Bass Fishing in Spring
Spring is the most exciting bass season — pre-spawn feeding, spawning, and post-spawn recovery. Learn the patterns for each phase.
Spring Phases by Water Temperature
Early Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Bass move from deep water to shallow flats. Feeding increases as metabolism speeds up.
Best lures: Jerkbait, blade bait, jig, suspending minnow
Pre-Spawn (Peak)
Bass feed aggressively before spawning. This is the best time to catch big females.
Best lures: Spinnerbait, crankbait, jig, Texas rig, swim jig
Spawn
Bass build beds in shallow water. Sight fishing becomes possible.
Best lures: Wacky rig, Texas rig, tube, topwater, creature bait
Post-Spawn
Males guard beds. Females recover in nearby deeper water. Fishing can be tough.
Best lures: Topwater, crankbait, swim jig, drop shot
Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-spawn (50-60°F): jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, and jigs. Spawn (60-70°F): soft plastics (wacky rig, Texas rig) and topwater. Post-spawn (70-75°F): crankbaits, swim jigs, and topwater. Match the bait to the water temperature and phase.
Largemouth bass spawn in 60-75°F water, with 65-70°F being the peak. Smallmouth spawn slightly cooler, around 55-65°F. When you see bass on beds, they're spawning — use soft plastics and sight fish.
Pre-spawn: bass move from deep winter haunts to shallow flats and spawning areas. Spawn: bass build beds in shallow water (1-5 ft) near cover. Post-spawn: males guard beds while females recover in nearby deeper water.
Early spring (cold water): natural colors — shad, brown, green pumpkin. Late spring (warm water): brighter colors — chartreuse, white, and spawning-related colors like green pumpkin and watermelon. Use our lure color selector for specific recommendations.
Pre-spawn is often considered the best time because bass feed aggressively to prepare for spawning. The pre-spawn period (50-65°F) produces the biggest catches. Use our water temperature guide to identify the pre-spawn window.