• Bass fishing tends to be relatively easy when the fish are spawning.bass image by Liz Van Steenburgh from Fotolia.com
  
  Every spring, bass move into the shallow waters of the lakes, rivers, and reservoirs in which they live and take part in the annual spawning ritual. Although bass are not necessarily feeding actively during the spawn, they will hit fishing baits thrown their way. Male bass especially are susceptible to fishermen during the spawn, because they are responsible for guarding the nest.
  
  

Plastic Lizard

• In many bodies of water, the eggs in bass nests are susceptible to predation from many sources, including other fish and reptiles. Male bass defend their nests aggressively, and a plastic lizard is a good lure choice for provoking a bass who is defending his territory to strike. Slide a sinker onto the line--the sinker should be just heavy enough to keep the lure on the bottom--and then tie on a hook. Rig the lizard on the hook, and cast it just beyond the nest. Then drag the lizard through the nest. Since bass typically spawn in water less than 4 feet deep, you should be able to see when a fish hits the lizard. When the bass flares its gills and you can no longer see the lizard, set the hook.
  
  

Buzzbait

• Even though bass spawn in shallow water, it sometimes isn't possible to see the nest--especially if it is dark out or the water is turbid. But a buzzbait, which is retrieved along the surface of the water and makes a clattering sound, will provoke a strike from aggressive male bass. Cast the buzzbait to shallow water near the shoreline, and then retrieve it just quickly enough that the lure stays on the surface. If there is timber or other cover in the area, retrieve the buzzbait so that it ricochets off of it. Doing so is a good way to provoke a strike.
  
  

Stickbait

• A stickbait is a long, slender bait that typically is made out of plastic and resembles a minnow. Some stickbaits float on the surface and only dive when they are reeled in, and others have neutral buoyancy and, therefore, will suspend at a certain depth in the water column, even as they are being retrieved. Floating stickbaits tend to work best for spawning bass. Cast the bait around areas where bass are known to be nesting--shallow areas that have hard bottoms and are protected from the wind are best--and retrieve the bait slowly back to the boat. If you can see nests, allow the bait to float to the surface when it is over the nests, which likely will provoke a strike from a bass.
  
  

Spinnerbait

• Spinnerbaits, which have metal blades and a silicone skirt, are shaped like safety pins and are a good lure to use for locating bass and drawing strikes from aggressive individuals. Cast the bait as close to the shoreline as possible, and reel it steadily back toward the boat. Spinnerbaits particularly are useful when the water is too turbid to see individual bass nests. Vary the retrieve you use. Some bass will hit a spinnerbait that is retrieved near the surface of the water, and others go after a spinnerbait that is retrieved slowly near the bottom.