Pro bass angler Ott DeFoe prides himself on keeping his bass fishing “uncomplicated.” When it comes to spring fishing and the prespawn in particular, he relies on a handful of proven power fishing baits to catch bass everywhere throughout the country. We caught up with Ott for a quick rundown on his top bait categories for finding and trigging bass when water temperatures range from the mid-’40s on up to the 60-degree mark. For many of us, this spring temperature range represents the best bass fishing encountered throughout the year. *Product links at the bottom.
- Jerkbaits. Ott relies on suspending jerkbaits in cold, clear water. Whatever the reason, the bass can’t resist a minnow profile suspended in the water column. He always carries shallow and deep-diving models.
- Crankbaits (billed). Perhaps his favorite category from the lineup, DeFoe keeps 3 crankbaits tied up; one to cover the 2- to 4-foot depth range, another for 4- to 6-feet, and a third to reach the 6- to the 8-foot mark. He’ll experiment with a mix of flat-side and round-bodied crankbaits, some heavy on finesse attraction like the Rapala Shad Rap and others more aggressive.
- Lipless crankbaits. A lipless crankbait was a huge part of Ott’s 2019 Bassmaster Classic win on Fort Loudoun and his go-to crankbait for fishing big flats and areas with grass.
- Spinnerbait. In the era of the ChatterBait craze, it’s refreshing seeing high-quality spinnerbaits rebound in popularity. A hard-thumping double willow spinnerbait gives off a ton of flash and vibration, making it an excellent performer in dirty water, around cover, or when bass are feeding on schooling shad.
- Jig. Lastly, no bass bait list is complete without a jig or two. Ott keeps a conventional flipping and pitching jig at the ready when targeting bass in target-rich environments such as around brush, docks, and rocks. He reaches for a swim jig when swimming a jig or fishing around heavy grass.
JERKBAIT GEAR (as shown)
- JERKBAIT – 13 Fishing Loco Special Jerkbait (shallow & deep)
- Tackle Warehouse Jerbaits Page (all)
- ROD – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Patriot Casting Rod
- REEL – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Baitcast Reel, 6.8:1
- LINE – Bass Pro Shops XPS KVD Signature Series 100% Fluorocarbon Fishing Line, 10- or 12-pound
CRANKBAIT GEAR
- FLAT-SIDED CRANKBAIT – Rapala OG Slim 6
- CONVENTIONAL – Rapala DT-6 & DT-10 Crankbaits
- LIPLESS – Storm Arashi Vibe
- LIPLESS TREBLE UPGRADE – VMC Bladed Hybrid Treble Hook 3
- Tackle Warehouse Shallow Diving Crankbaits, 0-4 feet
- Tackle Warehouse Mid-Depth Crankbaits, 5-9 feet
- ROD – Bass Pro Shops Crankin’ Stick Casting Rod – CNS662MT
- REEL – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Baitcast Reel, 6.8:1
- LINE – Bass Pro Shops XPS KVD Signature Series 100% Fluorocarbon Fishing Line, 10- or 12-pound
SPINNERBAIT ( 3/8- and 1/2-ounce)
- Terminator Pro Series Spinnerbaits Double Willow
- Terminator Pro Series Spinnerbait Double Colorado
- Terminator Pro Series Painted Blade Spinnerbaits
- Terminator Pro Series Tandem Spinnerbaits
- Tackle Warehouse Spinnerbait Page (all)
- ROD – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris CarbonLite 2.0 Casting Rod – JCT73MHTXF
- REEL – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Baitcast Reel, 6.8:1
- LINE – Bass Pro Shops XPS KVD Signature Series 100% Fluorocarbon Fishing Line, 17-pound
JIG ( 3/8- and 1/2-ounce)
- Terminator Pro Series Jig ( use around hard cover)
- Terminator Heavy Duty Swim Jig (use swimming or around grass)
- ROD – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Casting Rod – JMP74MHTF
- REEL – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Baitcast Reel, 6.8:1
- LINE – Bass Pro Shops XPS KVD Signature Series 100% Fluorocarbon Fishing Line, 17-pound
