Aaron Martens' Picks for Spring Bass Fishing

Aaron Martens' Favorite Lures for Spring

When bass begin migrating toward the shoreline in search of spawning grounds, they often use pieces of cover as a sort of trail to where they will eventually pair up. The first place I look up shallow in early spring is around larger objects like laydowns, slabs of rock or stump fields. Since the bass are staging, they do move around a lot so they aren't just directly against the cover. For that reason, I really like shallow running crankbaits during this time of year. You can find a lot of good options, well maybe not a lot, but more than other baits. I like a squarebill like the 6th Sense Crush 50X for rip rap and pea gravel between the larger pieces of cover. A Rapala DT-6 has always been that sort of go-to for the deeper banks or right after a cold front. And a new addition I've played around with is the Deps Evoke, again, this is just something I am testing out, but it has a really unique action. In spring I usually like black/chartreuse and craw colors, but as it gets later in the season the citrus or brighter colors become more of a factor.
Shop all Shallow Crankbaits

Swimbaits are probably best this time of year, they are good all year, but during the spring they are as good as any lure if used correctly. Everyone says swimbaits are finally getting back east, but that's not true, everyone has been using them for a long, long time - just different I guess. I don't use the 10" - 13" swimbaits very often, sometimes they work better actually, but it's not realistic for most of my fishing. I prefer baits like the Osprey Talon Line Through Swimbaits - 6" or 7" both are good. It's good for windy, sunny days right before the full on spawn. Actually, right now, with the full moon and warming temperatures... Oh, wow, I bet someone catches a giant this week on one. Another bait that is amazing all over the country is the Little Creeper Trash Fish. I use it everywhere. The best way to fish it is by just dragging it and reeling up the slack. Like a Carolina rig. The other swimbait I use a lot, and everyone else does too, literally everyone uses this on the Elite Series: the Keitech Swing Impact Fat Swimbaits - both the fat and regular. There's really nothing like it. It's awesome. Right now I'd rig a 4.8 size it on a Gamakatsu Weighted Superline Spring Lock Hook for shallow water after big largemouth. If I'm fishing for spotted or smallmouth bass I like a 1/2oz jig head way better and in the summer, out deep I'll use a jig head as well.

Craws and beavers are one of my favorite baits once you start seeing a few bass head up to beds. Typically, I'm using these for very precise targets like reeds, grass mats, laydowns or docks. Some people really like the big craws, I just never have. I feel like it's a lot of excess plastic and if you look at most crayfish at the lakes, and I have, you'll see they are small. So I stick to 4" or less for craws. If bass are bedding I really like using the Strike King Baby Rage Craw. I'll rig it on a 3/8oz Picasso Tungsten Flipping Weight and a 3/0 Gamakatsu Finesse Flipping Hook tied on 20lb Sunline Flipping FC. If I'm just blindly flipping wood I might also rotate in a Zoom Speed Craw. If you're in the southern United States, you'll see bass on beds already and lots in grass or laydowns close to those beds. For heavier cover I might also use a beaver style bait. I stick to natural colors with some vibrant flake or hues. So a green pumpkin or watermelon with purple and green is always good. Darker water black/blue or junebug. This year, I think you're gonna see a lot of neon blue though, everyone has been using it. I'll say at some tournaments, 55% of anglers will have a neon blue plastic on. Watch, it's going to be very prevalent. Try it, I'm telling you it's good.

I use finesse worms all year, but in spring they can be really good for certain situations. Lakes like the Ozark region or spotted bass fisheries are where you can really do well with a finesse worm right now. Basically, I'm looking for different types of hard bottom composition where I think bass might be staging up. Banks with pea gravel and chunk rock mixed in are perfect, docks are really good too and points can work as well. I don't use the drop shot as much this time of year, more shakey head or Texas rigs. I might be the last person still using Texas rigs, and I don't know why, they can be way better than a shakey head, especially right now. For example, I'll Texas rig a 6" or 7" Roboworm Straight Tail with a Roboworm Rebarb Hook and a 1/4oz Picasso Tungsten Worm Weight and I'll just shake the slack on it. I'm using 10lb Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon usually, it's strong enough for anything if you tie a good knot. I've caught some really big fish doing that in early spring. A Zoom Trick Worm can also be really effective this time of year using a shakey head or Texas rig. As for colors, I obviously really like the green/purple in Aaron's Magic so I stick to that mostly right now.

