Most anglers are currently dealing with post spawn conditions on their home lake. This time of the year can be a difficult one as bass are usually not quite in their distinct summertime patterns. The bass can be a little more finicky this time of year and a little sluggish. While the fishing can be difficult at times…
Most anglers are currently dealing with post spawn conditions on their home lake. This time of the year can be a difficult one as bass are usually not quite in their distinct summertime patterns. The bass can be a little more finicky this time of year and a little sluggish. While the fishing can be difficult at times there are some techniques that should help you put more bass in the boat during this transition.
A top water bait is an excellent choice for post spawn bass. A lot of times you will have bass following the shad around and there is nothing better to imitate a wounded shad out there than a zara spook or a buzz bait.. I like to start out working over secondary points and main lake points this time of year with a top water. A lot of times I will throw a smaller walker or a popper because they seem to get more bites. You have to give the bait a variety of cadences until you find out what the fish prefer. What seems to usually work well is a two twitch three twitch rhythm.
If Im not getting bit on a top water I like to drop down to a spinner bait to cover water in search of schooling bass. Ill fish secondary points, main lake points, or transition areas giving the bait a steady retrieve with some twitches here and there. You want to make sure that you have a couple of different skirt combinations on hand because sometimes a change in color can make all the difference. I like to carry a Naked Bait Company Skirt expander in the boat at all times so I can make necessary changes throughout the day. For me a smaller spinner bait seems to match the hatch this time of year. I like to throw a spinner bait on a 6 foot 9 AiRRUS Ultra XL rod with at least 15 pound test. The brand of spinnerbait I rely on to get the job done is Pig Sticker. They have a smaller wire than the rest of the brands out there that gives it a unique vibration. Dont be afraid to use heavy line when you go to throw your spinner bait. All it takes if for a nice bass to get you wrapped in the cover to learn your lesson.
Since the bass are usually starting to key in on the shad a great bait this time of year is a crank bait. You can get on some of those high spots around out from spawning areas or the drop offs and really clean house. I like to throw a dd22 or a fat free shad in bone or white with a green or chart back most of the time. A lot of times you just need a steady retrieve or a stop and go to temp the bass into striking. You dont always have to have your bait touching to bottom to be productive. If the bass are schooling run a bait that dives down so that it runs just over where they are sitting. The bass will come up to crush it. I do most of my cranking with a 7 foot AiRRUS Cranking stick with 10lb test.
If fishing is really slow the last rig Ill throw is a carolina rig. On the business end of the line Ill have a French fry or a lizard. Over the years it has been hard to beat a lizard when fishing this technique. The fish seem to prefer plastics this time of the year over a jig. I like to get on those same secondary points, main lake points, or transition areas and just drag it along ever so slowly. If you take your lizard and dip it in spike it you seem to get a couple more bites. Recently its been all about the braid on the main line. You can feel every line pebble you drag your bait across and you dont have to retie as often. Ill fish 12lb mono or fluorocarbon on the leader. A 7 foot AiRRUS Co-Matrix rod in a fast heavy action works great throwing this rig.
When your facing post spawn conditions on your lake keep these tricks in mind. It can be a challenging time of year to fish but with hard work and determination you can have some enjoyable days on the water.
-Spencer Clark
AiRRUS Rods, Pig Sticker Bait Company, Naked Bait Company, Flying Fisherman Sunglasses
