If you can find the heat (warm water), you’ll find the mother lode of prespawn bass. Ott DeFoe reveals his tried-and-true strategies for finding and catching spring bass spread across shallow mud flats. His tool of choice? Naturally, this East Tennessee native reaches for a balsawood crankbait.
TACKLED USED (retail links)
- CRANKBAIT (featured) – Rapala OG Rocco 5, color – Bream: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- ROD – Bass Pro Shops Crankin’ Stick Crankbait Casting Rod – 7′ – Medium Fast – B: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- REEL – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Baitcast Reel – Right – 6.8:1: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- LINE – Bass Pro Shops XPS KVD Signature Series 100% Fluorocarbon Fishing Line, 12-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
OTHER BAIT MENTIONS
- LIPLESS CRANKBAIT – Storm Arashi Vibe Lipless Crankbait: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- FLAT-SIDED CRANKBAITS
- Rapala OG Slim 6: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- Rapala OG Tiny 4: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- Rapala DT Dives-To Series Crankbait (DT 4/6/8): Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- SPINNERBAIT – Terminator Pro Series Spinnerbait: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- SWIM JIG – Terminator Heavy Duty Swim Jig: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- BLADED JIGS – Buy at Tackle Warehouse
*Additional boat-related links at the bottom.
FINDING SPRING BASS ON MUD FLATS
Spring draws bass into shallow waters. If you can find the warmest water, you’ll often find mass consolidations of fish of all species, including bass. DeFoe spies expansive flats using Shallow Water Highlight on his mapping. Mud or silt-bottomed areas are usually the most productive, as the dark bottom retains the sun’s energy and warms quickly. DeFoe explains that areas with subtle depth changes, scattered wood, and emerging vegetation are hotspots for early spring bass. He emphasizes the importance of visual cues like baitfish activity over your electronics, as the abundance of life in these areas can be misleading.
BEST BAITS FOR FISHING THE DIRT
DeFoe reviews his roster of standout lures for this application. All of them are moving baits adept at covering water and contacting cover to trigger reaction strikes. An aggressive wobbling squarebill crankbait excelled as water temperatures pushed the 60-degree mark and flipped the “eat switch” on. Moreover, squarebills fish clean around isolated cover like wood and grass, so fowling is minimal. DeFoe also mixes in subtle flat-sided crankbaits or more traditional round bill varieties based on the water temperature, fish mood, and the targeted running depth. Spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, and swim jigs have their place, too. Check out a list of the best squarebill crankbaits for bass.
MASTERING THE RETRIEVE
Adapting your retrieve to the conditions is crucial. DeFoe shares how pumping the crankbait, especially in ultra-shallow waters laden with grass and debris, can keep your lure clean and trigger aggressive strikes. This technique, coupled with strategic pauses, simulates vulnerable prey, making your bait stand out in a sea of forage.
Ott DeFoe’s expertise in spring bass fishing with crankbaits offers anglers a roadmap to success during this transitional season. By focusing on strategic location selection, deploying the right crankbait, and fine-tuning your retrieve, you’re set to experience some of the year’s best bass action.
BOAT SETUP
- BOAT – Nitro Z21 XL PRO: Check out at Nitro
- MOTOR – Mercury Pro XS 250 hp: Check out at Mercury
- FISH FINDER – Humminbird SOLIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G3 Fish Finder/GPS Chartplotter: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- MAPPING – Humminbird LakeMaster Premium VX Digital Map Chart Card: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Humminbird
- FORWARD-FACING SONAR (FFS) – Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- 360 IMAGING – Humminbird 360 Imaging: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- TROLLING MOTOR – Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- SHALLOW WATER ANCHORS – Minn Kota Raptor Active Anchoring Shallow Water Anchor, 8′: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