No one really uses spinnerbaits anymore, I do, I don't really know why people don't want to anymore, but they don't. Spinnerbaits can be so good, but now everyone has substituted the spinnerbait for chatterbaits. They are totally different and, like I said, I still use spinnerbaits, but I too have started using vibrating jigs more and more. Right now, you could probably go to any body of water not covered by ice and catch bass on a vibrating jig. It's so good this time of year. If you've got high, stained water you could just put almost all the other rods away and fish. Obviously, I like the Picasso Shock Blade and the FX Shock Blade - the new one with hair and feathers. I like the 3/8oz - 1/2oz size. You can add a lot of different retrieves in so kind of speed &up and slow down as you fish and work it over and around targets like wood, docks and grass. The colors I like right now are green pumpkin/orange or red, Aaron's Magic (it's new) and a white/chartreuse with a gold blade sometimes. I fish it on 16lb Sunline Shooter Fluorocarbon.

I really don't use a stick baits a ton right now, but when the situation is right, it can be absolutely killer. There's really just a few conditions where I like it right now: bodies of water with lots of vegetation, fish spawning where I can't see them or for spotted bass. For grass lakes, you're kind of fishing the holes in the grass where fish could be staging up or they are buried in the reeds. A place like the CA Delta is really where that comes to mind - there's I'll use the Senko 9L 6" mostly. Otherwise, I will use a 5" Senko for spotted bass. You want to wacky rig it and use a little nail weight in the head. I'll rig it up with a Gamakatsu Drop Shot/Split Shot Hook rigged through an O-Ring weighted with a tungsten nail weight. It's a killer technique on the lakes I fished on the west coast. It's not just a spotted bass technique, but for the spring, it's better. I really like pockets with chunk rock or longer points with one side that has a deeper drop on it. Spotted bass typically stack up on those types of points. For colors I like watermelon/red, Monster Shad and also something a little darker with gold in it.

The last bait I have been using a lot lately is the Megabass Flap Slap, it's really reminiscent of a Rapala Glass Shad Rap or similar lures not quite a jerkbait and not quite a crankbait. It's got such a unique action to it, I don't have a lot of experience with it yet, but it really works well for that pre-spawn water temps in the high 40's and low 50's. If you find a nice spawning flat, you can absolutely crush them with this thing. I fish it with 12lb Sunline Shooter Fluorocarbon and I mix up the retrieve with a consistent reeling action and some twitches mixed in.

Bass Fishing Emojis?

FishMoji Bass Fishing Emojis!

While emojis have become more and more popular in the world, most of them are catered to a certain crowd, or well, at least not us fishermen. But, that's all changed with the release of FishMoji an app feature bass fishing emojis.

FishMoji - the world's first bass fishing emoji keyboard app including 90 bass fishing emojis depicting some of the sport's most recognizable images. Unlike other apps, FishMoji allows you to install the emojis as a keyboard to use in texts, emails, facebook messenger, WhatsApp and more!

What kind of emojis are included?

• Lures 
• Iconic Images 
• Tackle Shops 
• Bass Types (ie Largemouth, Spotted and Smallmouth) 
• Boats
• Rods/Reels 

Install instructions are included on the app making it super easy to download and install. Within seconds you'll be able to send your friends funny and interesting bass fishing emojis that make texting fun again. With 90 bass fishing emojis, you'll never get tired of trying out new emojis with friends.

