Early-spring bass

Early-spring bass migrate to shallower water. To find them, start with the warmest parts of the lake, like northeast coves, which receive the most sunlight throughout the day. Look for transition areas where deep water meets flats—this is when the jerkbait shines. When the water temperature is under 50 degrees, fish respond best to extremely slow retrieves. The slow pauses in your cadence with garner more bites. Start your retrieve by reeling bait to desired depth, then impart a jerking motion. Experiment by pausing your bait from 15 to 30 seconds. Keep some slack in your line so your bait has the correct side-to-side darting action as you jerk it. Having the correct rod action will also allow you to work the bait better. G. Loomis makes and entire series of jerkbait rods to give you the action you are looking for.