THE LUNKERS OF SPRING

SPRING INTO SOCAL BASS FISHING

SPAWNING TIME, WARMER WATER EXCITES LARGEMOUTH ANGLERS

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

As we head into spring, anglers get more and more excited about the lakes of Southern California.

Largemouth bass are waking up and males are starting to roam the banks in search of nesting spots. Each will pick a place out and guard it with its life. This bodes well for anglers who have been waiting to hit the lakes with all that new fishing gear they got for Christmas.

Last year the pandemic kept most of us off the lakes during the prespawn and spawn months, so I know we’re all ready for some good fishing.

LET THERE BE WARMTH

The water at most lakes in the region is warming up and ready to trigger the largemouth into their dance. Fishing should be good this year, with a lot more footlongs around to keep anglers’ attention between big fish bites. Plus, spring is the time to catch that fish of a lifetime.

Not long after males find a nest, the giant females move up into the shallows. Now, I’m not going to debate nest or bed fishing – that’s up to you – but blind-catching largemouth off the beds is fishing. If you release them right where you caught them,

With bass moving into the shallows, the arrival of spring can be a great time to get the kids into fishing. Author Bill Schaefer’s son Bricen shows off the rewards available beginning this month. (BILL SCHAEFER)

Small jerkbaits can be a fun way to fish, as well as locate bass in the spring. Always go back and worm any area you catch a fish.

(BILL SCHAEFER)

they will return to the bed to finish up their spawn.

After winter’s rains, the hope is that lakes near you have filled – at least a little bit. With rising water, bass will gravitate to shoreline structure even more so than normal.

REACTIONARY FISHING

Fishing the bank with reaction baits can always be productive in the spring. Action can be had with spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft and hard jerkbaits, and, at times, even some topwaters, including lures such as buzzbaits, poppers and walking baits. Don’t forget that some lakes are stocked with trout, so the bass are still eyeing the shore for dinner, which means a trout-pattern swimbait just might get you that trophy largemouth. Reaction baits may only work until the sun gets up a bit in the morning. Then you will have to go to finesse baits; something California anglers are pretty well-versed at. Remember, there

Shrimp & Crab Gear

Complete Supply Source Quality McKay Qwik-Pot Shrimp & Crab Pots Gasoline & Electric Pot Pullers Rope P Pole Buoys Davits Capstans In Stock

“Crabs love our pots. Once in they never leave.”

(360) 900-9439

www.mckayshrimpandcrabgear.com PORT SAN LUIS BOATYARD

One of the last true do-it-yourself boatyards. We provide our customers with a one stop boatyard that can answer all your boating questions, and provide you with the highest quality in Marine Supplies & Service.

Weekend Launch Hours: 5:30am–4pm Monday–Friday Launch Hours: 6am–4pm

Hours of operation during fi shing season

805-595-7895

LIGHTWEIGHT. The lightest 200-hp four stroke on the market LIGHTWEIGHT. The lightest 200-hp four stroke on the market POWERFUL. 2.8L displacement and Variable Camshaft Timing give it the best power-to-weight ratio of any 200-hp four stroke POWERFUL. 2.8L displacement and Variable Camshaft Timing give it the best power-to-weight ratio of any 200-hp four stroke COMPACT. Nearly 120 pounds lighter than our four-stroke V6 F200 COMPACT. Nearly 120 pounds lighter than our four-stroke V6 F200

THE ALL-NEW F200 IN-LINE FOUR. FORWARD THINKING. THE ALL-NEW F200 IN-LINE FOUR. FORWARD THINKING.

Show the water who’s boss with the new F200 In-Line Four. Incredibly light, responsive and fuel efficient, it serves up plenty of muscle to handily propel a variety of boats. On top of that, its 50-amp alternator offers the power to add a range of electronics, and its 26-inch mounting centers and compatibility with either mechanical or digital controls give you the flexibility to easily upgrade your outboard or rigging. Experience legendary Yamaha reliability and the freedom of forward thinking, with the all-new F200 In-Line Four. Show the water who’s boss with the new F200 In-Line Four. Incredibly light, responsive and fuel efficient, it serves up plenty of muscle to handily propel a variety of boats. On top of that, its 50-amp alternator offers the power to add a range of electronics, and its 26-inch mounting centers and compatibility with either mechanical or digital controls give you the flexibility to easily upgrade your outboard or rigging. Experience legendary Yamaha reliability and the freedom of forward thinking, with the all-new F200 In-Line Four.

OREGON

EUGENE Maxxum Marine (541) 686-3572 www.maxxummarine.com

YamahaOutboards.com/F200InLine YamahaOutboards.com/F200InLine

Follow Yamaha on Facebook® and Twitter™ Follow Yamaha on Facebook® and Twitter™

REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal

are hundreds of male bass roaming the shallows, so if you have to slow down a bit to get a bite, then do it.

Various plastics will do the trick – and should do it very well. Drop-shot worms are a favorite of mine, and the colors I go with are all-white, silver or chartreuse. There is something about these colors that get a bass to react and attack the lure this time of year. OTHER OPTIONS

Split-shot or light Carolina-rigged worms or crawdad-type plastics are also a great lure in early spring. As for colors, they should be those that you have most confidence in, but if you can find out the color of the crawdads in a certain lake, I always try to go with that for imitating the shellfish.

For shad, the usual variations of shad or shiner colors will do. Bass in some lakes like the Texas rig a little better for some reason. If that’s normal at your local lake, then by all means use it.

One more hint for plastics this time of year is to remember that the fish are usually locked onto and protecting a spawning bed. If you come upon a bed, you want your lure to sit in it or near it long enough for the bass to get mad and eat it. Move your bait a bit, let it sit, move it a bit, and then let it sit again. Some call this dead-sticking.

You really need to watch your line floating on the surface for it to jump or twitch when the bass eats the bait. You may just see it move across the water as the bass carries your lure off the bed.

Kelvin Nettleton with proof that a small shad-colored swimbait can be a good way to catch

CRANK IT UP

Another great trick in spring is to use a crankbait to find fish. Sometimes you may even catch a giant by using this technique. Crank your bait until you hit the bottom, then do a series of short winds and stops to make your crankbait look like a crawdad scurrying across the bottom, kicking up silt and bouncing off stumps or branches or rocks.

It’s that bouncing off of structure that will draw a strike from a bass, perhaps even a larger one. Rat-LTraps and spinnerbaits are also good fish locators. If you catch a bass or two, be sure to loop around and fish the area with plastics; you should pick up a few more.

GET READY FOR ACTION

Yes, it looks like it’s going to be a banner year for bass. Get your tackle ready; oil those reels; check your rods and guides; replace your line. And if you own one, make sure your boat is prepared for the new season. You don’t want to be stuck on the side of the road, so check the tires and bearings as well.

Now it’s time for you to head off to the lake and catch some bass. CS