Fishing Report for Largemouth Bass using Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) in Spring (Pre-Spawn)

Jeff Dionne

Bronze Ambassador

4/25/22

John H. Kerr Reservoir

• Species

  Largemouth Bass

• Season

  Spring (Pre-Spawn)

• Technique

  Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)

• Structure

  Points

• Forage

  Bluegill

I met up with a friend from Watts Bar, Tennessee to fish Kerr for a few days. Started on Wednesday, 32 degrees when we launched at Henderson Point. Water temp was 54. Our host said water temps had been in the low 60s the week before. We knew it was going to start off a little slow. First fish in the boat at 0630 on a swim bait. Next fish came at 3pm. We hit main lake points, flats, secondaries, back of creeks and threw soft plastics in the bushes. They had a bad case of the lockjaw. By 4:30 the water temps were approaching 60 and the fish started to turn on a little. We found them on sandy shoreline and red clay banks and we could only get bit on small swimbaits (Megabass Okashira Screw Head jig) and underspins. As the sun was dropping we found a few more all the way at the backs of creek arms on wood with flukes. Ended up with 10, but man, what a long day! Thursday we launched from Ivy. Water temps 57. Fished Butchers and Eastland. Water warmed fairly quickly and the bite was much better. Traps, swimmers, and underspins were the go to baits. Again it was red clay and sandy stretches and not many relating to wood or rock. Caught 22 and 1 striper. Nothing over 3 pounds but fun fishin nonetheless. Could only fish the morning on Friday due to other commitments. Launched again from HP due to better access to laydowns in the backs of creek arms. Water temps 59 - 62. We got hit on C-Rig, traps, swimmers and jerkbaits. Caught 15 by 10:30. Had to head to the ramp. The last fish we hooked was a good 3+ but broke off at the boat and stole my favorite jerkbait. (If anyone sees is floating, pick it up for me) It got better every day and we had a good time. Gonna head back down in 10 days. Topwater should be on by then and I'm thinking the bass fishing should be prime.

Hotbait
Megabass Okashira Screwhead 1/8 oz / Real Minnow
$6.99
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