As others have pointed out, the actual prespawn is a distinct pattern and time of year, but I've had some of my very best days, particularly for smallmouth, during the late winter period.  When I can find open water, I'll fish as early as March when many lakes in my area are still iced over and water temps are in the 30s.  The fish are lethargic, but they'll definitely bite on the right presentation and when it's the only game in town, I'm all over it.

 

 

Technically, we start the prespawn right after the postspawn. But I guess for me I'll start seriously fishing again in late February, early April.

Pre spawn starts about 2 months "before" the spawn and continues until the spawn, post spawn is "after" the spawn.

Tom

Well, in the technical (not fishing) sense of the word, "pre" means before, and anytime after the "post" spawn is technically prespawn, if you get my drift. But I wasn't really serious (rarely am).

Not trying to be sarcastic but that doesn't make sense to me. Am I missing something?

Hootie

Not trying to be sarcastic but that doesn't make sense to me. Am I missing something?

Hootie

 

Forget it lol, I'm geeky. 

Some folks don't believe in seasonal periods, there is the spawn and the balance of the year. After bass spawn, the bass recover and start a new life cycle, the females start to develop eggs during the summer. For those anglers pre spawn starts when eggs start to develop.

My belief is defined by my Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar*; 6 seasonal periods, winter, pre spawn, spawn, post spawn, summer, fall.

Tom

* search Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar.

Some folks don't believe in seasonal periods, there is the spawn and the balance of the year. After bass spawn, the bass recover and start a new life cycle, the females start to develop eggs during the summer. For those anglers pre spawn starts when eggs start to develop.

My belief is defined by my Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar*; 6 seasonal periods, winter, pre spawn, spawn, post spawn, summer, fall.

Tom

* search Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar.

Tom, and Senko lover, you guys are just too smart for me...lol.

Hootie

Some folks don't believe in seasonal periods, there is the spawn and the balance of the year. After bass spawn, the bass recover and start a new life cycle, the females start to develop eggs during the summer. For those anglers pre spawn starts when eggs start to develop.

My belief is defined by my Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar*; 6 seasonal periods, winter, pre spawn, spawn, post spawn, summer, fall.

Tom

* search Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar.

Unless you're a Cajun

Cajun seasons!

Pre-spawn

Spawn

Post spawn

Summer

Football

Hunting

Unless you're a Cajun

Cajun seasons!

Pre-spawn

Spawn

Post spawn

Summer

Football

Hunting

Merry Christmas Catt, In needed that!

Tom

My fishing is pretty much done here in Missouri so I figured I would ask when you all start prespawn fishing? 

 

why is it done already? i'm still fishing in st. louis.

Here in IN, I'm done fishing in state until ice out in Feb. or Mar. Then it's time to whack those fat bottom gals with a jig & craw.

Whenever the ice goes away.

 

X2

After ice out and several successive days of warm weather. Here in Northern missouri that might be  as early as February . I always had a hard time catching fish in the morning at this time but in the  afternoon with the sun shining I have caught some of my largest bass . I have had the most success on steeper banks and a crankbait reeled "Very" slowly. Fred Argobast  Mudbugs are a good choice.