| Copyright 2005 Gerry Gostenik GreatLakesBassFishing.com Website, and all of its contents, including but not limited to articles, other text, photographs, images, illustrations, graphics, logos, etc. are protected by copyright, trademark and other laws of the United States. |
| Great Lakes Bass Fishing Guide Service |
Best Lures for Bass Season Opener
When the catch and release season opens the last weekend in April most bass
fishermen can get away with just a handful of lures to get them through to the spawn.
Probably the single most important factor in determining what lure to throw is water
temperature. My general rule of thumb is anything below 50 degrees and I will still be
looking deep. Once the water hits that 50+ mark fish will gradually start making their
way into shallower water. If you can just apply these basic principles you can make your
early season a very successful one. If you don’t have a temp gauge get one. Without it
you are missing the boat. Here are my lure selections and how and where to fish them.
Blade Baits - There are several manufacturers that produce these type of lure. Silver
Buddy, Cicada, Bass Pro Brands. All work fine. My basic color choices are silver and
gold. I also rarely fish one that is less than ½ oz. This would be my first choice for just
after ice out and until the water temp remains below 50 degrees. You have to remember
that the bass will still be fairly tightly schooled at this temp. The fish won’t be
everywhere. You can’t just go casting this lure around, reeling it in and expect to catch
fish. This is a totally vertical presentation and has to be fished in specific areas. If you
walleye fish on the Detroit River the presentation is almost identical. Fluorocarbon line
will also help with the feel of the lure. After you use this type of line for deep fishing you
won’t want to go back. It is that good.
Most of the bass are still going to be right where you left them in November. Areas that
concentrate fish like inside turns and points are the high percentage places that you
want to start on. It may take several stops before you make contact with the bass but
once you get a bite you can bet that there are more around. Having a map of the lake
you are fishing can help you out tremendously. You can plot out your plan of attack and
really see the key areas of the body of water you are fishing. This is a bait that is
generally a deeper water bait 15-40 ft. As with many lures these baits come with low
quality hooks and are usually fastened directly to the lure. I like to add a split ring to the
top of the bait where the line is tied and also to each treble. Replacing the factory
hooks with quality ones is a definite must for these lures.
Jerkbaits - There are several manufacturers of these types of lures but I have
narrowed my choice down to two companies. Lucky Craft and River 2 Sea. These baits
are not cheap but they are unsurpassed in quality and have become the standard in
most pros tackle box because they work. I always try to keep my color selection as basic
as I can. Chartreuse Shad, Ghost Minnow and Perch are about the only colors you will
need. I also have a an assortment of sizes that match the baitfish that are in the lakes I
am fishing. On St. Clair or Erie I like the full size (5in) and on some inland lake like Cass
I opt for a 3 inch version.
Most of the time in the early season you will be fishing these types of baits along or
near a break line. I can remember a day on Erie last season where the fish were
concentrated on a ridge where the water dropped from 5 down to 9 feet. I probably
boated 20 or so in that one little area. The fish were very aggressive as the water temp
was nearing 55 degrees. These baits should be fished with the jerk - jerk - pause
method. The length of the pause is determined by the water temp. The colder the water
the longer the pause. Let the fish tell you how they want it. Remember this time of the
year the fish are tightly schooled.
Lipless Crank baits - These baits are probably the most effective fish finders for the
early season. They catch both largemouth and smallmouth equally well and are
extremely easy to fish. Brand names that I use are Rat-L-Trap and Yozuri Rattle Vibe.
Again I like to keep my color choices as simple as possible. Here are the only 4 colors
you need, Chrome, Gold, Diamond Dust ( white) and a dark brown Crayfish pattern.
During sunny days I like to throw both the gold and chrome colors. On cloudy days the
Diamond Dust really creates a better profile and is easier for the fish to locate. When
the water on the Great Lakes gets dirty the dark crayfish pattern works great. A darker
bait will always create a better profile than one of lighter color.
I like to use lipless cranks when the water is near that 55 degree mark. By that time
many of the bass are up on the flats and are feeding very aggressively . You may have
to cover several hundred yards of a flat before you locate fish especially on St. Clair. Or
Erie. You can do so very quickly with these and once you make contact drop a marker
and fish the area thoroughly. Some of my biggest number days have come on lipless
crank baits early in the year.
Swim Jigs - Even though I like to look deep when the water is in the 40’s there are
always a few bass cruising shallow after a couple of warm sunny days . These fish are
catchable and swim jigs are great baits to get them with.
Swim Jigs have been red hot on the pro circuit that last couple of seasons but have not
been very popular here in Michigan. They are primarily a largemouth bait and work
great in our inland lakes. These baits work great when the water temp is in the high 40’s
and continue to produce for the rest of the season. Most swim jigs look like regular
traditional bass jigs but have a tapered nose to help them cut through the water better. I
like a ¼ or 3/8 oz version. My top color choices have been black/blue and a natural
gray/purple that resembles a bluegill. A white/chartreuse combo can also be good on
cloudy days. A trailer is a must to get the proper action. Twin tail grubs and other
creature baits such as the Paca Craw work best.
These baits are meant to be fished around any type of shallow cover that bass may be
holding on. Swim Jigs are very easy to fish. It reminds me a lot of fishing a spinner bait.
