Winter is beginning to slowly end, and that means the season is about to begin. But I thought it would be helpful to share some of your favorite techniques and methods to catching these early season bass. So I guess my question would be what are your favorite, or cost-effective methods for catching bass right off the bat? 

 

-Will

Until the water warms up the bass will stay around deeper structure.

Points are always a good target and right now primary points are hot.

Depends on water clarity. I look for clear water and I have more success on jerk baits. I'll flip heavy nasty cover in muddy waters. Smallmouth are notoriously willing biters within a week of ice-out.

Here's a regional technique: guys thy fish the upper Chesapeake bay will hop a Silver Buddy (blade bait) off the bottom during late winter. Apparently, it's very effective, but I prefer a squarebill and riprap.

 I will fish deeper water with a jig and silver buddy. First though I try and find the warmest water in the lake. A river or stream coming into the lake can be significantly warmer then the rest of the lake.  I have had amazing results fishing rivers when the lakes are still very very cold. In the rivers I still use jigs but I also fish crank baits and spinner baits.

The Bassmaster Classic is going on right now in these exact conditions, 58 pros will demonstrate their tactics on the water....watch and learn.

I like fishing square bills and that's what I usually do early on, along with deeper cranks and jerk baits. But I wanted to try and start jigging the bottom more, any tips for jigging or techniques used by some of you?

 

-Will

Hard jerkbaits fished very slowly and deep cranks that suspend until the water get warmer. But the ice has to melt first because my cranks don't get down as much when the lake is frozen.

I usually start on the n. West side of the lake, warms up 1st there. Find the warmest water you can and fish jerkbaits hard and soft very slowly. Lipless crankbaits also work well fished slowly and erratically here in mass. Where I live. Good luck!