Top 3 Presentations for Spawning Bass

Tube
A tube is probably my favorite lure to throw when sight fishing during the spawn. A tube is fantastic for fishing beds, mostly because of its compact profile and its ability to mimic a predator baitfish. Bass will guard their bed closely and when they bite, they’re not doing so out of hunger. They’re simply looking to get rid of the threat to their eggs. Most of the time, bass will simply pick the presentation up and quickly move it off the bed. The window to set the hook is short, and I find the fish have a better chance of getting more of the tube in their mouth compared to bulkier presentations.

I prefer throwing my tube this time of year on a Texas rig. This keeps the presentation relatively weedless and allows me to target spawning fish that are on or near cover. If I can see the fish on the bed, I like to fish with a white tube because I can see it well. If I’m targeting spawning fish in stained water conditions or fish spawning in cover, I like to use a more natural color since I can’t see the bait.

Devil’s horse
A prop type style topwater can also be an excellent tool this time of year. When fishing a topwater during the spawn, I want to have a presentation that doesn’t do much of anything so I can keep in the strike zone for an extended period of time. An occasional short twitch, followed by a long pause on top of a bed often makes a bedding bass feel threatened. Sometimes pauses as long as a minute are necessary. The longer the devil’s horse sits in place, the more threatened the bass will feel.

A popper is also a suitable replacement, but I’ve found there’s something about the do nothing action of the devil’s horse that just works during this period. The pencil-like profile and vibration the props emit when twitching is something spawning fish can’t stand.

Finesse jig
Bass don’t always spawn shallow, or on beds that are visible. In deep clear water reservoirs, they can spawn as deep, if not deeper, than 20 feet. There are times when bass will spawn on top of logs, around stumps and other kinds of cover.

I’ve found that a finesse jig paired with a compact trailer is a valuable tool for situations that aren’t normal during the spawn. When fishing for deep bedding bass, I can use a ½-ounce to ¾-ounce finesse jig to get down to depth quickly. It’s also a great tool for targeting bass that are spawning on wood, because it comes through cover better than the tube does.