River Fishing for Largemouth Bass - Pre-Spawn

River fishing is a growing section of the bass fishing world, yet not much has been written about targeting largemouth bass in rivers.  Traditionally, largemouth bass were seen as fish that you catch in reservoirs and lakes, but rivers can be some of the most productive waters around (if you can find the bass.)  So how do you target largemouth bass in a river?  Here is a detailed breakdown for catching largemouth bass in the river.

Continuing in this series from the Winter Patterns, we will now begin the transition to spring.  River fishing for largemouth bass in the springs breaks down into three periods, which we will tackle one at a time.  The Pre-Spawn, the Spawn, and the Post Spawn.  These three spring stages can take place at different times from one body of water to the next, and can even occur at different time on the same body of water (different bass in different stages of the spawn at the same time.)

PRE-SPAWN

The first stage in river bass spring fishing, when the bass begin to move out of their winter locations, is the pre-spawn stage.  In rivers, just as in lakes, this pre-spawn period can vary between the fish.  However, I have typically found river bass to be a little more consistent with their time-frames.  In my opinion, moon phase has as much to do with the spawn of river bass as the weather/water temperature does.

In lakes, it is typical for largemouth bass to begin spawning when the water temperature is around 62 degrees, but what about rivers that remain a consistent temperature, or never really cool below that level.  The length of the day and the moon phase will be the trigger for river bass to spawning.  As the days slowly begin to get longer, providing more daylight and keeping shallow water warm, the bass will begin to enter the pre-spawn stage.  In Texas, this could possibly be as early as late January, or most likely February and early March; but up north, this pre-spawn period might not start until May.  The spawn will really kick into gear when the moon is full, especially on clear sky nights.  But, a real cold snap can send them back into their winter patterns for a short time.

Just like in lakes, the big-dog female bass are typically the first to spawn in a river, so a warm late winter and early spring are great times to catch big bass.  This is when the big girls should be on the prowl, filling their bellies with calories to sustain them during the spawn, and they are filling up with eggs.  This is also the time of year when the baitfish are the largest, so you need to be throwing as big of a bait as you can to get away with.

Location

During the pre-spawn, the bass are moving from their winter grounds into typically shallower locations that provide good feeding areas.  This time of year, I will key on any type of shallow cover or structure, that has quick access to deeper water.  If this location is close to a spawning area, you have hit the jackpot.  The bass in these areas are usually active, and are looking for a good meal.  Focus on the perimeter of these areas.  For example, if you are fishing grass, lily pads, or reeds, fish the outside edges.  That is where the active, hunting bass will be.

Very early in the spring, or very late in the winter, if the bass have not hit their pre-spawn patterns quite yet, start moving a little deeper.  Look for bass to be moving out of their winter areas, on their way to pre-spawn feeding grounds.  Fish ledges and drop offs that are adjacent to shallow areas with good cover.  If it is later in the season, and you are not catching them around shallow areas with cover and structure, start looking for the spawning areas.  Most likely the bass have started moving closer to on on their beds.

Presentation

I fish with quick moving search baits, around the shallow cover, first.  Spinnerbaits, Rat-L-Traps, swimming jigs, and swimbaits are my four favorites this time of year.  I will usually fish all of these at a slow-to-moderate pace, with a bunch of movement.  Try to hit every stump, rock, or clump of grass you can.  If there are grass beds in the river, you can fish over the top of the grass as well.  When you hit something, stop the bait and let it fall or just sit there, then twitch it hard and start the retrieve again.  Remember, many of the fish will be big, and so are the baitfish this time of year, so use lures with large profiles.

If the bass are still deep in the early stages of the pre-spawn and you decide to fish deeper, slow down and let a large jig just fall and flutter on its own to the bottom.  Then let it sit for a while before dragging, yes I said dragging, the bait back.  To drag your jig back, just very slowly move the bait a couple feet with your rod tip, then reel up the slack, then drag it back a couple more feet and repeat the process.  A big soft plastic, either Texas Rigged or Carolina Rigged, can be effective in this dragging presentation as well.

Shad colors work well for the pre-spawn search baits, but if you have to slow down and fish deeper, a dark crayfish color pattern can work well.  As the spawn approaches, I will switch to a sunfish pattern.

Continue to: River Fishing for Largemouth Bass - Spawn

Related Articles:
River Fishing For Largemouth Bass - Winter (Location)
River Fishing For Largemouth Bass - Winter (Presentation)