April Bass Fishing Tips

The Right Place

Bays and coves that receive sunlight but are sheltered from the wind are high-percentage areas during April. The water in the northwest part of the lake or reservoir in which you are fishing will have the warmest water, so start your search there. Pay close attention to emergent or submerged vegetation along the shoreline, boat docks that extend over shallow water, and fallen timber or trees that hang over the shoreline. Begin fishing with fast-moving baits such as spinnerbaits and try to find active fish. It's also a good idea to tie on a tube or worm and cast into the cover, too, and then work the baits slowly back to the boat.

Off the Shore

While most bass will be in their shallow spawning areas in April, some of the larger, female bass already will have moved out of the shallows. But they are generally not far away and with a little patience, you could hook one. Find the first feature outside of a spawning area--a drop-off or the inside edge of a weedline, for example--and begin fishing there. Remember that these fish are in recuperation mode, so they're probably not willing to chase quick-moving lures. Try a spinnerbait or crankbait to see if you can generate a reaction strike, but don't spend too long slinging these baits. Instead, tie on a plastic worm or a jig and pig and fish slowly along the bottom.

Try a Topwater

There is no more exciting way to catch bass than on topwater baits. And while topwaters tend to work only during specific times during the summer, bass will hit them all day during the spring. Concentrate your effort around shallow cover, especially the open water between the various pieces of cover you find. Cast the bait near the cover and then work it away from the cover and back to the boat. Poppers and buzzbaits both can be effective topwater selections, but it's important to fish them slowly. In the case of buzzbaits, reel them only fast enough to keep the blade spinning and the lure on top of the water.