Early Summer Bass

The bass, which had been stacked up in shallow water for the spawning ritual only days or weeks before, pull a slick disappearing act. They become more difficult to locate and to catch, and they often frustrate even the best bass fishermen. Why have the bass suddenly become tough to catch? It's because they are entering a post spawn transition period.

LOCATING BASS: Earlier in the spring, before the bass had spawned, they were preoccupied with feeding and moving into the shallows in preparation for spawning. They were more aggressive then and easier to locate. After spawning many bass leave the shallows and begin making their way toward deeper structures where they will eventually set up their summer feeding patterns. The problem is that they are exhausted from mating activities and are in no hurry to get into the swing of things. They're often scattered from the shallows to deep water and in a generally lethargic mood. Exactly when the bass go into their post spawn doldrums depends on the weather and where they are located in your area. In many cases you can avoid fishing for post spawn bass by switching locations on a given lake, or switching to another lake altogether. Keep in mind that all the bass in a lake or reservoir don't spawn at exactly the same time. Shallow bays and feeder creeks on northern shores receive more exposure to the sun and are more protected from cold, northern winds. They usually warm first and are the first to be infiltrated with bass. While the bass may be thick in some places, a deeper creek arm on the same lake that receives little sunlight may be much cooler. The bass there may still be holding near deeper dropoffs waiting for the water to warm up before moving shallow. When the bass in a shallow, warm bay or creek arm have finished spawning and scatter, head for a deeper creek arm that has cooler water. Chances are good that the bass there will be shallow and willing to strike. When the bass in a deeper creek arm go into their post spawn attitude, you may find bass on main lake structures that have already tuned into their summer feeding patterns. If you have a shallow lake and a deep lake near home, chances are that many of the bass in the shallow lake are now in their post spawn period. The deeper lake, however, may have areas where the bass are still preoccupied with prespawn feeding or spawning and relatively easy to catch. When these bass shut down, you'll probably fare better if you head for the shallow lake, since those bass may have settled into their regular summer feeding schedules. As smart as we fishermen are, we can't always dodge fishing for post spawn bass. This is especially true for those of us who fish bass tournaments which are scheduled months in advance. If you have to fish for post spawn bass, be prepared to do a lot of moving around. If you keep on the move and cover a lot of water, you'll increase your odds for getting a lure in front of these scattered fish.

LURES AND METHODS: Casting: Crankbaits and spinnerbaits are excellent lures for fishing a lot of water quickly. The bass are now beginning to feed on newly hatched fry, so use smaller size lures to match the prey. Norman's shallow and deep running Baby Ns are good crankbaits to start with. When fishing a spinnerbait, start with 1/4 oz. single spin, usually in white depending on water clarity. Main lake points are one of the first places to search for early summer bass. Some of the most productive points are those on either side of a major feeder creek. Bass that are leaving a creek after spawning will often stop at these gateways to the main lake. Try to fish points with crankbaits, both shallow runners and deep divers, and vary your retrieve speed. Sometimes really burning the reel handles will trigger a strike after slower retrieves have failed to get a response. If you catch a bass from one main lake point, return to it later after checking out some other similar points, since bass are likely to be moving up on it throughout the day. Another good place to cast a crankbait is a secondary point in a major creek arm. You'll find secondary points at the mouths of small coves and feeder creeks, and such places also will hold bass for brief periods during their migration towards the deeper main lake. Although many bass have left the shallows, some will remain in the creeks throughout the summer. Creeks that have an abundance of wood cover, such as flooded bushes, stumps, fallen logs and standing timber will harbor more bass. When fishing shallow wood cover for post spawn bass, the spinnerbait is a fast and efficient tool for covering the water. Cast it beyond and over limbs, logs and other targets and retrieve it past the cover. Flipping: The plastic worm is another excellent producer of early summer bass. When fishing shallow cover use a long flippin stick. Essentially, the flippin method lets you fish a relatively slow moving lure, such as the plastic worm, quickly and efficiently. When flippin, ease your boat within 20 feet of the cover you're fishing, so there's no wasted time casting or retrieving over open water. The flip-cast allows you to place your worm precisely into tight cover where it will do the most good. After giving the worm a few hops, you simply lift the lure with the long rod and flip it to another promising spot. This method is also productive when fishing steep rocky banks. When flippin, rig the worm Texas style with the barb buried into the body of the worm to make it weedless. Generally you would weight the worm with a 3/16 or 1/4 oz. slip sinker. Peg the slip sinker to the line by jamming a toothpick into the line hole and then snipping off the excess. This holds the weight tight to the head of the worm, which makes for easier flip-casting and better feel for strikes. Drifting: Drifting is another productive way to fish plastic worms for post spawn bass. On some lakes, the bass will spread out over long flats near spawning areas. The easiest way to cover these large expanses is to motor upwind and let the breeze push you over the flat while dragging a Texas rigged worm over the bottom. Some anglers hold a rod in each hand while drifting. When they get a strike on one rod, they lay the other one down while they set the hook and land the bass. Just be sure you wedge the second rod well so a bass can't pull it over while it's unattended. When fishing for post spawn, early summer bass, don't become discouraged if you can't catch several bass from one spot. Stay on the move and fish points, secondary points, shallow cover in creek arms and large flats. You may not make a killing, but persistent anglers will catch enough bass to make the effort worthwhile. Besides, you'll be on the water when the bass pull out of their slump and go on their initial summer feeding binge. This spree may only last a week or two, but it yields some of the best catches of the season.