Spring bass fishing is here, and Nick Dumke wastes no time breaking down an early season largemouth pattern. Warming temperatures push bass shallow, and that creates some of the best fishing of the year. In this video, Dumke covers how he approaches a lake during the first real warmup of spring and explains what clues help him locate active fish fast.
Featured Product
- VIBRATING JIG – Berkley Slobberknocker Jig: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- TRAILER – Berkley PowerBait The Boss Grub: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- ROD – Abu Garcia Veritas Tournament Casting Rod: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- REEL – Abu Garcia Revo VoltiQ: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- LINE – Berkley GinClear Fluorocarbon: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- GLIDE BAIT – Berkley PowerBait Chop Block: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- ROD – Abu Garcia Beast Casting Rod: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- REEL – Abu Garcia Beast 400 Casting Reel: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- LINE – Berkley GinClear Fluorocarbon: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- JIG – Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- TRAILER – Strike King Rage Tail Twin Tail Menace: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- ROD – Shimano Expride B Casting Rod: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- REEL – Shimano SLX A Casting Reel: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- LINE – PowerPro Braided Spectra Line: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- SOFT JERKBAIT – Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Caffeine Shad: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- ROD – 13 Fishing JINX Casting Rod: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- REEL – Shimano SLX XT Casting Reel: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- LINE – Berkley GinClear Fluorocarbon: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
Breaking Down a Lake in Spring
Finding spring bass starts with understanding where fish want to move next. Instead of randomly fishing the bank, Dumke uses mapping, water temperature, sunlight exposure, and bottom composition to narrow down productive water. North-facing pockets, marsh-lined shorelines, and shallow flats become key targets because they absorb heat faster than the rest of the lake. As a result, bass slide into those areas to feed and stage before spawning. Dumke also explains how staging fish often hold near spawning flats instead of directly on them. That subtle adjustment can make a huge difference during spring bass fishing conditions when fish are still transitioning.
Springtime Baits and Setups
Dumke rotates through several proven spring bass fishing baits to cover water and locate active fish. Vibrating jigs help him fish quickly and identify productive stretches, while a traditional jig slows things down around wood, staging cover, and isolated structure. He also mixes in a soft jerkbait for shallower fish moving toward spawning areas and a glide bait to trigger larger bass feeding ahead of the spawn.
Boat Setup & Misc.
- SUN SHIRT – Grundéns Tough Sun Masked Hoodie: Buy at Grundéns
- FISH FINDER – Garmin ECHOMAP Ultra 2 Chartplotter: Buy at Garmin
- TROLLING MOTOR – Garmin Force Pro Trolling Motor: Buy at Garmin
- SHALLOW WATER ANCHOR – Power-Pole Dual Blade Shallow Water Anchor System: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- OUTBOARD – Mercury Pro XS 250hp: Check out at Mercury
- BOAT – Ranger Z520R: Check out at Ranger
