Time to get your Spawn on (Almost)
Man am I excited to fish this spring. It about that time here in Missouri when bass start feeding up to prepare for the spawn. Fish are the biggest this time year during this time. If your lucky and you live in the south, bass are already spawning and sometimes, even spawning a second time. if you want to catch your PB, this is the best time of the year to do it.
On this edition of Ask AI, we have Chat GPT tell us the best places to find bass before they move up shallow and do the dirty.
Where to Find Bass Before the Spawn: Top Spots to Catch Pre-Spawn Giants
As winter fades and water temperatures begin to climb, bass across the country start making their annual move toward the shallows. The pre-spawn period is one of the best times of year to catch big, aggressive bass, but the key to success is knowing where to find them before the spawn.
Here’s how to locate bass during this crucial transition and what areas you should be targeting for your next personal best.
1. Main Lake Points
One of the first places bass will stage during the pre-spawn is on main lake points — especially those close to spawning areas. These points serve as transition zones where bass can feed heavily while slowly moving toward the shallows.
✅ Look for: Rock, gravel, or chunk rock points near creek mouths or spawning coves.
🎣 Best baits: Jerkbaits, crankbaits, football jigs.
2. Secondary Points and Creek Channel Bends
As the water warms into the 50s, bass move farther into the creeks. Secondary points and channel bends inside feeder creeks are major staging areas during this time.
These spots offer quick access to deeper water and protection from the current, making them ideal pre-spawn hangouts.
✅ Look for: Water depths of 5–15 feet, structure like brush or stumps.
🎣 Best baits: Lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Texas rigs.
3. Grass Lines and Weed Edges
In lakes with vegetation, bass will often hold tight to outside grass lines before committing to the shallows. These zones offer warmth, cover, and ambush points for feeding bass.
✅ Look for: Healthy hydrilla, milfoil, or coontail in 4–8 feet of water.
🎣 Best baits: Chatterbaits, swim jigs, soft plastics.
4. Rocky Flats Near Spawning Areas
Before moving onto beds, female bass will hang out on rocky flats adjacent to spawning coves. These areas warm quickly and hold baitfish, making them prime real estate during pre-spawn.
✅ Look for: Sun-exposed flats near protected pockets.
🎣 Best baits: Squarebill crankbaits, Carolina rigs, Ned rigs.
5. Marina Docks and Riprap Banks
On reservoirs and man-made lakes, marina docks and riprap hold heat and provide vertical structure bass love in early spring. These are especially productive on sunny days when bass move shallow to warm up.
✅ Look for: South-facing banks and docks with 4–10 feet of water.
🎣 Best baits: Jigs, shaky heads, suspending jerkbaits.
Bonus Tip: Watch the Water Temperature
The magic number for pre-spawn movement is typically 48–60°F. As temps creep up, bass will shift daily, so focus on areas between their winter and spawning zones.
Final Thoughts: Timing Is Everything
Finding bass before the spawn means targeting transition zones — those mid-depth spots that offer food, cover, and quick access to spawning flats. Whether you’re working points, grass lines, or docks, staying mobile and following warming trends will put you in the right place at the right time.
The pre-spawn bite only lasts a few weeks, but it can produce the biggest bass of the year. Now that you know where to find them, it’s time to hit the water and hook into something special.
What do we think?
Here in Missouri, most of our water temps are around the 53 degree mark. It's prime time for pre spawn bass. I like to fish for pre-spawn bass when the weather is slightly nasty. I like wind, overcast, and choppy water. I like this simply because it turns into a power fisherman's dream. Throwing spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, crankbaits, and anything that you can chuck and wind. These are great techniques to cover water and catch a lot of fish in the process.
Areas I like to look for area places that have deeper water close shallow banks. areas like main lake points are a great starting point. Haha get it? The colors i choose usually depends on water clarity. red is commonly a good springtime color for some reason.
If you want to catch a new PB, this time our years gives you the best chances. The later you can fish into pre-spawn, the higher the chances are. Bass are usually ten percent bigger when they start spawning. The females especially are bigger because they are full of eggs.
The best advice I can give is to spent as much time on the water as you can. Whether that's bank fishing or fishing from a boat, you chances of catching big bass are highest. Plus, spending time on the water is the best way to learn new things about fishing. i hope you enjoyed this weeks Ask AI blogpost, and as always, tightlines and love the adventure!
- Paul Hoffman