In my mind, there is no better time to be a bass angler than right now.
I’m talking about the current springtime shallow bite that has emerged in the South and that you can follow northward into July.
That’s when some of the biggest fish in a lake are moving shallow and are becoming easier to catch than they will be all year long.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a tournament angler or a recreational fisherman, whether you fish from a bass boat, kayak or walk the shoreline, bass are accessible to you.
All you need to do is go to the shallowest and warmest part of the lake and throw at likely targets. It could be a weed line, log, cypress tree or dark spots on the sandy bottom of a northern smallmouth lake. You’re going to get bites.
It’s an even greater time for the guy who doesn’t get to fish much or has limited experience. You don’t need to be an expert to catch the biggest bass of your life during this time of year.
I got to thinking about this while the Elites were in Florida. While driving down the highway, I’d see a cove, canal or pond, and it reminded me of my younger days.
We’d throw an aluminum boat in the back of a pickup truck in February and start hitting all of the borrow pits just off the Arkansas River. They were the first to warm up, and then we’d make the transition to smaller lakes.
In addition to the fact small waters don’t get the fishing pressure of bigger lakes, they are least affected by the spring weather changes. Nor does it take long to figure out what the fish are doing and what they will bite best.
And don’t overlook the backwaters on some of the bigger, more popular bass lakes. Although they may be connected to the big lake, a bass boat can’t get back there so a small-boat angler or shore caster can have that water to himself.
This is a time of year when all anglers should carry a couple of rods in their vehicle while at work. All you need is a handful of lures, such as a wacky rig, spinnerbait, creature bait or any small stuff that can be fished in the shallows.
Can you think of a better way to spend a lunch hour than casting for bass that may not have seen a lure all year?
Even if you own a bass boat, this kind of fishing will help you reconnect with the reason you got into bass fishing.
And there’s a darn good chance you’ll hook up with a very big bass.
