Post Spawn Bass Fishing Tips

Location

Like real estate, location is one of the most important elements of bass fishing. It is hard, of course, to catch bass if you are fishing in a place where they are not. To understand where bass are located during the post-spawn, it is important to know where they spawn. That occurs on hard-bottomed areas of shallow water, often around cover like emergent vegetation, boat docks, or timber that either overhangs the shoreline or that has fallen into the water. As the spawn ends, male bass will remain around the spawning areas for a few days and defend their nests. The females leave shortly after they are done depositing their eggs and begin heading toward deeper water. They typically will stop around the first cover they can find as they swim deeper. This can be an inside weedline, rocks or other elements that are found in a weedbed, or the first drop-off. During the post-spawn, it generally is not necessary to fish deeper than about eight feet of water.

Beginning the search

Some bass spawn early and some bass spawn later, so there is no set time when the post-spawn period begins and ends. However, by the time the water has warmed into the mid-60s, you can be sure that some bass are spawning and others are into the post-spawn mode. Begin casting quick-moving lures such as spinnerbaits, shallow-running crankbaits, and topwater baits around spawning areas. You likely will be able to catch male bass, which are smaller than females. It also is possible, too, that you will hook into a larger bass, especially if you are fishing around heavy cover. If you want to catch bigger fish consistently during the post-spawn, concentrate in areas outside of the shallows.

The bigger bass

After you have found a spawning area and fished through it, start moving deeper. Look for bass around the inside weedline, the first drop-off, and weed flats from about three to eight feet. In all situations, the bass likely will be found around areas w like a rock pile in the middle of a weed flat or a place where the inside weedline swings into deeper water. Keep in mind that bass during the post-spawn period are looking for cover, prey, and warm water.

Lures to use

Quick-moving baits like spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, and shallow-running crankbaits are good for finding fish this time of year, but slow-moving baits are more appealing to these bass. That is because they generally are not actively feeding as they recover from spawning. But they will not refuse an easy meal presented right in front of their face. As a result, throwing lures like jigs and pigs, plastic worms with light weights, and tube jigs works well. Use these lures slowly along the bottom. Topwater baits also can be good this time of year, particularly under low-light conditions. Use small topwaters to mimic the size of baitfish the bass are feeding on.