The water is warming and full moon cycles have big bass pushing the bank for their annual spawning ritual and there's no better time to hit the water in search of the hottest springtime bites. Bassmaster Elite Series champion Patrick Walters is a South Carolina native who is here to share with us his top three techniques for fishing during the spawn.
When fishing for spawning bass, it is important to be up shallow where the fish are and have a keen eye to locate fish on and around beds. Once he has found a fish near or locked onto its bed, Patrick likes to start with a Texas-rigged 1/4 oz Zoom Ultra-Vibe Speed Craw and if that initial offering doesn't work, he turns to the trusty wacky worm with a long-distance cast to get those fish to commit. While there are many options on the market, the Zoom Fluke Stick (tail removed) rigged wacky-style with a #1 VMC Neko hook fished on a braid-to-leader spinning setup allows long casts to wary fish on their beds and is one of Patrick's favorite ways to both catch numbers of fish and big fish during the spawn.
Lastly, one of the most productive techniques immediately before the spawn or for covering water between spawning fish are the three search bait categories of chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and large soft plastic swimbaits. The chatterbait and spinnerbait are great ways of covering water looking for aggressive fish, while larger soft plastic swimbaits offer the chance at a true giant bass looking for a big meal right before the spawn.
If you're hitting the water during one of the most exciting times to chase bass, these three techniques from Patrick Walters are almost surefire ways to get bit during the spawn!
