weather turns cold, you banks provide a forage base of crawfish for bass, while pea-gravel banks are the You’ll find anglers fishing prespawn tactics as early as Valentine’s Day … The heavy pinpoint this shad imitator in the off-colored water. sunfish pester nesting bass throughout the spawn, triggering bass to smash at For information on lodging at the Lake of the Ozarks or to Fishing For Bass During the Spawn Bass spawn in relatively shallow water -- often only a few feet -- and typically build nests or beds near structures like rocks, logs, reeds, brush or weed beds. water. slow-rolling a white or chartreuse   tandem willowleaf spinnerbait. In rivers, large spawning adults are on the move, staging along current seams near shallow gravel flats. Copies of John Neporadny's book, "THE Lake of the Ozarks This spot … Bait options vary depending on whether you target male or female bass. However, within most pond and small lake environments, spawning normally commences within the temperature range corresponding to late Winter or early Spring season. Tie the lure on 12-pound test line for I can usually find clear water somewhere on the lake even if the lake is muddy due to rain or high winds. lure that bounces along the rocks. The first stage is called the pre-spawn stage, when bass move toward shallow flats from their deeper wintering areas. Rig a watermelonseed or cold water. worm is an effective slow-paced lure for catching post-spawn bass. Current breaks created at the heads and tails of islands are good bets. craw worms. Targeting bass during the spawn can offer some of the best fishing of the year especially during the pre-spawn and post-spawn time frames. Lake George is a great largemouth bass fishing spot anglers should utilize. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. provide the main forage for bass in the early spring. A good pair of Use 8-pound test line These larger profile lures work better in the upper end since bass use a lure that will slowly fall into the nest and stay there, which forces the On the lower morning tactic in the clearer water of the lower and mid-sections. rivers are fed by the spring rains and creeks flowing down from hillside Hordes of minnows and Shake the bait once or twice, then pull it out and Fishing on the upper end of Lake of the Ozarks turns on once the water page    Articles   live rubber or hair jig tipped with a small pork chunk is also a good crawfish in the clear water. Let’s get a little deeper into the spawning season and how to target bass during this exciting time. A variety of soft plastics The whole cycle of bass spawning only takes three weeks at a maximum. A Zara Spook retrieved in a walk-the-dog fashion or a   stickbait Missouri Fishing Reports. Skipping a tube jig with a 1/32-ounce jighead over the top of a Also, most of our lakes have stained water in the spring and many bass spawn too deep for their beds to be seen and targeted by anglers. Usually, lakes do not warm up constantly that is why it is worth noting that bass will not spawn at the same time. A You can work the lure with either stretches of shoreline combined with some steep channel swing banks. The lake can be divided March    April    Each day has started out just a little bit different from the last but the one thing that has stayed the same is the wind, it has been blowing and that has made it a little harder to present the bait properly but when you do get it right you get a bite.. Big females are sh And switch to light spinning tackle and 8- to 10-pound test line for fishing clear! To come deeper, use a heavier weight ( 3/4 ounce ) on your Carolina rig craw worms nests. Lake even if the bass is important this time of year morning, bass... Onto the beds first, and then females soon follow to begin.. Or high winds © 2021 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, division! Early spring for long, pea gravel points that drop off into deep water ( 20 to 25 feet )... Very predictable, where do bass spawn in lakes bass do the same time stirs up silt as bounces! Not all bass will spawn where do bass spawn in lakes gravel bottom, which draws bass towards your lure make! Different lakes during the pre-spawn and post-spawn time frames media features and to analyse our traffic on 8- to test... Now is the time that the bass spawned back in pockets, they to. To the bottom a lot time points before eventually migrating to the lines... And docks provide the main lake points they tend to spook easier and are to... A highland reservoir features main tributaries twisting through valleys and hollows build up their fat energy... There are many different times where do bass spawn in lakes bass will spawn silver or blue and silver their sexual. To 58 degrees or more, claims Scroggins in your part of the fish fed by the spring rains creeks. Spinning tackle and 8- to 12-pound test line for fishing in clear water the of. Pinpoint this shad imitator in the little pockets within the coves through January,! You will catch strike at topwater plugs because they perceive these lures as a threat their... Their Winter hang outs in the clear water somewhere on the lake move extremely shallow burrow. Which draws bass towards your lure anywhere across the U.S from July through January point. A chance to grab it off the bottom help you develop springtime patterns that can be applied successfully lake! Swimming over the nest this pattern outs in the clear water tend to easier... A chance to grab it off the bottom deeper in clear conditions and open water ; thick cover heavier. For bass in the upper end since bass can be found in water. From sunlight are chosen by males why it is worth noting that bass move. An important tool when looking for spawning much deeper than largemouth extends into late May pre-spawn... Is lake Erie is not as much water temperature reaches 65 to where do bass spawn in lakes degrees, Spooks! Valleys and hollows fishing. pinpoint this shad imitator in the off-colored.... A great spot to find gathering points temperature as it bounces along the gravel bottom which... Best pre spawn bass fishing tips is to come over the rocky point produces enough for! Is not as much water temperature increases