1. Water temperature - When lake temperatures rise into the upper 50 to 60 degree range, bass are on the move. This is the time when they begin to move toward their spawning areas.

2. Creek channels are like highways for moving bass. Points on these creek channels are stop over points, fish these with a crankbait for bass. Bounce it along the bottom around points and drop offs. Try green and craw colors.

3. During pre-spawn the water is colder and bass may still be a little sluggish, so slow down your presentation. Whatever lure you use, fish it slow.

4. Fish points, drop offs, ledges, old road beds, rip rap and grassy areas with close access to deeper water, but near spawning areas.

5. Bass love weeds! Find an area with weedbeds adjacent to a channel that feeds from a spawning area. This is a good time for topwater baits, big worms or lizards, or a slow-rolling spinnerbait.

6. When the water temperature in coves maintains over 60 degrees, bass will start moving in to spawn. This is the time for fun, these bass will be hungry, and will eat almost anything.

7. If you already know where the bass will be spawning, fish the channels approaching these areas, and if you can locate a sharp bend or hump in this channel, it could be a bass hotel.

8. If wind becomes a problem, switch to a swimbait. Or move up into a deep cove and fish the channel.

9. Fish a swimbait or jerkbait like a Huskey Jerk slowly - jerk..wait 10 - 20 seconds...jerk again...hang on. These work great in 2 to 6 feet of water.

10. A cold front now will send bass back into deeper water. This too, means they will feed less. Back to the deeper channels, boys.

11. In shallow coves, the water warms faster - bass will seek out this warmer water, looking for schools of shad and crawfish. A jig and pig here is hard to beat.Try a small jig with a craw trailer using a slow dragging retrieve.

12. Another recipe for success: Find a channel point close to a spawning area, bounce a Berkley Chigger Craw along the bottom slowly. Try a crawdad color or pumpkinseed.

13. After a few good warm days, try for bass in stump fields and spawning areas. Bump a crankbait off of the stumps, slowly, or use a spinnerbait or a topwater lure. Think the fish are deeper? Try a Carolina rigged lizard or a floating worm.

by Scott Rogers
Big Fishing Shop
http://www.bigfishingshop.com

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