Spring is here, and the prespawn bass bite is heating up. Bass hammer Seth Feider breaks down how he targets largemouth bass in ultra-clear water as they transition into the shallows. With water temperatures in the high 40s to low 50s, bass are moving up to feed on crawdads and bluegills, and Feider capitalizes on this with the old bread and butter technique – flipping a jig.
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Fish Location and Behavior
Feider explains that bass on gin-clear lakes have few options with limited shallow cover, so many fish gravitate toward boat docks and submerged wood. Early in the year, Feider focuses on wooden docks, which retain more heat than metal docks, making them more attractive to cold-water bass.
Tactics for Clear Water Success
Feider opts for a more muted natural brown jig paired with a Z-Man BatwingZ trailer. The goal is minimal movement and a natural fall that imitates a crawdad in cold, clear water. He keeps his presentations tight and efficient — one or two skips per dock — relying on a bass’s vision to do the work.
The Right Combo
His setup includes a 7’2″ medium-heavy casting rod paired with a high-speed casting reel spooled with 40-pound braid to a 20-pound fluorocarbon leader. A soft tip and more moderate action helps with skipping and reduces break-offs when setting the hook and fighting fish.
Dirty Water Adjustments
In slightly dingier water, Feider’s approach shifts. He begins breaking down each dock more methodically, pitching to every post and taking more time between flips. Taking a slower, more methodical approach in dirty water allows fish to have a better opportunity to get a visual on the bait.
