5 Best Bass Lures for Spring Pond Fishing
This post contains affiliate links where we may earn commissions from Amazon, REI, and other retailers at no additional cost to you. You can learn more about our affiliate policy here.
Early spring is a great time to go pond fishing for huge bass. The water is warming up, and the bass is getting more active.
This blog post will discuss five of the best bass lures for spring pond fishing and why the spring is king when it comes to catching largemouth bass.
We’ll also provide some tips on how to use these lures effectively. So if you’re looking to catch some pond bass this spring, get your fishing shoes and tackle gear ready.
Let’s dive in.
Spring Bass Fishing
Spring is when there is a warming trend, and the water temperatures rise. Early spring pond bass fishing is when the biggest bass tend to emerge from deeper water to shallow cover to spawn.
This is why bass during this time of year can be a little more challenging than at other times of the year. So you have to find where these fish are hiding and what they’re feeding on.
But when you find them, it can be well worth the effort.
There are a few things you need to take into consideration when targeting bass during this season:
- Shallow cover such as lily pads or vegetation will hold bass that will attack anything in its territory.
- Whether you’re in a small pond or you’re looking for big lakes, this reaction bite is since bass are aggressive and territorial by nature during this time of year.
The 5 Best Lures For Pond Fishing
Crankbaits
A crankbait is one of the best lures for catching bass when water column temperature starts rising after winter. Crankbaits imitate baitfish and can be very effective in shallow and deep water.
There are two types of crankbaits: floating and sinking. Floating crankbaits work best in shallow water while sinking crankbaits work best in deep water.
When using a crankbait, make sure to use the right weight for the depth you’re fishing in. For example, if you’re fishing in covering water that’s deep, you’ll need to use a heavier lure (lipless crankbaits) to get it down to where bass are hiding. One of the best bass lures for pond fishing, make sure you have a variety of colors in your tackle box.
Jerkbaits
Jerking a baitfish is one of the best ways to imitate their natural movement, and this is what jerkbaits capitalize on. Jerkbaits come in both floating and sinking varieties and can be fished in shallow and deep water.
One of the best things about jerkbaits is that they can be fished at any speed, from slow to fast. This makes them very versatile lures that can be used in a variety of situations. There are many styles of jerkbaits available. Some of the premium line of jerkbaits are from Megabass.
Spinnerbaits
Another great lure you should have in your tackle box is a spinnerbait. Spinnerbaits are especially effective around cover and when bass are feeding on baitfish. There are two types of spinnerbaits: bucktail and blade baits. Blade baits work better around heavy cover, while bucktail baits work better in open water.
When using a spinnerbait, make sure to use the right size and weight for the depth you’re fishing in. For example, if you’re fishing in deeper water, you’ll need to use a heavier lure for bass holding in deeper water.
Topwater Baits
Topwater lures such as frogs, mice, or mouse-style crankbaits (also known as diving plugs). Topwater baits can be very effective when the water temperature rises above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and there’s little wind or current. Frogs work best around cover, while mouse-style crankbaits work best in open water.
When using a topwater bait, make sure to use the right size and weight for the depth you’re fishing in. For example, if you’re fishing in deeper water, you’ll need to use a heavier lure to get it down to where the bass is hiding.
Texas rigs
Another great way of catching pond bass during this time of year is with Texas rigs. Texas rigs are especially effective when bass are feeding on crayfish. There are two types of Texas rigs: plastic worms and jig head rigs. The worm rig is best for fishing in shallow water, while the jig head rig is best for fishing in deep water. These Texas rigged worms, and finesse jigs are best fished with slower presentations; slow rolling with a stop-and-go tactic.
When using a Texas rig, make sure to use the right size and weight for the depth you’re fishing in. If you’re fishing in deeper water, you’ll need to use a heavier lure to get it down to where the bass is hiding. The best time of day
When using a Texas rig, make sure to use the right size and weight for the depth you’re fishing in. For example, if you’re fishing in deeper water, you’ll need to use a heavier lure to get it down to where the bass is hiding.
You can also use a Tokyo rig and rig it weedless as well. Plastic worms on a drop shot rig for bass is also a deadly technique.
So there you have it – five of the best lures for catching big bass during the early spring season.
Where To Fish For Bass In Most Ponds
The key to finding bass in fishing ponds is to find wood cover or weed beds.
Bass like to hide in the shade of overhanging trees, brush piles, and other forms of wood cover along the shoreline or out on a point when the weather is hot and sunny.
In late spring, when it’s still cool at night but warm during the day, you’ll find bass around lighted docks that have been put in place for summer use and near submerged stumps where they can get out of direct sunlight.
Bass love to hang under these floating docks waiting for prey to come swimming by because they offer shade from direct sunshine as well as shelter from strong winds or rainstorms.
What Does Bass Eat In Spring?
Bass are best known for their aggressive, predatory behavior in the summer. They’re also highly opportunistic feeders that will eat whatever they can get their mouths around during colder seasons.
