Gearing Up For Bass Opener
Coming to the water with a clean slate is part of the fun of fishing the first day of bass season. As every opener is unique, there’s usually some detective work involved and learning on the fly. With this in mind, here are several fishing tips and tackle recommendations to help you maximize your success on opening day and for the initial weeks of the early season largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing season.
BE CURIOUS, COVER WATER
The first bass outing of the season is filled with questions. You might find yourself asking things like — How advanced is the aquatic vegetation growth? How far along are smallmouth and largemouth bass in their transition from post-spawn to summertime patterns? Are bass interested in chasing lures, or do they require coaxing with slow or downsized presentations?
Curiosity is a good characteristic for an angler. Along with asking questions, it’s a good idea to explore and cover water. This helps get a big-picture view of how the lake is fishing and what the fish are doing. Important clues when looking to put together a fish-catching pattern.
LOCATIONS FOR THE START OF BASS SEASON
Bays, protected shorelines and other spawning sites are a good place to begin your search. Many bass will still be in these areas, and those that aren’t won’t be be far off.
Work lures tight to the bank and along inside weedlines. Grass beds within bays also deserve attention. Cast to any type of isolated cover, such as a tree stump, pencil reed patch, rock pile or boulder.
Keep moving if not having success shallow, or are only catching undersized bass. Before running down the lake, though, make sure to explore the slightly deeper water just outside of the spawning bay. Big largemouth suffering the post-spawn blues sometimes position along the first major drop off, an outside weed edge or on points.
The zones described above can be productive for smallmouth, which are more mobile and less predictable than largemouth. Other spots to try are locations serving as in-between routes from shallow spawning areas to deeper summertime haunts, such as mid-lake structures, secondary points and deep flats.
HOT NEW LURES TO HAVE ON DECK FOR BASS OPENER
There are a lot of variables influencing the best baits for bass opener. Here are some new lures bass haven’t seen before, along with a few fan favourites you’ll want to have on deck.
OG ROCCO 5 AND OTHER SHALLOW CRANKS
With a running depth of five feet and a square lip designed to deflect off cover, the new OG Rocco 5 is a long-casting premium balsa wood crankbait ideal for sifting through shallow spawning bays and pounding shorelines. Early season bass can’t resist the Rocco 5’s silent action and medium wobble. The BX Brat Series and Jabber Jaw are other stellar shallow crankbaits.
POWER SLIDE AND SURFACE BAITS
The new Power Slide has a sizeable profile and is anything but subtle when splashing and spitting its way across the surface. This topwater shines during early mornings, evenings, overcast skies and in light waves. Other opening day surface lures to consider are the Super Stainless Buzzbait, Walking Frog and Popping Frog.
X-RAPS, HUSKY JERKS AND COUNTDOWNS
Making a long cast with a minnowbait and using a twitch-pause retrieve is a reliable way to cover water and trigger bass. The X-Rap is a fan fav for this style of fishing. Husky Jerks are, too, and now come in vibrant colour patterns, like Juicy Lucy and Moldy Fruit, guaranteed to push bass over the edge. The new Countdown Elite 75s and 95s are also going to put a lot of bass in the net this upcoming season, so be sure you have some of these in your collection.
CLASSIC VIBRAX AND SPINNERBAITS
The spin and flash of a gold or silver Classic Vibrax #3 or #4 inline spinner is a potent, bite-sized offering great for working shorelines, rocky points and open-water areas on shallow flats for largemouth and smallmouth during early summer. New to the Vibrax line is the new striking colours available within the Northern Light Series.
Pro Series and Super Stainless spinnerbaits are also critical lures for covering water. These baits are designed to rip through vegetation and roll through wood without getting snagged, key traits in a lure when targeting early season bass up shallow.
SWIMBAITS
The new 3.5” Largo Shad on a Hybrid Swimbait Jig tempts largemouth and smallmouth alike. Swimming on both the retrieve and during free-fall, the Largo Shad’s slow body roll makes it great for covering water as well as eliciting strikes. The 360GT Searchbait or 360GT Searchbait Shad are other good swimbait picks.
TOKYO RIGS AND REDLINE HOOKS
You’ll want Tokyo Rigs in your collection for when you’re fishing with craws, creatures, beavers, worms and other soft plastics in and around cover. Noteworthy here is the new Tokyo Rig Heavy Duty Wide Gap, which has a five inch dropper arm - but every Tokyo Rig configuration is good to have in your arsenal.
For other rigging needs, look to the new RedLine Hook series for optimum power, strength and hook-up speed. Learn more about these revolutionary hooks on this page.
Tip: Take your tackle organization to the next level with the new RapStack Tackle Trays, a seven model series of heavy-duty boxes loaded with smart, pro-level features.
RODS, REELS AND LINE SUGGESTIONS
If you’re in the market for some new bass rods, look no further than the Meta Series. Designed over the last two years by 13 Fishing’s product team and two-time Bassmaster angler of the year, Gerald Swindle, these tournament-ready rods will not disappoint.
Pair Meta casting rods with the Inception G2, another performance-driven product created with Swindle’s input and earning his stamp of approval. For spinning reel options, the new AXUM or AERIOS are good places to start.
If you’re in need of fresh braid for the start of the season, ProMix and SFX8X are two excellent options. Both lines deliver Sufix’s standard braided line features and benefits — low stretch, high sensitivity, excellent knot strength and stellar abrasion resistance — while offering some unique characteristics.
One of these is ProMix’s Colourfast technology, which keeps its Lo-Vis Green or Hi-Vis Neon Lime looking like new for twice as long as other braids. ProMix comes in 6- to 80-pound test.
Silky smooth 8X is a value priced, Japanese-style braided line available in 8-, 10-, 15- and 20-pound ratings. This line is well suited for smaller lures, light soft plastics and finesse tactics.
Tip: For other line needs, look to Advance Monofilament and Advance Fluorocarbon.
From all of us at Rapala Canada, we wish you a safe, action-filled bass opener, and hope the entire fishing season is filled with great catches and great times on the water with friends and family. Tight lines!
