Best baits for early spring

One of the best baits to throw in early spring is a lipless crankbait. These rattling, fish like lures simply catch fish. Most fishermen rely on a much slower presentation to catch bass in the month of March due to the cold water temperature. What they fail to realize is that a fast moving bait will create a reaction strike. Lakes like Guntersville in Alabama or Kentucky Lake are known to produce huge stringers of bass in late February and March by anglers using a lipless crankbait. Strike King has got two baits that are perfect for this type of fishing situation.

The first is the Diamond Shad. This rattling bait works well around any type of cover. In the early spring bass will move from their deep winter holes and move into the mouths of pockets. They will stage on points and secondary points and feed heavily on shad and crawfish. The Diamond Shad is a perfect choice when fishing around gravel points. Once a fish is caught an immediate cast to the same general area can produce another strike. When fishing the Diamond Shad do not be scared to reel it fast. The loud rattling chambers and the speed of the retrieve will produce vicious strikes. When the bass stop hitting the bait on a straight retrieve, simply change it up by sweeping the rod as the bait is cranked in. Sometimes this quick change in movement will trigger the bass to strike.

The new Strike King Red Eye Shad is one of the best lipless crankbaits on the market today. It can be worked around just about any cover but shines best when using this bait around grass such as hydrilla or other aquatic vegetation. The Red Eye Shad can be easily ripped through the grass to entice bass. In those lakes with an abundance of grass the bass will bury themselves in it. To coax them out of it simply cast the Red Eye out and reel it over the top of the grass letting it fall momentarily and then ripping the bait back out of the grass. Bass cannot stand this and will come out of the cove and strike the bait with a vengeance.

When using these lipless crankbaits it is important to match these with the proper rod and reel. A Team All Star seven foot medium rod matched with a fast reel like a Pflueger President 6.3:1 gear ratio reel is the perfect combination. The line depends on the cover that is being fished. For grass filled lakes a braided line is preferred. This line cuts the grass as the bait is being ripped out. For all other practical purposes seventeen pound test seems to work the best.

The Strike King Diamond Shad and the new Red Eye Shad both come in a variety of colors that will suit all a fisherman’s needs. Pick a couple up this year and be prepared for that vicious strike.