This is the time many bass fishermen anticipate.
The water temperature in many reservoirs is warming and the big largemouths are getting ready to spawn.
One exciting way to catch them is to go sight-fishing when there is good water clarity. Guides in the Ozarks go to the back of gravel-bottom coves and look for the circular areas where the bass have fanned out their nests.
As the water temperature rises toward 60 degrees, large bass often cruise near those areas before they lock onto their nests. That’s when the fishing can get good.
We often use weightless Senkos (straight plastic worms) rigged either
Texas style or
wacky style and make a long cast to one of the nests and let it drift down in an erratic fashion. In clear water, you can often watch a bass dash out of nowhere to attack the perceived nest invader.
That best fishing takes place right before the bass actually stay on the nests. Then they can get picky as their minds are on spawning. But if you can hit that magic pre-spawn window, the fishing can be memorable.
And when the bass are on the nest?
When the bass commit to nesting, they can get hard to catch. But not impossible.
Known as one of the best sight fishermen in the pro game, he excelled in the championship round on April 14th.
He flipped a Texas-rigged
Gitzit tube to fish and he spotted, and landed a winning total of 12 bass weighing 45 pounds, 9 ounces. That strategy earned him a $100,000 paycheck.
“Every fish I caught today was an individual,” Jones said in a press release issued by Major League Fishing. “I had to figure out what each fish was doing and how to work that particular fish.
“That’s one of the things I love about sight fishing. What makes one fish hot, the other fish will ignore. So, it’s kind of a thinking man’s game.”
Stealth is an important factor, Jones said. It’s important to stay as hidden from the bass as possible.
“If you can see them, they can also see you,” he said. “I try to hide from the fish, and I’ve got a few other tricks that I like to pull.”
We want to hear from you
We value our readers. Do you have a tip you’d like to share? How about a hot lure? Or a destination that is a great bass-fishing spot?
Reply to this email, and we might use your information.
And if you enjoyed this issue, please forward to a fellow angler!
Until next time, keep casting!