The first full moon of February marks a crucial period in Southern California, signaling the transition from winter as water temperatures rise, daylight extends, and large female bass begin staging in predictable areas. Despite chilly air and frequent rain, this phase in the bass’s biological cycle offers prime opportunities to target pre-spawn largemouth using soft swimbaits. Over the past two decades, countless hours have been spent refining techniques with these baits, once limited to only a few options.
Selecting the Right Soft Swimbaits for Pre-Spawn Giants
Across various regions in the U.S., specific soft swimbaits have proven effective for catching these massive, sexually dimorphic female largemouth. As spring approaches, following the pre-spawn migration throughout different fisheries maximizes the chance of encountering bass at peak weight.
A key decision when targeting trophy bass with soft swimbaits is understanding that overall bite numbers will decrease, but the potential for landing a personal-best fish increases. Patience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to targeting only the largest fish separate successful trophy anglers from casual bass fishermen.
Choosing the Best Soft Swimbaits
The market offers a vast selection of soft swimbaits, making it essential to define what qualifies as a “big bait.” The 7-inch threshold serves as the starting point, as fish under three pounds tend to engage less at this size. The objective during pre-spawn is to target the heaviest bass, ideally gravid and feeding aggressively.
In the Northeast, when chasing pre-spawn largemouth in Vermont during April, a 7.5- to 9-inch class soft bait becomes a primary tool. This same size range proves effective across the Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, and even westward into Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. However, in California, Texas, and the Carolinas, where double-digit largemouth are more common, baits of 8 inches or larger are favored.
Boot Tail/Paddletail Swimbaits
Paddletail-style swimbaits remain a staple, despite misconceptions that they are only effective in warmer months due to their active swimming action. Success has been found with paddletails even in cold water, making them a valuable tool as water temperatures rise in late winter and early spring. The versatility of these lures, combined with variations in body style, creates different swimming actions that can trigger aggressive bites.
Treble-Hooked Boot Tail Swimbaits
Harnessed boot tail swimbaits with treble hooks on the underside are effective, user-friendly, and reasonably priced. Options like the Osprey Talon, Rago Generic Trout, and Megabass Magdraft have produced outstanding results over the years. The key to success with these swimbaits is identifying the optimal retrieval speed that produces a wide, wobbling action that excites bass via their lateral lines.
However, traditional harnessed paddletails come with limitations, primarily in their one-speed nature. Slowing down or speeding up often causes them to “blow out,” disrupting their balance and reducing their effectiveness.
The Biwaa Kapsiz Swimbait: A Game Changer
The Biwaa Kapsiz swimbait addresses these limitations by maintaining stability at any retrieval speed. The ability to vary cadence and manipulate the swimbait increases the likelihood of converting followers into biters. Speed can serve as an excellent trigger for big bass, much like how predatory instincts drive reactions in wild animals.
The Biwaa Kapsiz swimbait comes in a range of sizes, catering to both tournament and trophy anglers. The 3-, 4-, and 5-inch unrigged versions are ideal for finesse applications, while the 6- and 7.5-inch versions, featuring an internally harnessed treble hook, appeal to both competitive and big-bass anglers.
For those seeking true giants, the 9-inch model offers two rigging options:
- HD Model: Features the same internal harness as the smaller sizes, with an added swivel attachment on the chin for quick weight adjustments. This allows for deeper presentations using grenade or dipsey sinkers.
- Stinger Model: Equipped with an external wired rig, two treble hooks, and modular weights inserted into pre-molded cavities in the belly. This design caters to situations where fish are short-striking, making it a preferred choice for targeting large smallmouth, spotted bass, pike, and musky.
Additionally, the swimbait includes a pre-molded slot on the top, allowing the harness rig to be repositioned for fishing near the bottom with reduced snagging risk. Adjustable belly weights help balance the lure for more controlled presentations.
Fishing soft swimbaits during the pre-spawn period presents a unique opportunity to land some of the biggest largemouth of the year. Choosing the right bait size based on location, understanding retrieval speeds, and utilizing innovative options like the Biwaa Kapsiz swimbait can significantly improve success rates. By committing to a big-bait mentality and embracing the challenges that come with it, anglers can maximize their chances of hooking true trophy bass this season.
Image/Source: Wired2Fish