Just throwing it out and reeling it in. Twitching it as your bringing it by your target can
trigger strikes also. These baits are meant to be fished shallow. 1 foot or less and I
often don’t let the bait leave my sight when I am bringing it in.
When the catch and release season opens the last weekend in April most bass
fishermen can get away with just a handful of lures to get them through to the spawn.
Probably the single most important factor in determining what lure to throw is water
temperature. My general rule of thumb is anything below 50 degrees and I will still be
looking deep. Once the water hits that 50+ mark fish will gradually start making their
way into shallower water. If you can just apply these basic principles you can make your
early season a very successful one. If you don’t have a temp gauge get one. Without it
you are missing the boat. Here are my lure selections and how and where to fish them.
Blade Baits - There are several manufacturers that produce these type of lure. Silver
Buddy, Cicada, Bass Pro Brands. All work fine. My basic color choices are silver and
gold. I also rarely fish one that is less than ½ oz. This would be my first choice for just
after ice out and until the water temp remains below 50 degrees. You have to remember
that the bass will still be fairly tightly schooled at this temp. The fish won’t be
everywhere. You can’t just go casting this lure around, reeling it in and expect to catch
fish. This is a totally vertical presentation and has to be fished in specific areas. If you
walleye fish on the Detroit River the presentation is almost identical. Fluorocarbon line
will also help with the feel of the lure. After you use this type of line for deep fishing you
won’t want to go back. It is that good.
Most of the bass are still going to be right where you left them in November. Areas that
concentrate fish like inside turns and points are the high percentage places that you
want to start on. It may take several stops before you make contact with the bass but
once you get a bite you can bet that there are more around. Having a map of the lake
you are fishing can help you out tremendously. You can plot out your plan of attack and
really see the key areas of the body of water you are fishing. This is a bait that is
generally a deeper water bait 15-40 ft. As with many lures these baits come with low
quality hooks and are usually fastened directly to the lure. I like to add a split ring to the
top of the bait where the line is tied and also to each treble. Replacing the factory
hooks with quality ones is a definite must for these lures.
Jerkbaits - There are several manufacturers of these types of lures but I have
narrowed my choice down to two companies. Lucky Craft and River 2 Sea. These baits
are not cheap but they are unsurpassed in quality and have become the standard in
most pros tackle box because they work. I always try to keep my color selection as basic
as I can. Chartreuse Shad, Ghost Minnow and Perch are about the only colors you will
need. I also have a an assortment of sizes that match the baitfish that are in the lakes I
am fishing. On St. Clair or Erie I like the full size (5in) and on some inland lake like Cass
I opt for a 3 inch version.
Most of the time in the early season you will be fishing these types of baits along or
near a break line. I can remember a day on Erie last season where the fish were
concentrated on a ridge where the water dropped from 5 down to 9 feet. I probably
boated 20 or so in that one little area. The fish were very aggressive as the water temp
was nearing 55 degrees. These baits should be fished with the jerk - jerk - pause
method. The length of the pause is determined by the water temp. The colder the water
the longer the pause. Let the fish tell you how they want it. Remember this time of the
year the fish are tightly schooled.
Lipless Crank baits - These baits are probably the most effective fish finders for the
early season. They catch both largemouth and smallmouth equally well and are
extremely easy to fish. Brand names that I use are Rat-L-Trap and Yozuri Rattle Vibe.
Again I like to keep my color choices as simple as possible. Here are the only 4 colors
you need, Chrome, Gold, Diamond Dust ( white) and a dark brown Crayfish pattern.
During sunny days I like to throw both the gold and chrome colors. On cloudy days the
Diamond Dust really creates a better profile and is easier for the fish to locate. When
the water on the Great Lakes gets dirty the dark crayfish pattern works great. A darker
bait will always create a better profile than one of lighter color.
I like to use lipless cranks when the water is near that 55 degree mark. By that time
many of the bass are up on the flats and are feeding very aggressively . You may have
to cover several hundred yards of a flat before you locate fish especially on St. Clair. Or
Erie. You can do so very quickly with these and once you make contact drop a marker
and fish the area thoroughly. Some of my biggest number days have come on lipless
crank baits early in the year.
Swim Jigs - Even though I like to look deep when the water is in the 40’s there are
always a few bass cruising shallow after a couple of warm sunny days . These fish are
catchable and swim jigs are great baits to get them with.
Swim Jigs have been red hot on the pro circuit that last couple of seasons but have not
been very popular here in Michigan. They are primarily a largemouth bait and work
great in our inland lakes. These baits work great when the water temp is in the high 40’s
and continue to produce for the rest of the season. Most swim jigs look like regular
traditional bass jigs but have a tapered nose to help them cut through the water better. I
like a ¼ or 3/8 oz version. My top color choices have been black/blue and a natural
gray/purple that resembles a bluegill. A white/chartreuse combo can also be good on
cloudy days. A trailer is a must to get the proper action. Twin tail grubs and other
creature baits such as the Paca Craw work best.
These baits are meant to be fished around any type of shallow cover that bass may be
holding on. Swim Jigs are very easy to fish. It reminds me a lot of fishing a spinner bait.
Just throwing it out and reeling it in. Twitching it as your bringing it by your target can
trigger strikes also. These baits are meant to be fished shallow. 1 foot or less and I
often don’t let the bait leave my sight when I am bringing it in.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
