How To Catch Spotted Bass

Spotted bass is an excellent fighter and moves from one area to another depending on the spawning season and the regular weather seasons. Anglers use different methods depending on where spotted bass are in the water column to catch them. Some of the fishing methods used by anglers are explained below.

1. Vertical Jigging

Vertical Jigging is often used by anglers when targeting spotted bass when they move to deep waters. Vertical jigging involves dropping the jig until it hits the bottom of the water column where the spotted bass is shown on your fish finder.

Then the angler will make a vertical and abrupt motion of the line which will move the jig in an upward motion. This will appear as prey moving upward and will get the attention of the fish.

2. Drop-Shotting

Drop-shotting finesse worms are done in late summer when anglers are targeting spotted bass that is also in deep water. Drop-shotting is very popular with anglers as it is very effective when fishing for spotted bass.

3. Bottom Fishing

Anglers also implement bottom fishing using lures such as jigs and jerkbaits. Anglers will drag a heavy jig and crawl trailer in deep water ranging from 15 to 30 feet to get the attention of spotted bass. Additionally, they will jerk suspending jerkbaits in the water column to also get the attention of spotted bass to entice a bite.

Best Baits For Spotted Bass

Crayfish

Crayfish is one of the best bait used when learning how to catch spotted bass as they prey on crayfish regularly.

2. Small fish

Small fish also works well as bait when learning how to catch spotted bass as they prey on small fish.

3. Aquatic Insects

Spotted bass feed on aquatic insects and this makes them a good bait when you are fishing for spotted bass.

4. Herring

Herring is also a good bait for spotted bass fishing. many anglers use herring when targeting spotted bass.

Best Lures For Spotted Bass

Jigs

Jigs work all year when fishing for spotted bass. Vertical jigging is one of the effective fishing methods that anglers use to target spotted bass that is in deep water.

2. Crankbaits

Crankbaits work well when targeting spotted bass that is around ledges in depths from 10 to 16 feet.

3. Spinners

Spinners work well as lures when targeting spotted bass.

4. Small Plastic Worms

Plastic worms are also used by anglers when fishing for spotted bass.

5. Swimbaits

Swimbaits work well when fishing for spotted bass. Anglers usually will swim a swimbait through a school of spotted bass.

How To Catch Spotted Bass In Summer

When fishing for spotted bass in the summer, anglers target deep water around humps, points, and underwater islands where you will find herring. Spotted bass will be in that area hunting down herring. Additionally, using a flashy lure near the surface of the water will get the attention of big spotted bass.

How To Catch Spotted Bass In the Winter

When fishing for spotted bass in the winter, they are often found in in deep waters and anglers use different fishing methods like vertical jigging a 3/4-ounce spoon or drop-shooting a finesse worm.

How To Catch Spotted Bass In the Fall

Spotted bass don’t like cold extremes and as the temperature starts to change, they will move into deeper water. When fishing for spotted bass in the fall, look for them in water depths ranging from 20 to 30 feet.

Look for rock slides along bluff banks, transitions from bluffs to shorelines and cover like fallen trees or boulders. Jigging spoons, worms, and grubs are used by anglers to target spotted bass in the fall.

How To Catch Spotted Bass In Spring

During the spring, spotted bass will be found in water with depths ranging from 2 feet to 10 feet. They will be in areas with rock and gravel points, manmade brush piles, and along creek channels. Spotted bass will move from the main river and go into sloughs and side channels. Anglers usually target them with artificial lures such as ringworms, straight-tail worms, and drop-shot rigs.

How To Catch Spotted Bass On Lake Lanier

When fishing for spotted bass on Lake Lanier during the winter, they will be found 25 to 40 feet in the water along creek channels that are lined with timber. Vertical jigging can be used to target them with a 3/4-ounce slab spoon or drop-shooting a finesse worm.

Additionally, you can also target spotted bass at night on Lake Lanier. They roam the lake in search of food and drop their guard as the fishing pressure is reduced.

Spotted Bass vs Largemouth Bass

Characteristic	Spotted Bass	Largemouth Bass
Size	Smaller then largemouth bass	Larger than spotted bass
Population	Smaller than largemouth bass	Larger than spotted bass
Scales	Has scales on the base portion of the second dorsal fin	No scales on the base portion of the second dorsal fin
Mouth	Smaller mouth	Larger mouth than spotted bass
Habitat	Found in areas with more current than where largemouth bass is found	Found in areas with less current than where spotted bass is found
Growth	Grows slower than largemouth bass	Grows faster than spotted bass
Schooling	More of a schooling fish than largemouth bass	Less of a schooling fish than spotted bass

Spotted Bass Fishing Tips

Spotted bass spawn during the spring when the water temperature is in the range of 60 to 65 degrees.

2. Spotted bass is a strong fighter when caught.

3. You can use topwater poppers, walking plugs, and prop baits to catch spotted bass during the post-spawn or early summer.

4. When learning how to catch spotted bass, look for rocky banks in most areas. They often can be found along bluff ends, cedars, and timber on main lake points during the winter months.

5. Spotted bass like small to medium streams and rivers that have clear, slow-moving water with gravel or rock bottoms, or clear lakes.

6. Spotted bass also likes to be close to cover like logs, submerged structures, and stumps for protection from predators.

7. Drop-shot finesse worms or swim a plastic grub along bluff ends or long tapering points when spotted bass go deeper into the water.

8. Before spawning begins, you can target spotted bass that is under docks close to deep water using shaky head worms.

9. Use crawfish-color crankbaits 3 to 6 feet deep when they move to rocky points.

10. Drop-shot rigs work well for spotted bass that are in deep waters.

11. Night fishing for spotted bass during the summer also works well. Spotted bass are less cautious at night and easily leave their cover during the night to feed.

12. Worms, grubs, and small jigs work well around structures.

13. The best time of the year to target big spotted bass is the beginning months when they are at their heaviest weight.

14. As a schooling fish, spotted bass will usually be in a school when they feed. And the competition to get the bait first will work to your advantage.

15. Vertical jigging, drop-shotting, bottom bouncing, and bottom fishing are some of the methods use by anglers to catch spotted bass.

The Bottom Line

Spotted bass are not as numerous as largemouth bass but will fight hard when caught. They tend to move into shallow waters for spawning and into deeper waters as the temperature drops. Anglers use baits and lures when fishing for spotted bass by implementing fishing methods such as vertical jigging, drop-shotting, bottom bouncing, and bottom fishing.

In this article, we shared information about how to catch spotted bass to help you improve your chances of catching this hard-fighting member of the sunfish family. If you fish for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, you can read how to catch largemouth bass, how to catch yellow bass, and how to catch smallmouth bass.