CraigBaugher

[quote author=GMAN link=1169047102/20#25 date=1169223963 Craig, One I would like to see from you is jigging in deep structure. Bass Jig not spoons

Thanks everyone! I know it was more of a fact sheet than an article, I just struggled too much with how I could address all the issues in a general format. Because in reality, ponds fish different than lakes, lakes fish different than reservoirs, reservoirs fish different than rivers, etc., then deep lakes versus shallow ones, and spots versus smallmouth versus largemouth versus Floridian Largemouth. Then the north verus mid-south versus south versus, then there is tidal waters, and great lakes, because they all fish totally different.

Two things: 1. Now that was one hellva bass club!!! Oh how I would have wanted to be in that club, WOW!!! 2. I'm sorry about your pain, but that liine was classical

I spent 3-1/2 years being trained by 2 ex-B.A.S.S. Touring Pros from the 1970's & 80's for the attended purpose of me turning pro. Life suddenly changed, and I never got my chance, but the point I wanted to make was: You can spend a lifetime on the water, and many do, and never progress past the basics. Hell, I fished most of my life 33-years, before I was trained. I really, really thought I knew how to fish. I quickly learned, I didn't know anything about how to really fish. In those 3-1/2 years, I spent 1000s of hours on the water (roughly 4-5 hours a day, about 350-days a year). But it was the knowledge of my trainers combined with the on-the-water practice that accellerated my knowledge and skills. I read every book and magazine I could get my hands on. I watch every video that was available. I studied everything I could get my hands on from freshwater Biology, Botany, meteorology, geology, etc. Then took and applied all this information while I was on-the-water. On-the-water by itself is nothing. To become good, requires a commitment, a driving desire to learn, and a lot of hard work. On and Off the water practice. I would drive my wife and kids nuts, flipping and pitching in the living room, or out in the yard, which embrassed them too. I learned how to build rods, and rebuild reels, and work on outboards, in addition to everything else. You have to study, read, and spend time with the best angler in your state. BEG them, if you have too. But that is how you will learn the little speciality tricks. Kevin Van Dam was trained, primarily by his brother Randy, who RULED the local Tournaments circuit for years. Becoming good requires WORK AND A LOT OF IT! ;D

You tell me, what do you want?

Well, that is probably the first time someone has asked me that, they usually just do it, of course you can.

