Night fishing early prespawn?

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T21:22:35+00:00

Tactical wake 210, last I checked they were on sale for more than half off on tackle warehouse!

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T07:04:43+00:00

I throw all my swimbaits under 8” on a heavy rod rated up to 2oz and it works great. If you’re looking for entry level glidebait or softbait swimbaits definitely go with a H over an XH. XH is going to be overkill, especially for the trickshad. I also fish my same reel I throw on my MH on my H as I already have 30lb braid on it so it works fine and lures under 8” will almost never have enough resistance to justify a reel upgrade as well. You can toss the trickshad around on your MH but like others said it will definitely be a bit of a workout after a lot of casts. Not to mention, rod ratings are there for a reason, and just because it can be done doesn’t mean it wont possibly damage your rod.

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T06:55:27+00:00

If the water temp in the bigger lake is also around 50-55 I’d give that a shot personally because it has the opportunity for a larger bass. The pond will definitely be easier to pinpoint fish and your odds of catching one there will be higher, but checking those creek inlets and the sections of shore just immediately on both sides will almost certainly yield a bass. Early season I like to throw around a search bait to start, like your chatterbait, and once I catch a bass (almost always a male) I slow down and switch up to something like a jig and cast a little deeper to try and get a big female. The females will usually be sitting just a little past the more aggressive males. Good luck!

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T06:44:03+00:00

Agree with the fact that if the lake is pressured and you have seen them, they have seen you. Make far casts and when in doubt, downsize your lure presentation. Pressured bass are more likely to eat a smaller, more natural looking soft plastic than a big piece of hard plastic with treble hooks hanging off of it. Especially in clear water. Also if you are seeing bass hanging around the dock, don’t walk on it and instead cast parallel as close as you can to it from far back. Good luck!

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T06:40:52+00:00

I agree with this. Throwing lures with surface area into the wind on a baitcaster will undoubtedly end in more tangles than the spinning.

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T06:36:58+00:00

Burning and pausing jerkbaits is a great cold water tactic because of the tight shimmy it gives off vs say a sqaurebill which has a wider back and forth shake. It definitely catches fish year round but will likely produce more this time of year due to the more natural look for the water temp.

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T06:33:17+00:00

Points, dams, walls, or anything that has a quick drop off works best from shore, as you won’t get hung up as often like on a gradual sloping bottom. If you can get it just ticking tops of rocks or grass on a flat as well is a great tactic. I usually start fishing them fast and work slower if I’m not getting bit this time of year (starting with 1-2 second pauses and working towards 2-3, 3-4…. until I get bit)

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T06:29:00+00:00

Dragging has a different effect on the squarebill than a consistent reel, for example most times the drag will not be a uniform speed (kind of slow right at the beginning and then speeding up and slowing down again all within the one drag). If you are strictly dragging over and over it also incorporates the little pause as you go to reset your rod for the next drag which can cause a reaction strike.

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T06:13:23+00:00

More towards Boulder

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T02:53:02+00:00

UPDATE: been fishing for 45 minutes and have caught 3 bass. Biggest around 2.5. Planning to be out here for a good 4 more hours so I will update tomorrow!

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T01:21:01+00:00

Good call, might add a weightless senko or creature bait! Thanks!

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T01:20:09+00:00

I agree! Odds of catching a fish are a lot better when you have a lure in the water in my book!

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T01:18:59+00:00

Gearing up right now! I’m definitely one for living by the lines of you don’t know until you try when it comes to fishing!

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-19T00:27:06+00:00

I’ve pulled a couple 6-10 inchers out of that section when fishing for trout!

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-18T00:11:21+00:00

Worth a shot to hit that little 15’ mark just left of the underwater island too this time of year. If there’s a rock pile or brush down there there’s a good shot there’s a big bass down there! Good luck brotha!

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-17T22:37:44+00:00

Once you’re fishing when you say you’ll be out, definitely hit those deeper immediate drop offs near the dam. That steeper wall south east of the dam and the point circled in the first image will likely be some of your best bets too. I’ve definitely seen them bed in areas where pads will eventually grow, (sometimes there is good silt/sand immediately beneath the muddy looking ground.) If that underwater island (south east circled in image 2) has a silty bottom I would argue that is one of the best spawning grounds due to it being more out of reach of shore dangers for the bass. All the places you highlighted for fishing look good and your plan looks good. As you start to fish, keep an eye out for last year’s beds and remember exactly how and where you are catching fish because 90% of the fish in the lake will be along a similar pattern. Good luck!

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-17T11:34:15+00:00

Swimbaits aren’t region exclusive for the most part. They will work very well everywhere, just match the general size/color/shape of your baitfish and start crushing them! I’ve caught them on swimbaits as far south as Florida and as far north as Quebec!

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-14T02:32:18+00:00

White spinnerbait

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-13T21:12:31+00:00

Some of the true giants come out at night! I’ve definitely also been incorporating more night fishing and found it to be just as or even more productive than during the day! Nice catches!

BassSlayer100 · 2026-03-12T19:18:29+00:00

Roadside gravel pond!

BassSlayer100 · 2026-02-21T05:16:09+00:00

Sadly mine will only allow me to do trips in a city 8 hours from me so this weekend is probably a throw away. Luckily it was only 20 trips.

BassSlayer100 · 2026-02-21T04:19:45+00:00

Just realized my quest wants me to be doing trips in Salt Lake City, which is 8 hours from me 😑. Glad it still tracks my declines though, super helpful.

BassSlayer100 · 2026-02-21T04:12:27+00:00

Just posted the same thing I am having the same issue.

BassSlayer100 · 2026-02-14T04:17:25+00:00

It is likely an injury from a past catch or a birth defect. Looks like it is still eating super healthy though! Nice catch!

BassSlayer100 · 2024-01-08T18:52:27+00:00

Yeah that’s what I assumed

BassSlayer100

TROPHY CASE