The best bass lures for the season mimic prey fish like shad and sunfish or baitfish like crayfish and minnows.
These lures work best when fished on the bottom with a bobber to keep them in place close to shoreline cover. Other types of presentations include casting at weed beds, along rocky shores, over deep channels, or into flooded timber areas where schools of small fish hide from predators when water levels drop during winter months.
What Colors Do Bass Like In The Spring?
Anglers should know what bass naturally eat during this time of year. This will enable them to match their swim jigs, wacky rigged Senko, bladed jigs, and other baits to the same color as the creatures that bass usually prey on.
Several baits have transparent bodies, making it easier for anglers to see through them and know what color of these baits is best suited for their favorite fishing spot. Bass usually take advantage of shad and crawfish during springtime when they migrate back into deeper waters.
During this time, most baitfish also swim in schools since food sources are abundant, making bass very easy to catch at this period too. The best color would be one with a combination of brownish-red (for crawdads) and silver/white (for shad).
Other colors that would work best in the spring include purple, white, and yellow. For clearer water, consider using a white or green pumpkin. The best lures for spring bass will mimic the creatures they prey on or produce a color that produces a reaction bite if they’re territorial.
Spring Bass Lure Color Chart Recommendations
Sunny & Clear Visibility | Overcast & Clear Visibility | Sunny & Murky | Overcast & Murky |
---|---|---|---|
Transparent, natural colors like brown/red (crawfish), silver/white (shad), green pumpkin, watermelon, brown. | Solid colors like black, blue, white, chartreuse. | Reflective colorReflective colors with flakes in white, chartreuse. | Solid colors in white, silver, chartreuse, gold. |
Does Lure Size Matter For Pond Bass?
Anglers know that lure size is important when fishing for bass, but what about in the spring?
Bass are best known for their aggressive, predatory behavior. They’re also highly opportunistic feeders that will eat whatever they can get their mouths around during colder seasons.
The best bass lures mimic prey fish like shad and sunfish or baitfish like crayfish and minnows in small ponds.
These lures work best when fished on the bottom with a bobber to keep them in place close to shoreline cover.
You should mimic the size of the natural prey and use small lures to best imitate this.
Does Bigger Bait Catch Bigger Bass?
When it comes to bass fishing, many anglers believe that using a bigger bait will catch a bigger fish. This theory has been around for a long time and is still debated by many anglers.
Some people believe that using a bigger bait will make the fish feel threatened and catch them. Others believe that the bigger bait will look more appealing to the fish and lead to a better chance of being caught.
There seems to be no clear consensus when talking to anglers about this topic. Some people swear by using a bigger bait, while others have had better luck using smaller baits.
So, what’s the best way to go about deciding what size bait to use? Well, it ultimately comes down to personal preference, but some general guidelines might help you decide on what best fits your style of fishing.
First off, if you’re going out in open water, then bigger baits will likely work best for you. Bigger bass tends to live in open water where they have more space and don’t feel as threatened by smaller baits like minnows or worms.
If the bait is too big, though, it can easily be missed by fish who aren’t used to seeing them around their habitat. But, on the other hand, if you’re fishing in areas with lots of cover, such as vegetation or rocks, then a smaller bait may offer better results since larger bass won’t be able to hunt down those types of prey due to lack of space.
In addition to the location, you also need to consider what type of fish you’re trying to catch.
If it’s a smallmouth, then smaller finesse jigs might work best since they tend not to eat larger bait items like worms or crawfish due to their mouths being too small for them (which can cause problems when it comes time for releasing those catches).
Largemouth bass, however, will likely prefer bigger lures as they have larger mouths that can accommodate much bigger food sources such as shad and even frogs if given enough room in which to hunt down these types of prey with ease.
Another thing worth mentioning is that some anglers believe using smaller bait is better because there are fewer chances that predators such as birds will be attracted.
How To Improve Your Chances Of Catching Bass
When it comes to increasing your chances of catching and finding fish, you should consider various fishing gear aside from the obvious rod and reel setup.
Fishing shoes: Fishing shoes are one of the best equipment to have for fishing in ponds. Look for a shoe that will keep you dry and provide good traction.
Fishing Sunglasses: Polarized sunglasses are best for fishing shallow ponds. They help you spot fish through the glare and water surface disturbances, plus they protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.
Boat or kayak: A boat or kayak can give you an edge when fishing a pond or lake. You’ll have the ability to cover more water and get to spots where fish are hiding, which will improve your chances of catching bass.
Final Thoughts
To best catch bass in the springtime, you’ll need to consider a few different factors.
It’s a good idea to beef up your fishing gear, such as water resistant fishing shoes for grip support, as well as sunglasses so that you can best spot fish through glare or water surface disturbances. A boat may also be necessary for covering more ground quickly when looking for fish hiding in spots where they’re most likely found.
In addition to this, there are various baits available depending on what type of bass you’d like to catch. For example, make sure you have other options when your favorite lures aren’t hitting.