2016 FLW Tour - Lake Okeechobee Top Baits

FLW Tour - Lake Okeechobee Baits

The opening tournament of the 2016 FLW Tour took place from 2/4 - 2/7 on Lake Okeechobee in Florida. Poor conditions kept any real big weights from reaching the scales, but nonetheless, the event was won by Bradley Hallman of Oklahoma who finished with a total weight of 71lbs and 2oz during the course of the four day event. Below, we've relayed the top-10 anglers bait choices.

1st Place - Bradley Hallman

Hallman used a Backwater Blue Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver to catch the majority of his weight combined with a matching punch skirt and a 1.5oz Tungsten Punch Weight. He also used a Gambler BB Cricket on the final day of the tournament.

2nd Place - Alex Davis

Runner up Alex "Spinnerbait Kid" Davis flipped, pitched and cast a 6-inch junebug stick bait rigged with a variety of bullet weights and paired with 80-pound-test PowerPro MaxCuatro spooled on Shimano Metanium with 8.5:1 gear ratio. When the vegetation was thick, Davis went with a heavy flippin stick, the 7'6" G. Loomis E6X 904C Flippin Stick.

3rd Place - Chris Johnston

Johnston primarily relied upon a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver on a 7-11, heavy-power G. Loomis IMX flipping stick and a Shimano Metanium Reel with 8.5:1 gear ratio and 65-pound-test PowerPro Braid.

5th Place - Shin Fukae

Shin Fukae caught fish all sorts of ways including punching a black/blue Yamamoto Flappin Hog on a 1.5oz - 2oz Tungsten Punch Weight with a protoype Shimano Zodias Rod and a Shimano Metanium Reel.

6th Place - Brandon McMillan

Florida stick Brandon McMillan caught his bass using a black/blue Zoom Speed Craw with a 3/4oz - 2oz tungsten punch weight. He utilized this presentation with a 7-11 G. Loomis IMX flipping stick and a Shimano Metanium Casting Reel in 8.5:1 gear ratio.

7th Place - Joshua Weaver

Joshua Weaver's primary bait with a secret-colored 4x4 Brandon McMillan Signature Series Swim Jig paired with a sungill-colored Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper Weaver also caught fish on a Zoom UV Speed Craw.

8th Place - Clark Reehm

Clark Reehm fished a Megabass Ito Vision 110 with a 704CB Dobyns Champion crankbait rod strung with 17-pound-test Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon. He also used a black sapphire-colored Zoom UV Speed Craw with a ¼-ounce weight fished on a 7-4, heavy-power Dobyns Champion Extreme Rod and 25-pound test Seaguar AbrazX.

9th Place - Charlie Weyer

9th place finisher Charlie Weyer used a 6 inch Yamamoto Senko in black/blue and watermelon red.

10th Place - Billy Shelton

Billy Shelton caught his fish in a number of ways including a Zoom Magnum Fluke and a Zoom UV Magnum Speed Worm, but his primary bait was a black-and-blue Sweet Beaver with a 1 ½-ounce weight.

Shimano Curado 70 Reels

Shimano Curado 70 Reels

For 25 years, the Shimano Curado has been a benchmark in low profile bait casting reel performance and durability. In 2016 Shimano builds on this legacy with the all new Shimano Curado 70 Reels. This new addition to the Curado family delivers unparalleled castability, industry leading durability and precision control in a compact and rigid reel. The new Shimano Curado 70 Reels are smaller spooled reels designed to handle lighter line and lures than the 200I series. With all of the advancements in reel technology geared toward easier casting or lighter lures, the 70 size Curado just makes sense. Shimano's SVS Infinity Brake System and S3D (stable spool design) are largely responsible for this by applying consistent, precise force to the reel brakes reducing the chance of backlash and allowing lighter lures to be cast further with less effort.

Another key feature of the Curado 70 Reels is Shimano's X Ship technology that braces the drag to make smoother lure retrieval that lasts for many years of use. Furthermore, the compact Hagane body is essential for the rigidity of the reel which enables anglers reeling motions to be focused directly to the fish instead of wasted on the reel itself.

You can get your Shimano Curado 70 Reels at Monster Fishing Tackle.

