I see the new lures and the advertising for new equipment, and I need to get some. Looking at all the new fishing lures and equipment, I have to get it. Despite the fact that I bought several things last year, I have never used them. If you’re a Bass angler, you know exactly what I mean.

The beginning of the Bassin season may be the best time of the year to catch large bass. They have eaten little during the winter because the cold water slows down their metabolism and now that the water is getting warmer; they are hungry and ready to eat.

The biggest bass I’ve ever caught was on an opening day of the season, in about 6 feet of water, near flooded trees. I was using an original black and gold Rapala that writhed on the surface near the trees. I tossed it and let it rest near a tree. I saw the wake coming through the water from about 10 feet away. He hit so hard that his entire body came out of the water. Six pounds 4 ounces. It was incredible

Preparing to spawn.

1. Many baits work well early in the season because most bass will stay in shallow water most of the day where the water is warmer. The fish are looking for a place to lay eggs, or have laid eggs and are protecting them. Even after spawning, when they are guarding the fry, they will be close to their chosen bed. They can be aggressive, or they may not move even if you hit them with the lure, I have seen both reactions. It can be very frustrating when you see the fish and you put the lure in front of their face and they don’t move.
2. The warmest water will be at the north end of the lake in the spring. The sun is still low in the sky to the south, so the far north will get sun much longer during the day. The sun beating down on the lake can warm the water temperature 5 degrees or more in one day. The bass will go to warmer, shallower waters because there is more activity from small fish, crayfish, and other food sources. Dark-bottomed areas at the north end of the lake will warm faster, because black bottoms retain heat better than light-colored sandy bottoms.

Where to fish
3. However, do not go through the flats with a sandy bottom. There is a lake where I fish regularly, which I love to get to before the sun rises. There is an area on the northeast side of the lake, about 10 acres of flat sand, about 3 to 6 feet deep. I can’t even count the number of bass I’ve caught in this area, casting a medium scuba crankbait and bouncing it along the sandy bottom. Bass love to cruise the sandy flats at dawn, they are aggressive and love to bite.

4. Be silent. When you’re fishing in shallow water, the noise you make travels a long way through the water and is amplified considerably above what you hear. I have a big radio with a CD player on my boat, I never have it on when I’m fishing. Can you imagine how that sounds to fish?

I recommend you even turn off the engine before you get to your spot and use the trolling motor to get closer. I think it’s even better if you put the trolling motor at a very low speed and let it run while you’re in shallow water, so it makes a low, constant sound. If you have it at high speed and keep hitting it, it can scare off the fish as well.

Keep things quiet and move as little as possible when you’re in shallow water, especially if you’re in an aluminum boat. Just think that any noise you make is amplified through your helmet and through the water.

Structure
5. When you are in shallow water, look for any structure you can see. A line of brush forms, trees in the water, boat lifts, rocks, etc. Never go over a pier without fishing it from the front to the shore. If you’ve ever fished off a pier, you know that small sunfish, crappies, and other small fish like to hang out on the piers. What do sea bass like to eat? Smaller fish. The Bass knows that the food will be there, so they go there to eat.

Any weeds like sedges that stick out of the water and grow on the sand flats can be amazing at the right time. There is a lake where my brother and I have fished a lot. There is a reed bed in about 5 feet of water on a sandy flat that we had fished before and fished.

One day in a light rain in early June we went to this reed bed and over the course of the next 5 hours we caught over 80 largemouth bass in the 2 to 4 pound range, not very big but a good size and fun to catch in Minnesota. We trap them all in bright purple weightless plastic worms from Texas. It was the single most phenomenal fishing experience I have ever had. We finally gave up because we were tired of fishing. We have caught many more Bass from those reed beds, but never anything like that day.

longer throws
6. Cast longer. When you’re in shallow water, and especially if it’s clear, you’ll want to cast longer so you don’t spook the fish. If you’re fishing on flat sand, you can switch to a rod with a lighter line, because you don’t have to worry about the fish getting caught in the weeds. The lighter line will allow you to cast farther and use the smaller baits if necessary.

7. Wear polarized sunglasses. You will be surprised at how much better you can see through the glare on the surface of the water and see the fish if the water is relatively clear. Seeing fish always excites you. I’ve never tried one of the underwater cameras, but that’s why they’ve become popular. It motivates you if you see the fish. The cameras look great, but I think I would spend more time looking at the screen than fishing, so it wouldn’t help me catch more fish.

Use all your arsenal.
8. Test all your lures. Sometimes any lure will work in the spring. Start with the lures that can cover the most water the fastest. If you are fishing on a sandbar that is open, start with a crankbait. If you are fishing on kelp line or other structure and the water is rough, start with a spinnerbait or chatterbait. If you are out when the sun is up, definitely try a topwater that you can throw near the deck and entice them to bite. If faster fishing lures don’t work, switch to jigs or worms. Every obvious structure. I start with a spinnerbait and then go to a tube jig or plastic worm before moving on. If you find a lure that works, use it until it stops working. Fish can change what they want multiple times during the same day, so don’t get hung up on just one lure. Try different lures and you will catch Bass.

9. Go for smaller lures. If you just can’t find anything that is working. Go for a smaller bait and something that can be fished more slowly. A smaller crappie-sized spinnerbait or smaller tube jig, or 4-inch plastic worms may be just the ticket for finicky bedding or post-spawning bass.

go fishing
10. Go bass fishing. If you live in Minnesota like me and you are a bass fisherman, you are part of a smaller group of anglers. Most anglers in Minnesota fish for walleye and panfish. There is nothing wrong with Walleye or Panfish or Pike. I fish for panfish whenever I want a great fish to eat, nothing beats crappie and lightly breaded, butter-fried sunfish fillets.

One thing you may not know if you don’t fish for bass is that you catch a lot of pike when you fish for bass. I catch my fair share of Walleyes while fishing for Bass. Fishing kelp lines at the edges of deeper water is a good place to catch good size walleye to eat, and they will catch spinnerbaits and crankbaits quite easily. My point is to go bass fishing and you’ll be hooked, especially if you’re like me and hate to stand still and stare at a cork.