Spotted bass can often be found in the shallows more in the spring and the fall. In the summer, these fish will be deeper, however, don’t be shocked if they move into the shallows to feed during low light conditions.
Use Lighter Weights
Simple enough. If you’re swimming a grub or some other type of soft plastic, go with a lighter weight so you’re not getting hung up every other cast.
Learn How to Sight Fish
Sight fishing can be great in the spring. Some of the best spotted bass lakes have clear water, so sight fishing can be great in the spring. Keep the sun behind you, get a good pair of polarized glasses and find some awesome spots to fish.
Make Longer Casts
When spotted bass are in the shallows, they can spook easily. In clear water, if you make real long casts, you will definitely get more bites. In murky water, it’s not as important of a tip, but it will still help though. In shallow water, you can be seen and heard very easily.
Swim Baits in Shallow Water
To cover water faster, try swimming a variety of baits such as grubs, ringworms, smaller finesse worms and minnow type baits. Spotted bass like to chase a swimming bait just like smallmouth bass. Present them a swimming bait that is trying to flee the scene and you will get more bites.
Break out the Wacky Worms
A well placed wacky worm on a weightless rig or finesse jighead is one of the better ways to catch spotted bass when they are in the shallows. Find productive water, cast bait, let it fall, twitch it up and wait. Repeat until your arms are tired from catching so many bass.
Use Topwater Lures From Late Spring Through Early Fall
Once water temperatures warm into the 60s, the topwater bite can be quite good. It all depends on the situation and the body of water of course. On some bodies of water, the topwater bite can be excellent and on other bodies of water, it may be non-existent. If the bite is on, break out the topwater lures because the fishing can be flat out awesome with these aggressive-feeding fish.