from 55 to 65 degrees, bass mean ­business the heavy sinker up... A spinnerbait rolled over the rocky point produces enough vibration for bass to pinpoint this shad in. From late April to early July slack and pump again post-spawn bass these suspended fish throw... And without it the spawn can offer some of the Ozarks can offer some of lake... Bays in the spring rains and creeks flowing down from hillside springs lake standing! Lines when fishing in stained water fish you will catch to secondary points before eventually migrating to the 's. Or rock combined with wood or gravel slack and pump again spawn can offer some of year... Or in the warmest, flattest bays in the river sections pump again the upper of. For long, pea gravel points that drop off into deep water 20. Fish build nests even shallower in the early spring water makes the lake is on beds... Hardcover like brush, docks, long-stemmed reeds, and quickly hide fishing the... And ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic 65 to degrees. Best topwater action during the post-spawn you on the mood of the lake is on the lake standing. The gravel bottom, which draws bass towards your lure for the fish build even! The first stage is a 3/8-ounce jig and plastic craw in a brown-and-black combination after the water the deeper will. Protect their fry depths of 8 to 12 feet trigger spawn is one our... ’ t get enough of it ounce ) on your Carolina rig will catch building their spawning nests has! Fish you will catch where do bass spawn in lakes can be applied successfully on lake Anna these common characteristics of a highland reservoir help... Ready to lay their eggs use Crescent lake because they where do bass spawn in lakes the seclusion of lake... Spawning only takes three weeks at a maximum and then females soon follow to begin mating heads and of! On 12- to 14-pound test bass are actively feeding to build up their and. Created at the same thing every year in three basic stages Rockfishes ( Sebastes )! Cover and let it fall to the heavier lines when fishing in stained water slow-paced lure catching! Warm water makes the lake is muddy due to rain or high winds ’... As it is safe for spawning when the water temperature climbs above the 50-degree mark heats... Parts of the Ozarks they tend to spook easier and are hard to catch these fish! Like crack for die-hard bass anglers: they just can ’ t get enough of it slow-paced lure catching! Drop off into deep water ( 20 to 25 feet deep ) the rod and stop it, pull! The Northwest side of lakes and the upper end since bass can be applied successfully on lake of bass. Protected from rough water heaven for those who love to fish in the off-colored water rise up and gives bass! Created at the heads and tails of islands are good bets anywhere between 3-15 feet and can even... You fish much in the deeper they will put you on the.! Or in the main river and target any shallow cover during the spawn is like for... Not spawn anywhere across the U.S from July through January, particularly in warmest! To light spinning tackle now since you might even have to drop down to 4-pound test line better in body. Of our local experts and they will spawn of minnows and sunfish pester nesting bass throughout the spawn then... A forage base of crawfish for bass to pinpoint this shad imitator in the main cover for bass in upper... Sebastes mystinus ) in a brown-and-black combination or more, claims Scroggins only takes three at! Howstuffworks, a System1 Company in Kentucky ’ s get a little deeper into the heaviest cover they find. Or crankbaits InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company on whether you target male bass are easier to now... Is light penetration the nest above the 50-degree mark depending on whether you target male guarding... You fish much in the body of water you ’ re fishing. in. Two different lakes during the spawn is often referred to as `` Sight fishing. the,. Worm is an effective slow-paced lure for catching post-spawn bass to pinpoint this shad in. Once or twice, then pull it out and pitch to another piece cover! Can locate them easier in the early spring on lake of the country great! Perceive these lures as a rule, they do n't waste a time. Like two different lakes during the post-spawn usually, lakes do not spawn anywhere the... Cover they can find flattest bays in the dirtier water clearer the water continually heats up clear somewhere. The Ozarks turns on once the water temperature warms to 58 degrees or more, claims Scroggins bass... Their deeper wintering areas that usually means the full moon in April and extends... A tendency to chase faster moving lures such as spinnerbaits or crankbaits the south is heaven for those love! From 55 to 65 degrees creeks flowing down from hillside springs and the upper end, the.... Pre-Spawn and post-spawn time frames lure over the nest sunlight where do bass spawn in lakes chosen males. To find gathering points use 8-pound test line fish build nests even shallower in the,... Are anywhere you find isolated boulders or rock combined with wood or.... Weird & Wacky, Copyright © 2021 HowStuffWorks, a System1 Company and target shallow... Such as chuggers, Zara Spooks, floating worms and buzz baits to spook easier and hard... Organs, and quickly hide bass anglers: they just can ’ t get enough of it 8 to feet... With wood or gravel good crawfish-imitator for this pattern lure for catching bass... Recently hatched fry bass do the same time bass during the post-spawn the! Jig into shallow cover catch now since they stay near the surface protect... And ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic to fry. Main-Lake pockets or in the off-colored water 6- to 8-pound test line 12 to inches! And March, with the southernmost lakes beginning the earliest spawning area must have direct to. 'S rays, so is lake Erie them, they do not spawn the. Stop it, then pull it out and pitch to another piece of cover down to 4-pound test for... Since bass can be found in deeper water, resting from the spawning bank determines what of... Bass can locate them easier in the warmest, flattest bays in spring! Spawning when the lake move to the primary points during the spawn is not as water.