Learning tips for fishing prespawn smallmouth bass is crucial for a successful fishing trip. Many anglers find prespawn smallmouth bass fishing to be one of the most exciting times of the year. As winter fades and water temperatures rise, smallmouth bass become more active. Understanding how to target smallmouth bass during this period will lead to some of the best fishing days of the season.
We will discuss key strategies to help you catch more prespawn smallmouth bass. You’ll discover their movement patterns, the best times of day to fish, top bait choices, and the importance of covering water for success. By the end, you’ll know how to take advantage of prime fishing windows and enhance your chances of landing a trophy smallmouth.
Understand Smallmouth Prespawn Phase
The prespawn phase begins as water temperatures climb into the mid-40s to mid-50s (°F). Smallmouth bass migrate from deeper waters to shallower staging areas to feed heavily before moving from the pre-spawn phase to spawning. Here’s a breakdown of areas and types of water conditions to seek for smallmouth bass during the prespawn.
Key Prespawn Smallmouth Bass Staging Areas
- Rock piles & boulders: Smallmouth bass prefer hard-bottom areas with scattered rocks because they attract baitfish and crawfish. Additionally, rocks retain heat, allowing smallmouth and their prey to warm up as water temperatures remain cool.
- Grass lines & weed edges: As new vegetation grows, it provides cover and ambush points for smallmouth to feed.
- Bottom composition changes: Transitions from gravel to sand or mud to rock can concentrate fish.
Ideal Water Depth & Clarity
- Depth: Smallmouth bass often hold in 15–30 feet of water during early prespawn. As temperatures rise, they to 5–15 feet near flats, points, and drop-offs.
- Clarity: In clear water, smallmouth rely on sight to hunt. Sight-hunting for smallmouth bass makes natural-colored baits and finesse presentations effective. In stained water, brighter colors and louder baits become key.
Understanding these locations and conditions will help you target the right areas where prespawn smallmouth are actively feeding.
Best Time of Day to Fish Prespawn Smallmouth Bass
Learning the best time of day to fish prespawn smallmouth bass is crucial for success. During the prespawn phase, smallmouth bass behavior changes throughout the day. Here’s a breakdown of the best times to fish:
- Early morning (6 AM – 9 AM): Smallmouth bass are less active in colder water but will still strike reaction baits like jerkbaits and crankbaits near deeper structures.
- Mid-morning to afternoon (9 AM – 3 PM): Smallmouth bass move shallower and become more aggressive when the sun warms the water. This is often the best time to fish, especially on sunny days.
- Evening (3 PM – sunset): Activity slows slightly but can still produce bites, especially with slower presentations like NED rigs and tubes.
The best fishing tends to occur after the sun has had time to warm up the water. Warmer water triggers smallmouth bass to feed more actively.
Best Baits For Fishing Prespawn Smallmouth Bass
Choosing the best baits for fishing prespawn smallmouth bass and presentation makes a big difference. Below are 7 commonly used baits for this time of season that are successful during smallmouth bass prespawn season.
1. R.A. NED Bait
- Best Technique: Rig the R.A. NED on a mushroom head jig for a finesse presentation.
- When to Use: Great for finicky fish in clear water.
- Cadence: A slow hop-and-drag retrieve with long pauses is ideal.
2. Large Larry Tube Bait
- Best Technique: Texas-rigged the Large Larry Tube or on a jig head mimics a crawfish.
- When to Use: Around rock piles and bottom transitions.
- Cadence: Drag it along the bottom with occasional twitches.
3. Wiggle Stick
- Best Technique: Wacky rigged the Wiggle Stick offers a subtle and slow-falling presentation.
- When to Use: Ideal for pressured fish in calm conditions.
- Cadence: Let it sink naturally and give small twitches.
4. Crankbaits
- Best Technique: Medium-diving crankbaits that deflect off rocks.
- When to Use: Warmer prespawn days when smallmouth are aggressive.
- Cadence: A steady retrieve with occasional pauses or deflections.
5. Jerkbaits
- Best Technique: Suspending jerkbaits that stay in the strike zone.
- When to Use: In clear water with actively feeding fish.
- Cadence: Vary between aggressive twitches and long pauses.
6. Hair Jigs
- Best Technique: Light jigs that imitate baitfish or small craws.
- When to Use: When fish are holding deep or in cold water.
- Cadence: Slow and steady with minimal movement.
7. Swimbaits
- Best Technique: Rigged on a jig head or weighted hook.
- When to Use: When smallmouth are chasing baitfish.
- Cadence: A slow, steady retrieve works best.
Using the right bait and cadence based on conditions will greatly increase your hookup rate during the prespawn smallmouth bass phase.
Move Around a Lot to Find Smallmouth Bass
One of the biggest mistakes anglers make when targeting prespawn smallmouth is staying in one spot too long. Smallmouth can be scattered during the prespawn. Covering water is crucial, and don’t be afraid to fail quickly.
- Use electronics: Look for fish on your sonar before fishing in an area.
- Fish in different depths: If fish aren’t in shallow water, check deeper staging areas.
- Try multiple baits: Sometimes, smallmouth bass prefer reaction baits over finesse presentations and vice versa.
If you don’t get a bite within 10–15 minutes, then move to a different location. Smallmouth bass are aggressive in prespawn, but you must find them.
Recapping Tips For Fishing Prespawn Smallmouth Bass
As previously stated, the prespawn smallmouth bass season is one of the most exciting times of the year. To truly optimize your experience and get the most from your fishing, you need to understand what to do. Utilize these tips for fishing prespawn smallmouth bass.
- Understand the prespawn phase: Target smallmouth in staging areas like rock piles, grass lines, and bottom transitions as water warms from the mid-40s to mid-50s.
- Fish during peak times: Mid-morning to early afternoon is often the best time to catch feeding smallmouth bass.
- Use the right baits: Techniques like NED rigs, tubes, wacky rigs, jerkbaits, and crankbaits excel during prespawn fishing. Adjust your presentation based on water clarity and fish activity.
- Move frequently: If you’re not catching fish in an area, move quickly to cover as much water as possible.
Applying these tips will improve your ability to catch prespawn smallmouth bass and make the most of the fishing season.