Well, Kent, here is a rough article on Pre-spawn. But I have to tell ya, it was hard for me to write a general article on such a complex subject. Complex, because there are so many regions, water types, and species of bass that one article cannot cover the subject adequately -- well, at least in my opinion. That Magical Time of Year It is that magical time that bass anglers all over North America have been waiting for that time when they can see their first bass of the year cruise the shallows, and the new-year can truly be rung in pre-spawn. As the snow is still falling in the north, the waters of Mexico are already brimming with pre-spawn activity, as water temperatures climb into the 60's. Here in the North the bass are still sitting in water 32° to 40°, and are now just beginning to make their way along the bottom structure towards the prime real estate of the North shores. Regardless of where you live, the process is basically -- the same, with the biggest exception being the water temperature. In the North, the process begins when the water temperatures climb into the low 40's, in the mid-South the upper 40's to low 50's, and in the South, when the water reaches the mid to upper 50's. The Process: From the onset of winter, bass continuously seek warmer water. In this process, they eventually make their way to areas along the North and Northwestern shores that have clear waters with dark or rocky bottoms, in water (typically) 30 to 50 feet deep. As the water continues to warm, (please refer to the illustration) the bass will work their way along the bottom edge from the main lake point to the secondary points and their cuts; which in the North means the mid 40's, Mid-South low 50's, and in the South upper 50's to low 60's. The important thing to note is, these temperature changes may be a subtle as two degrees in the North to four-five degrees in the South. As waters temperatures climb, (upper 40's in the North, upper 50's in the Mid-South, and mid 60's in the South) the bass will move up along transitions and start cruising the shallows; at first to get warm, and then to feed. That is important for you to note; for when the bass first move up, the first day or so they will be less aggressive as they are warming; and throughout the pre-spawn are also quite acceptable to cold fronts meaning as cold fronts move in the bass will move back to deeper water. Note: Bass ALWAYS move following transitional lines: where hard bottoms meet soft bottoms (Clay meets muck, or sand meets gravel, or clay meets rock); or where small rock meets bigger rock, or along edges (top or bottom) of a ledges or channel breaks, ridges, ditches, or impressions. Transitions also include some that are less obvious, like: where clear water meets dirty water, or where the thermocline meets structure or cover, or the thermocline itself, or where cool water meets warm water, or the edge of water current, etc. Note: Not all bass migrate at the same time. Typically, the larger, older fish go first, followed by the smaller, younger ones. Note: On larger lakes, this process may begin in the Western (shallow) end and work its way up to the deeper Eastern end over a matter of weeks. Note: In Southern waters, this process can span over a 3-4 month period as the bass instinctually know they have a longer time to complete this process; where Northern bass will be a lot more aggressive as instinctually they know they may only have five or six weeks to complete this process. As temperatures rise another 2°-3°, the bass will begin to actively feed prime targets will be around the reeds, docks, rocks, laydowns, brush, and stumps. This active feeding will continue until the temperatures reach the mid to upper 50's in the North, to the low 70's in the South. At which point, the males will stop feeding and start building their spawning beds and the females will move off to the first major drop (5' to 15'). Note: One of the reasons bass are such a popular game fish is, because they can always be tricked or forced into striking a lure. It is called a reactionary strike, and can be provoked out of anger, fear, territorial protection, or self-defense. One of the most productive ways, I found, to provoke a reactionary strike is to slowly bring your lure to within a couple of feet of the bass. Then burn the lure straight at the bass's head -- for if you bring a lure into the bass from behind, the bass will spook and swim off rather then turn and bite. Lure Selections and Presentations: In the early pre-spawn, when the bass are still holding on the secondary points and cuts, a wacky rigged Senkos, or a small skirted jig with a big pork chunk are two excellent lure choices. For each are slow falling lures that will thoroughly cover the entire water column, while staying in each strike zone a decent amount of time. As the bass move up and onto the shallow flat, they may be easily spooked, and since the water is clear, long casts work best for the average angler. Lipless crankbaits, flat-sided shallow divers, and spinnerbaits are all good selections. Make long casts past obvious cover, and bring the lures back over the targeted area in a stop and go erratic retrieve. More experienced anglers who can make long pitches with little to no splash, may prefer to use floating worms, soft jerkbaits, and tubes. Once the bass become more active, topwater lures, (such as buzzbaits, spooks, and poppers) produce well. But my personal favorite lure for this time of year, which technically is not suppose to work, is the Mann's 1-Minus wide wobble crankbait. All three of the largest bass I have ever caught (8.75, 8.89, 9.02), all came during this time of year, burning a Mann's 1-minus over stump fields and rocky bottoms in water 2-3-feet deep. My typical rod setup for this presentation is a 7' med heavy, fast action trigger rod with a 6.1:1 reel, spooled with 12-lb., test fluorocarbon line.

On St. Clair and Erie, there are spots you can work everyday and do well, but the hawgs are rarely in those spots. Schools are huge! I have found schools producing 3, 4, and 5 pound bass in the hundreds.

When I was guiding, a few us guides worked closely with each other, because we knew an area could be over fished, and thus cause the fish to move. I learned this the hard way about eight years ago. I had a very special thing going in the western end of a particular lake. I found a huge school of smallmouth and for about two years fishing was really good for me. Then I decided to stock a pond. I went to my teasured spot and caught 50 nice size fish in one day. Well the pond took off, but I killed my spot. To this day, going on 9-years, that area of the lake has not recoved. Too many fish pulled from one spot too fast!!! I learned to rotate and when I find other people are on a spot too, I've learn to coordinate with them. "Hey, I know you know this area is hot, and we want to keep it that way, so I will give you the locations of couple more areas that are hot too. Here is my cell number, and let's coordinate so that we don't fish this area but once every four days or so." On Lake St. Clair I have 30 areas that hold good fish, 6 areas that are pretty exclusive. On Lake Erie, I have 25 areas that continously produce well, 2 that are pretty exclusive. But if I find somebody in my exclusive areas, I will share with them some of my other spots and start coordinating the usage of that spot. It is the only way, to ensure they don't get over fished.

I have not done any research, but I would say you are looking at a natural decline in population growth. As I am one of the last of the "Baby Boomers" who took pride in the fact that we were only having one or two kids. Right behind me, are the Generation "X" folks, who not only reduce the number of kids they are having, but waited to have their kids later in life, which is only getting worse with the Generation "Y" folks. The "Ybies" are actaully wanting to be secure before they have kids. Advance College degrees, good jobs, a nice home, solid retirement program, sound stock portfolio -- Well, honey, I think its time to have some kids . . . I don't know, we're only 40; we might be too young still. . .