Curado 70 Reel Features:

• Compact Hagane body provides excellent rigidity and in-hand comfort.
• X-SHIP technology delivers ultimate gear durability and smoothness
• Lightweight low inertia spool excels at casting small to medium size lures
• Precision cast control with enhanced SVS Infinity brake system
• Shimano Stable Spool Design (S3D) reduces vibration to provide smooth casting performance

Curado 70 Series Reel Technology:

SVS Infinity

Shimano’s newest innovation in brake system technology, SVS Infinity provides easy-to-manage, consistent spool control and brake force on the new Curado 70 series baitcasting reels. With brake weights that use ‘inner friction’ against the raceway during the cast, SVS Infinity controls spool speed especially when using lighter lures, plus the external adjustment knob provides for quick, precise adjustments for either the conditions or when you switch baits. Combined with X-Ship Technology, anglers will experience precision cast control.

X-Ship

X-Ship provides improved gear durability. By supporting the pinion gear on both ends with bearings, the pinion gear maintains precise alignment with the drive gear. This means the gears will stay in the same position under the heaviest loads. The added benefit is that friction between the spool shaft and gear is eliminated, enhancing the casting performance with lighter lures, and allowing for longer casts.

Hagane Body

The HAGANE Body is a metal reel body with high rigidity. The body stiffness and impact resistance virtually eliminates body flexing. The result transforms the angler’s actions directly into cranking power. It’s efficiency through strength.

Model	Inches per crank	Gear Ratio	Line Capacity	Max Drag	Ball Bearings	Weight
CU70HG	28"	7.2:1	10/150, 12/85, 14/70	10	5+1	6.5oz
CU71HG	28"	7.2:1	10/150, 12/85, 14/70	10	5+1	6.5oz
CU70XG	32"	8.2:1	10/150, 12/85, 14/70	10	5+1	6.5oz
CU71XG	32"	8.2:1	10/150, 12/85, 14/70	10	5+1	6.5oz

Bradley Hallman wins FLW Tour on Lake Okeechobee

Hallman Wins FLW Tour Okeechobee

Photo via FLW Outdoors

Despite this tournament marking his first on the FLW Tour, Bradley Hallman of Norman, Oklahoma is a pretty familiar name withing bass fishing circles after he spent 6 seasons on the Bassmaster Elite Series from 2006 to 2011. After stepping away from the sport for a few years, Hallman returned to professional competition with a bang taking down the FLW Tour season opened on Lake Okeechobee. While the weights never did reach the typical early season Florida bass smackdown numbers we are used to seeing, Hallman started the event with back to back bags of 25lbs - he was the only pro to eclipse that mark during the entire event - which propelled him well in front of the field and allowed him to coast into the finish line with a total weight of 71lbs 2oz despite not catching a limit on either the 3rd or 4th tournament day. Strong north winds brought colder weather to the finicky Florida bass:

One thing is for sure, Hallman’s commitment was certainly tested by wicked high north winds on Lake Okeechobee and wicked extreme frontal conditions that pestered the lake’s Florida-strain bass. Day two dealt out high north winds of some 25 mph. On day three the wind subsided, but the post-frontal conditions shut the bite down considerably. Day four, however, ravaged the top 10 pros with a brutal triple whammy: high northwest winds to 30 mph, dropping water temps and complete post-frontal lockdown of Okeechobee bass.

To catch his weight during the tournament, Hallman pitched and flipped hard vegetation - reeds in the South Bay area of the lake. As he says, he knew this is how he needed to fish to give himself an opportunity for success:

“I was committed to that even before I got here,” Hallman says. “I knew one way or another I was going to be flipping, pitching and punching something.”

Hallman caught his fish this week using a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver rigged on a 4/0 Strike King Hack Attack Flipping Hook and a 1.5oz Tungsten Flipping Weight. While it didn't seem to make much difference, the final day of the event Hallman opted for the Florida cult favorite, the Gambler BB Cricket, a smaller soft plastic bait that is often the go-to in tough conditions for Florida bass fishermen.