April Bass Lure Fishing Blog “On The Surface”

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Bass normally have their heads down looking for crabs and any potential food on the sea bead but on a hot sunny April day they may be tempted to look up if a small to medium surface lure crosses their path both day and night especially if the water is clear.

Normally we would start to use small surface lures in and around estuaries or entrances to large rivers but they can be used all over as bass will hit surface lures if it gets warmer. Surface lure fishing is a great way of fishing visually and can be so much fun if you’re out with your mates. The larger bass may be further upstream as they need constant supply of food while others spawn this time of year generally out at sea but some have been found spawning within the head of estuaries and inshore waters.

Fishing surface lures this time of year is an art. You must be more subtle, rather than the fast motions of working a surface lure in the summer. It’s more of a pop, pause, pop action. You will need to be patient and cautious early in the season, and pausing now and again might be the best action rather than reeling in 100 miles an hour. When you cast your surface lure, leave it floating for a few moments before you start winding. We have had bass smash lures before we even reeled before in April. Also, if you get a swish, then pause again to bring the fish onto the lure.

You can even "pop and drag" the lure along the surface to tempt a bass or even straight retrieve a small surface lure, especially at night. Pausing for 10 seconds after the drag before starting that motion once again can also work well. If you do get a take, you will feel your rod tug over, which is a lovely feeling at the start of the fishing season.

We went out in April on our local River Mark entrance, and bass literally snaffled our surface lures on our first cast, pausing for 10 seconds. 1,2,3,4 Bang!!!

April can produce some real big fish due to the migration patterns so ensure your knots are tied well and your drag is nice and tight. You will loose fish if your grab is set too loose. Yes it sounds nice but as long as your line is decent and your knots are good, you wont loose bass by being firm with them. You will loose bass if your drag is loose.