I have a Iowa Bass Nation Federation Spring State 2 Day Tournament on May 2nd and 3rd. 

 

Location- Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin

 

I'm just curious what does smallmouth bass or largemouth bass bite during Late April and beginning of May.

 

I feel its going to be lipless cranking and tube fishing.

 

Can anyone give me pointers, areas, tips on Pool 10?

 

Thanks!

 

Dilly. 

Never been there in the spring, but forget about smallmouth.  Chances are the water will be high, muddy and fast.  Focus on the backwater areas, greymore comes to mind as one that might be good.  I usually go up there in the fall so the patterns are significantly different during that time.  The lower end of the pool will probably have cleaner water and less level fluctuations than mid or upper pool and probably your best bet for big bags, check bussey lake, but also the most competition.  During most months of the year tournaments out of 10 will be won by competitors locking up to pool 9, but I literally have no experience there at all.  I recommend throwing a Vibrashock by KaRu Lures.  Amazing spring time bait.  I prefer green pumpkin/blue sapphire(not on the website yet, but email can get it) or black/blue during the spring with some type of crawdad trailer.  The crawdad IMO gives the bait a bigger profile and looks more like a bluegill.  Swimjigs this time of year can also be really good, I like a black/blue here as well, but also really like normal shad patterns.

Never been there in the spring, but forget about smallmouth.  Chances are the water will be high, muddy and fast.  Focus on the backwater areas, greymore comes to mind as one that might be good.  I usually go up there in the fall so the patterns are significantly different during that time.  The lower end of the pool will probably have cleaner water and less level fluctuations than mid or upper pool and probably your best bet for big bags, check bussey lake, but also the most competition.  During most months of the year tournaments out of 10 will be won by competitors locking up to pool 9, but I literally have no experience there at all.  I recommend throwing a Vibrashock by KaRu Lures.  Amazing spring time bait.  I prefer green pumpkin/blue sapphire(not on the website yet, but email can get it) or black/blue during the spring with some type of crawdad trailer.  The crawdad IMO gives the bait a bigger profile and looks more like a bluegill.  Swimjigs this time of year can also be really good, I like a black/blue here as well, but also really like normal shad patterns.

Thanks Buzbait88, I'll see what Karu lures has to offer. 

 

I fished in Dubuque pool during Fall State. Used alot of cranks, tubes. so I had a feeling it will be the same pattern.

There is a huge difference between #10 in the spring and fall. The fish in the fall are much easier to pattern. Look for the shad and catch fish. In the spring the water will most likely be at or above flood stage and the fish will be scattered everywhere.Your best bet would be to look to the backwaters away from the strong river current and use search baits like a spinnerbait, lipless crank or wide wobble cranks like a wiggle wart. If you find a pocket of fish you will be lucky. It's usually a fish here and there.

Thanks Plumworm for your input.

Maybe we can meet up this time! I'll be fishing so I can't give away much for spots, but they should be late prespawn by that point. Depends how the spring goes, but we should be seeing water temps approaching 60 degrees and may even have some fish on beds. Start with the backs of the backwaters. Flipping jigs, tubes, or craed will be big. There will be some smallmouth weighed in, but at that time of year it's mostly just from a couple well known spots.

A couple community holes for you, the power plant at Lansing (pool 9) is good due to warm water, Cold Springs (pool 9) is a big spawning area, and bussey lake (s end of 10) holds a great population of 3-5 pounders.

All those spots will get some pressure for the tournament, but there's always fish there if your struggling.