spawn season. Bass will school up and move around just outside their spawning areas. Here I will discuss the five pre-spawn baits I like to use. 

Lipless for Pre-Spawn

This is probably the most effective bait for finding fish this time of the year. Try different retrieves beyond just casting and cranking. Make a yo-yo of the bait and rip in and out of the grass. Once you find a school of fish, make sure you stay on them. You can catch multiple out of the school. If they stop biting, try switching to a silent lipless crankbait or pick up your jerk bait to keep the school fired up.

Jerk Bait

As bass begin to stage upon the primary and secondary points, a jerk bait can be a deadly bait. Particularly if you get a spring cold front that might cause the schools to pull back and suspend. Don’t forget to watch for changing conditions too. If the wind picks up, a jerk bait should always be one of your top choices.

A-RIG

Some people avoid this rig because of its size. With multiple smaller versions available there is no reason not to be throwing this super effective bait. The rig imitates a small school of baitfish that actively feeding bass cannot resist. If your state only allows for two or three hooks, make sure to put your dummy baits on the top and your jighead baits on the bottom.

Swimbaits

Swimbaits can be classified into different categories. Different categories such as plastics and glide baits. One thing is to try different styles and sizes. Smaller plastic paddle tail baits are fantastic when rigged on a swimbait head or an underspin. Do not be afraid to fish larger swimbaits this time of year, as bass are always looking for that one big happy meal. Glide baits are also a really great bait because they can catch hawgs in the spring.

This time of the year, bass can be unpredictable on a day-to-day basis. A couple of degrees of water change to the moon phase can have bass move to different staging areas. Do not waste a lot of time in a particular area. If you do not catch any move to a different area. Once you find the fish, stay there until you do not catch anymore. I hope these five pre-spawn baits help you on your next adventure.

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