Lipless Crankbait- Remains Popular Spring Time Presentation
Most people associated Lipless Crankbaits with Spring. As the rivers and lakes begin to wake up from winter and grass begins to take shape in fisheries, Lipless Cranks have long been a go to for many anglers and rightfully so but they can also be one of the best search baits throughout the year for both Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass.
Smallmouth bass will spawn in the spring, typically when water temperatures reach around 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit but have been known to begin the spawn at temps above 55 degrees in some areas of the country. This year may actually spurn an earlier spawn as the water temps did not stay near historic temps this year during what can only be described as a really mild winter heading into Feb. This could create a situation where we see water temps reach stages optimum for spawn sooner compared to recent years.
The male bass will prepare nests in areas with gravel or rocky bottoms, often near shorelines. Once the nest is prepared, the female will lay her eggs and the male will fertilize them. The male will then guard the nest until the eggs hatch, which typically takes around 2-3 weeks. After hatching, the young fish will stay near the nest for a few days before moving off on their own.
From pre-spawning periods to the spawn itself Lipless Crankbaits outperform alot of other presentations especially in areas with grass.
Lipless crankbaits are a more popular choice for fishing for largemouth bass in the spring than Smallies in many parts of the country but are still effective for smallies when presented.
Here are a few tips on how to use them effectively:
Look for shallow water: In the spring, largemouth bass will often move into shallower water to spawn. Look for areas with a lot of vegetation or other cover, such as logs or rocks.
Use a medium-heavy rod and reel: You'll want to use a rod and reel that can handle the weight of the lipless crankbait and the size of the largemouth bass you're targeting.
Choose the right color: Lipless crankbaits come in a variety of colors, so choose one that closely matches the color of the forage in the area you're fishing.
Make long casts: Make long casts to cover as much water as possible and increase your chances of finding largemouth bass.
Retrieve with a stop-and-go technique: Retrieve the lipless crankbait with a stop-and-go technique. This means reeling in the bait for a few seconds, then stopping and letting it sink for a few seconds, then reeling in again. This mimics the action of a wounded baitfish and can trigger a strike from a largemouth bass.
Vary your retrieve speed: Mix up your retrieve speed to see what the fish prefer. Some fish will respond better to a faster retrieve, while others will respond better to a slower retrieve.
Fish around structure: Fish around structure such as logs, rocks and weed beds. Largemouth bass will often hold tight to structure in the spring.
Fish at different depths: Fish the lipless crankbait at different depths to see where the fish are holding. In the spring, largemouth bass will often hold in the upper part of the water column.
By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to catching bass with lipless crankbaits in the spring
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