Surface Lure Fishing for Bass in April: Tips, Techniques, and Strategies
April is prime time for bass fishing, especially with surface lures, as warming weather and clear waters tempt bass to strike. Whether you're fishing estuaries, river entrances, or inshore waters, mastering surface lure techniques can lead to thrilling catches.
Why Surface Lures Work in April
Bass typically forage on the sea bed for crabs and small fish, but on hot, sunny April days, they often look up, especially in clear water. Small to medium surface lures mimic baitfish, making them irresistible to bass, day or night. Larger bass migrate upstream in estuaries and rivers for a steady food supply, while some spawn inshore or at estuary heads. This migration makes April ideal for targeting big bass with surface lures.
Surface lure fishing is visually exciting and perfect for group outings. The thrill of watching a bass explode on your lure is unmatched, and April’s conditions—clear water and active fish—set the stage for success.
Best Techniques for Surface Lure Fishing
Fishing surface lures in April requires finesse, unlike the fast retrieves of summer. Here’s how to work your lures effectively:
Pop, Pause, Pop: Use a subtle popping action with pauses. After casting, let the lure float for a few seconds before starting. Bass may strike before you reel, as seen in successful outings at the River Mark entrance, where bass hit lures after a 10-second pause on the first cast.
Pop and Drag: Gently drag the lure across the surface, pausing for 10 seconds to entice hesitant bass. This works well at night when bass are more aggressive.
Straight Retrieve: A steady retrieve with occasional pauses can trigger strikes, especially in low-light conditions.
React to Swirls: If a bass swirls but misses, pause the lure to draw a second strike.
Patience is key in April. Avoid rapid reeling and focus on deliberate pauses to mimic injured prey, increasing your chances of a hookup
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.
Below are our small surface lures that might work for you in April.
Small Topwater Surface Lures (90mm 16g)

Small Topwater Surface lures (105mm 11g)

Small Popping Surface Lure (105mm 16g)

Small Surface Topwater Bass Lure 95mm 17g

Small 3D Prism Surface Popper Topwater Bass Lure 105mm 23g

Small Surface 3D Inshore Prism Pencil Bass Lures 100mm 17g

Seadra Spitta 125 V2 Bass Lure

Medium Surface Topwater Bass Lure 125mm 19g

1 comment
Rob Hazeldine
Fantastic content