Jigs for Springtime Bass

As a starting point I always look for what I call the magic range that is eight to 12 feet. On some lakes you will have weeds to this depth and on others the weeds will be shallower. When hitting the lakes early in the season look for the outside weedline as a starting point and work shallower from there. 

Every year for the bass opener I fish a lake that has a 12-foot weedline in it. To start I will run the main lake points, if it has been a cool spring chances are the bass will still be schooled up here waiting for the sun to work its magic. If this is the case fishing on opening day will be pretty easy; run the main lake points and target the schools of bass waiting for the shallows to warm before they make a move. These are the openers that memories are made on you can catch 30 to 50 bass opening day by only fishing a few different points. 

If by opener we have had some warmer temps and the bass have made their way shallower I still start out on the ends of the points to see if I can get a few of the bigger female bass that are holding in deeper water feeding until the spawn. Many times these deeper females will be the bigger bass of the day so do not write this off. If I find the bass are not holding on the points on the edge of the weeds I will start to move shallower looking for bass in the eight-foot range. When moving up start to look at inside turns of the points as bass will use these areas to move up on the points and flats farther. How far they move up will depend on the food and how warm the shallower water gets. 

If you are faced with a couple of warming days, catching bass up on the flats, in the shallows and get hit with a cold front the bass will not move far take a step back and move back to the point and the deeper weed edges. The bass will pull back to where they came from and start the process over again. Do not forget to check the inside corners of the point as this is the fastest way to get back to deep water. I have seen bass move here instead of pulling all the way out to the end of the point during this time of the season. 

When it comes to the catching part of the springtime season pay attention to the jig you are using. For me my choice of jig is the Outkast RT Jig. This jig is designed to fish in the weeds and wood if conditions call for it, making it the perfect all round jig to fish in all seasons. For my jig fishing I use a seven-foot heavy action baitcaster rod teamed with a matching reel spooled with 15-pound P-Line fluorocarbon line. The reason for the fluorocarbon line is the abrasion factor and less stretch. Fluorocarbon line has better abrasion resistant than mono and has less stretch as well, but the best factor about Fluorocarbon line is it is invisible under water. This factor alone allows me to up my line size and; still get the same number of bites I was getting before when I was using 10-pound mono. If you are not using fluorocarbon line you are missing out make the switch. 

One of the most critical factors in springtime jig fishing for bass is adjusting your trailer to get your jig to fall and act differently. If the bass are aggressive and on the feed just hook your chuck trailer like you would a regular pork chunk. This gives the jig a big profile as it falls and will mimic a craw in the water. If the bite is off or you are faced with fishing during cold front conditions try this trick. Instead of hooking the chunk on the jig at the tip, thread the chunk onto the jig. This will create a smaller profile and will slow the fall of the jig down. This may be the little something that will get you more bites when times are tough. This one simple change has saved the day for me so many times I cannot even count. 
When it comes to jig trailers do not just limit yourself to chunks, grubs make a good option. Carry both single and double tails each will have a time and place. Craws rigged a few different ways will make your jig fish differently. Two examples that I use is one, is to thread the craw on the hook like you would a regular trailer. The second rigging is to thread the craw on the hook so the craws are in a defensive mode. This slight change will get you a few extra bites as the day goes on and many times has gotten me my biggest bite of the day as well. 
 
So when you hit the water this spring make sure you have a jig tied on. Start out on the end of the points and work your way shallower, let the bass tell you how far to go. If you are faced with cold front conditions take a step back and start at the deeper end of the point and work your way shallower again. Also pay special attention to your trailer as this adjustment can make a big difference in just casting or catching. 
Create some memories please remember to practice CPR (Catch, Photo and Release). The future of fishing is in your hands. For more timely tips and tactics please log onto www.fishinginsider.com