Spring time bass fishing is one of those very strange times. Sure, the spawn brings with it promises of big bass in a very surly mood, ready to strike to protect their nests.
But spring time—especially early spring—can also be a challenge, due to the unpredictability of the weather. One day, you have clear skies and 75 degrees, the next day could bring thunder showers and a dirty lake along with them.
Here we will give you a few pointers on getting the most out of your spinnerbaits when the water clarity is, well, not clear at all. So grab a great bait, like the crystal spin, and let’s catch some fish!
First, Get Set Up Right
First things first, you have to get set up for success! Before we get into choosing the right spinnerbait, let’s talk about rods and reels.
For the technique we are talking about today, I highly suggest a baitcasting reel with a 5:1 gear ratio. This gear ratio will allow you to slow the bait down—and I mean really slow it down! Now here is where personal preference is going to come into play. If you are able to slow the bait down without going to this gear ratio, then there is no need to change. A lot of people however, start winding away, and have trouble keeping the bait on the bottom. If you have noticed this about yourself, try out the slower gear ratio.
Just remember, we are going to be right along the bottom, and you don’t want the bait speeding up to the point where the fish have a tough time finding it.
The rod you are going to need something in the medium/heavy family, but with a good sensitive tip. Since we are targeting big bass, you need to be able to horse a fish off the bottom or around cover, but still have a tip sensitive enough to feel that bait moving.
Now that your tackle is set up and ready to roll, let’s talk spinnerbaits!
Choosing Your Spinnerbaits
Now it’s time to choose that money bait! You already know how much I love the River2Sea Crystal Spin, but let me give you some of the finer points of choosing a great spinnerbait depending on the temperature.
Spinnerbaits are all about the blades—they will determine how successful you are in putting bass in the boat.
When the weather is cold, go with a double Indiana blade. As it heats up some, move to a tandem set up with a small Indiana, and a large willow blade. When it gets really warm, go with two willows.
This is the most important part of selecting your spinnerbait. Get the blades right, and life gets much easier!
The Slow Roll Presentation
Now you are ready to put your bait in front of some big bass!
We will be casting around cover, and rolling the bait right along the bottom. The colder it is, the closer to the bottom you need to be. Roll that spinnerbait along the bottom so that it is kicking up a dirt trail the whole time.
It is very important to be aware of what is happening below the surface. Since you will be retrieving slowly, you need to be careful not to get hooked up on a stick or some other underwater structure. When you feel that starting to happen, reel a little faster for a very short period of time, then get right back to your slow roll.
When all the pieces come together—the right tackle, the right spinnerbait, and the right retrieve—you will be putting big bass in the boat no matter how cold it is, or how dirty the lake is!
See ya on the water…