South of the Mason - Dixon line Feb. marks the month that bass will start their migration up shallow to scout for good spawning places - you are also likely to catch your largest size or most bass during this period as well ... *What are your current favorite tactics / lures for catching pre-spawn bass ?

The bubble gum worm is pretty good most years.

I like a creature bait or at times a jig.

Spinnerbaits, jigs, sometimes a squarebill.

Senko, Fat Ika, Rage Tail Structure Bug, Cut-R, Lizard, Space Monkey and Menace.

 

Pre-spawn! Like in right now?

 

Rat-L-Trap ?

1 hour ago, ChrisD46 said:

South of the Mason - Dixon line Feb. marks the month that bass will start their migration up shallow to scout for good spawning places - you are also likely to catch your largest size or most bass during this period as well ... *What are your current favorite tactics / lures for catching pre-spawn bass ?

Mason-Dixon line is essentially the PA/MD border, so you are a couple of weeks early with that assessment for the northern range. That being said, as soon as there is an upswing in water temps I like a jerkbait and a chatterbait. As the water warms a tad into high 40s low 50s, a squarebill, spinnerbait, and a large swimbait. Once they start thinking of the beds, plastic creatures and jigs. 

5 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

I like a jerkbait and a chatterbait

This is my preference too.  Jerkbait primarily for brown bass, chatterbait for greenies.

UV Speed Worm, Rage bug, Fat Max ribbon. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

Lipless, spinnerbait, squarebill

Crawfish colored crankbaits fished parallel to sunny rocky banks .  

1 hour ago, Catt said:

Pre-spawn! Like in right now?

 

Rat-L-Trap ?

We've had almost 30 inches of snow in the last two weeks and it's currently 8 degree here. Your post is just plain mean!  

Trap or spinnerbait. Rage bug or Rage cutter worm 

30 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

We've had almost 30 inches of snow in the last two weeks and it's currently 8 degree here. Your post is just plain mean!  

 

We're under a cold snap ?

 

 

Well, I could sleep in my truck in your driveway and you can point me to the closest bass waters.....I'll come back home at the end of March.......

38 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

We've had almost 30 inches of snow in the last two weeks and it's currently 8 degree here. Your post is just plain mean!  

Amen...the wind chill tonight is gonna be like -25 here.

For me prespawn is about big moving baits my favorites being spinnerbaits and swim jigs. For bottom baits its hard to beat a lizard in prespawn.

Yes.

3 hours ago, Catt said:

Pre-spawn! Like in right now?

 

Rat-L-Trap ?

Do you mostly fish the actual rat-l-trap?

5 minutes ago, BlakeMolone said:

Do you mostly fish the actual rat-l-trap?

 

Yes sir I do ?

1 hour ago, BlakeMolone said:

Do you mostly fish the actual rat-l-trap?

 

Retired all my Rat-L-Traps when I switched to the Red Eye Shad.

This month I'm using the following:

 

Jig (with craw trailer)

Fliptail Lizard, Strike King Rodent, or Zoom Brush Hog (Texas Rigged)

Rat-L-Trap

Spinnerbait (7/16 oz. with single #7 Colorado Blade and pork frog trailer)

 

 

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

 

Retired all my Rat-L-Traps when I switched to the Red Eye Shad.

 

Nahh ain't happening ?

 

I throw both, along with a few select others.

lipless cranks (I usually fish the CC Spot), spinnerbait & jig.

The only seasonal period of the year for me to catch giant bass over 15 lbs is pre spawn-spawn cycle. The other 9 months it’s a crap shoot. 

Where I fish crawdads are #1 abundant protein source for big bass. #2 are planted rainbow trout. #3 are spawning crappie. #4 is Threadfin Shad. #5 is everything else.

Jigs replicate #1. Trout and crappie swimbaits #2 &3. Shad size crankbaits #4 and big soft plastic worms and creatures #5.

Hair jigs and pork trailers are my go to lure.

Tom

Something from one of these two boxes ~

A-Jay