Mark Davis shares his favorite techniques to catch pre-spawn bass when they start moving up, but the water is still cold.
The first technique Mark Davis uses to catch pre-spawn bass is a Carolina rig. He prefers to use a three foot leader and a Strike King Game Hawg on his rig.
This setup is great when the water temperatures are in the 50-degree range until the spawn.
For success, fish this bait on points, humps, and many other places. Consider where the fish go to spawn. The fish want to go back into a protected area, to the top of a ridge or a big main lake flat. These fish are going to set up in specific staging areas just before they make that move to spawn.
Another technique that is a slow-moving lure for pre-spawn fishing is a football jig. Mark Davis uses a half ounce Tour Grade Football Jig paired up with a Strike King Rage Bug trailer. Remove the side appendages off the Rage Bug to fit half ounce jig. The green pumpkin craw jig with a blue craw trailer makes the perfect color combination.
Mark Davis fishes the football jig in same areas as the Carolina rig.
Football jigs conventionally are cast out and fished slowly on the bottom. However, to catch more fish on a football jig, Mark Davis will throw a jig and wind it (still contacting the bottom). This retrieve is like fishing a crankbait and covering water.
Another bait to fish this technique with is a half-ounce Swinging Football Head. Occasionally, Mark Davis will fish a quarter ounce version on spinning tackle. This swinging head can use any hook style or size, depending on the bait. Simply put the hook on it, twist it around and lock it in place.
Remember to fish with something slow, like a jig, or a Carolina rig when fish are first starting to come up and getting ready to spawn.
Mark Davis’s favorite rod and reel combination for fishing a football jig, a Carolina rig, and a wobble head is the 7’11” Lew’s Custom Pro Rod designed by Mark Rose. Pair this rod up with the Lew’s BB1 Pro reel and 15-to-17-pound test fluorocarbon.