HOTSPOTS
If you learn the hotspots where bass seek optimum habitat in which to deposit their eggs, you’ll catch more bass than the average angler.
Back ends of creeks and coves are always good places to start and they are usually always good when situated along northern banks that receive plenty of sun.
If your favorite lake has lily pads, remember that they are not just great bass cover but they commonly spawn on the roots of the pads.
Shallow flats and points that grow thick with aquatic vegetation can be good if there are open areas that bass can use for nesting sites.
Look for pea-gravel bottoms usually found in creek arms and coves on the lower or deeper ends of reservoirs. Bass love to spawn in these areas.
Spring rains often flood shoreline bushes that were high and dry during the winter drawdown. The firm bottom and protective cover attract spawning bass.
Stacey King is a Member of the Bass Pro Shops® National Fishing Team
PRESENTATION
Presentation is a key element in fishing a cold front because of the way fish respond to the weather change. They tend to move close to cover and stay there, which means that their strike zone is much smaller than normal. You have to adapt to that change and concentrate on presentation to be effective.
You also may have to develop a "presentation pattern" to enjoy a full day of success. Keep track of where cold front fish are hitting your baits – on the deeper side of a flooded brushpile, for example – and concentrate on making casts to those kinds of spots.
You'll stop wasting time and start catching fish more often.
Also remember that simplicity is a key to consistent fishing success.
Keep things as simple as possible by sticking to the things you do best.
Kevin VanDam is a Member of the Bass Pro Shops® National Fishing Team
WALLEYE SPOONS
Spoons are sometimes overlooked as walleye baits, although they can be very effective – especially when fish are using weedbeds in water 10 feet deep or shallower.
When fishing areas like this for walleyes, try casting a spoon and fishing it as if you were after a bass. Vary your retrieve, pausing often to let the spoon flutter down like a wounded baitfish.
Many anglers use a snap or snap-swivel to attach spoons to their line, which assures that the lure will move through the water with maximum action.
Experiment with lure size and retrieve until you start catching fish. Then concentrate on consistency to "spoon feed" more walleyes on your next trip.
Gary Parsons is a Member of the Bass Pro Shops® National Team
For more tips, log onto basspro.com and click on News & Tips
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