Bass Fishing May - Jun 2018 | Page 69

2. MAKE HAY AROUND
BAITFISH SPAWNS
I
n­the­central­and­southern­states,­May­and­June­are­postspawn­months­for­bass,­when
their­focus­shifts­from­reproduction­to­recovery.­anglers­shouldn’t­forget­about­the
spawn­for­“other”­species,­however.
“Especially­in­early­May,­that’s­pretty­much­immediate­postspawn­where­i­live,”­says
south­Carolina’s­brandon­Cobb.­“it’s­postspawn­for­bass,­but­you­need­to­look­at­what
they’re­going­to­eat.­they’re­feeding­back­up­heavy,­and­it’s­the­spawn­time­for­a­lot­of
forage­fish,­whether­shad,­herring­or­bream.”
While­the­spawning­habits­of­each­forage­fish­are­similar,­Cobb­alters­his­approach
depending­on­which­one­is­most­prevalent­where­he’s­fishing.
1. Bream
Where to look –­bluegills­and­other­bream­spawn­in
shallow,­protected­pockets­in­creeks­or­in­the­main­lake,
usually­up­against­shoreline­vegetation,­around­docks­or
around­wood­cover.­they’ll­choose­sand­or­light­gravel­if
it’s­there,­but­Cobb­says­he’s­seen­them­spawn­on­just
about­any­bottom­other­than­muck.­
What to throw –­if­he­can­see­bass­cruising­for­bream,
Cobb­will­launch­a­wacky-rigged­worm­in­front­of­them.
however,­he­prefers­to­cover­ground­with­a­popper,­frog,
Zoom­horny­toad­or­some­other­type­of­topwater.
Strategy point –­“you­need­to­cover­water­because­it’s
not­like­there’s­a­bass­on­every­bluegill­bed,”­Cobb­says.­“a
lot­of­times­they­don’t­sit­specifically­there;­they’re­up
moving­and­looking­for­them­like­you­are.­you­can­cover
water­quicker­with­a­topwater.”
2. Blueback Herring
Where to look –­herring­spawn­at­night­around­shal-
low­cover­such­as­seawalls,­chunk­rock,­wood­or­grass.­in
high-water­situations­they’ll­spread­out­into­flooded­grass
MAY-JUNE 2018 I FLWFISHING.COM
and­wood,­but­they’re­more­often­found­around­the­main
lake­or­in­large­creeks­near­open­water.
What to throw –­Cobb­throws­a­yo-Zuri­Pencil­walking
topwater,­Zoom­5-inch­swimmer­or­Zoom­super­fluke.
Strategy point –­“Early­in­the­morning­is­best­because
herring­actually­spawn­primarily­at­night,­and­the­bass
stage­on­the­places­where­they­spawn­and­don’t­feed­all
day.­the­bass­are­there;­they’re­just­waiting­on­that­feed-
ing­window.­at­some­point­during­the­day­it’s­going­to­fire.
that’s­why­you’ve­got­two­different­styles­of­herring
spawn­fishing:­Find­a­point­or­flat­you­know­has­a­bunch
and­wait­for­them­to­bite,­or­run­a­million­places­and
hope­to­hit­them­when­they­bite.­that’s­my­style.­the
longer­you­sit­on­them­the­harder­it­is­to­get­them­to­bite.
they­start­getting­wary­of­baits­flying­over­them.”­
3. Threadfin Shad
Where to look –­shad­will­spawn­throughout­a­reser-
voir,­usually­up­against­some­type­of­hard­cover­or­edge
such­as­dock­floats,­seawalls,­riprap,­chunk­rock,­shoreline
bushes­or­an­outside­grass­edge.­
What to throw –­Cobb­matches­his­tackle­to­the­size
of­the­spawning­shad,­opting­for­small­shallow­crankbaits
and­three-bladed­spinnerbaits.
Strategy point –­“the­shad­spawn­is­inconsistent,”
says­Cobb,­“so­you’re­not­really­looking­for­the­shad;
you’re­just­looking­for­bass­eating­them­and­coming­up
schooling.­it’s­really­tricky­to­catch­them­after­the­early
morning­because­they’re­full.­a­lot­of­those­big­shad-
spawn­bags­you’ll­see­at­weigh-in­were­caught­in­the­first
10­minutes.”
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