Fresh off of his 2024 Bass Pro Shops REDCREST win, Wired2fish gives viewers an in-depth look into Dustin Connell’s spotted bass-catching mind. The prespawn spotted bass bite is Connell’s favorite of the year. Stationed on the Coosa River, his approach targets current-influenced main lake shoals, where spots feed heavily before spawning. He discusses spotted bass location and his top bait rotation to keep the bite going for some of the biggest spotted bass in the country. 

TACKLE USED (retail links)

SWIMBAIT SETUP

• SWIMBAIT – CrushCity The Mayor: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
• JIG – VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jig – Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
• ROD – Favorite Hex Spinning Rod, 6’10” Medium: Buy at Favorite | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
• REEL – Shimano Vanford Spinning Reel, 3000 size: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
• LINE (braided mainline) – Seaguar Smackdown Braided Line Flash Green, 15-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
• LINE (fluoro leader) – Seaguar Gold Label Fluorocarbon Leader, 12-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse

SCROUNGER SETUP

• BAIT – CrushCity Freeloader, color – Gizzard Shad: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
• JIG – Luck-E-Strike Scrounger Jig Head, Long Bill – 1/4 oz 3/0: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
• ROD – Favorite Pro Series Casting Rod, 7’3” Heavy: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
• REEL – Shimano Chronarch MGL Casting Reel, 7.1:1: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
• LINE – Seaguar INVIZX Fluorocarbon Fishing Line, 17-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse

JERKBAIT SETUP

• JERKBAIT – Rapala PXR Mavrik 110 Jerkbait, color – Pearl Sexy Shad: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
• ROD – Favorite Pro Series Casting Rod, 6’8” Medium: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
• REEL – Shimano Chronarch MGL Casting Reel, 7.1:1: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
• LINE – Seaguar INVIZX Fluorocarbon Fishing Line, 12-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse

* Boat links at the bottom.

PRESPAWN SPOTTED BASS BAIT SELECTION

Spring typically brings dirty water, where spinnerbaits and crankbaits are key players, but clear water conditions drive a different approach. Connell’s clear water arsenal focuses on downsized, more subtle presentations. Key baits include:

• 3-inch paddle tail swimbait on a jig head: A perfect all-arounder for locating bass and gauging the bite. 
• Scrounger head with a Freeloader: When finesse needs more punch, this setup imparts an irresistible rocking action and slows the bait in the current. It’s Connell’s go-to for mimicking larger forage such as gizzard shad and brim. 
• Jerkbait: An erratic jerkbait is one of the best tools to trigger reaction strikes and excels for spotted bass feeding up in the water column. Connell uses it at the end of his rotation to catch a few more bass after the single hook minnow-imitators run their course. 

READING THE WATER

Locating the right spots plays a crucial role in Connell’s strategy. He looks for structural changes like main lake shoals adjacent to the river channel (current). While forward-facing sonar can be an indispensable tool, it factors less around shallow current areas. Connell uses nature’s visual cues, such as bird activity, to zero in on feeding zones. His dynamic approach involves constantly reading the conditions and adjusting tactics to stay on top of the fish.

LURE ADAPTABILITY

Day in and day out, Connell prefers starting with a more aggressive presentation. His scrounger jig approach imparts a deadly rocking action onto his straight tail minnow, similar to the more manual shake and bake. A scrounger also excels in the current, slowing the bait in the strike zone. If he’s fishing with a co-angler, he’ll have finesse paddle tail swimbait in the rotation. Connell always makes a few casts with the tried and true jerk bait to trigger a few extra bites. As he notes, some fish are trained on feeding up, which is where the jerkbait excels. The bottom line: Remaining versatile and constantly transitioning between aggressive and subtle techniques allows you to catch the most fish. 

Dustin Connell’s prespawn strategy for spotted bass combines a deep knowledge of his local waters with a flexible bait selection. His insights into fishing current, choosing the right baits, and reading natural indicators provide a solid knowledge base for anglers looking to elevate their spotted bass bass fishing game. 

BOAT SETUP & OTHER

• TROLLING MOTOR – Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
• FISH FINDER – Lowrance HDS PRO 12 Fish Finder/Chartplotter: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
• FORWARD-FACING SONAR – Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 Live Sonar: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
• BOAT – Triton 21 TRX: Check out at Triton Boats
• MOTOR – Mercury Pro XS 250 hp: Check out at Mercury

CLOTHING

• RAIN SUIT JACKET (Connell) – Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops Guidewear Elite Jacket for Men: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
• RAIN SUIT BIBS (Connell) – Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops Guidewear Elite Bibs for Men: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
• RAIN SUIT JACKET (Quinn) – Rapala Rain Jacket: Buy at Rapala
• RAIN SUIT BIBS (Quinn) – Rapala Rain Bib: Buy at Rapala
• HAT (Connell) – CrushCity Small Patch Hat: Buy at Rapala
• HAT (Quinn) – CrushCity Large Patch Hat: Buy at Rapala
• HAT – CrushCity Small Patch Hat: Buy at Rapala