Sure-fire Big Fish Lure for Spring Q & A with Doug Hannon Doug Hannon, “The Bass Professor,” is the only angler in the world to catch over 500 10-pound-plus largemouth bass. When the days begin to warm, Doug Hannon targets trophy bass with the Original Fishing Snake™ when bass holding deep in brush and weeds move out first and become more active.

Q: Spring is viewed by many as the best time to catch big bass. What are your thoughts on this time of the year and some key tactics you like to employ?

A: First, let me provide you with a few buzz words that come to mind when discussing spring fishing. For me, these words are sheltered, protected and closed off. In the early spring, seek out the warmest waters you can because even a 1- to 2-degree temperature variance can mean the difference between success and failure. Get a map of your target body of water and seek out the northwest section and fish this area first. As far as key tactics go, something I still employ and firmly believe is that an angler needs to remember to keep a low profile. I rarely stand in my boat. I wear shirts of muted tones and I remain as quiet as possible. Sound and vibrations travel great distances in the shallow waters we fish during the springtime. 

Q: What are your thoughts on the moon's influence on fishing during this time of the year?

A: There's nothing mystical, or magical about the moon's influence. If simpler creatures didn't have the moon to go by, they'd spawn a little here and a little there. Their eggs would hatch a few at a time, enabling predators to ravage their offspring. But when millions hatch at once, the survival of the species is assured. Likewise, when viewing the bass as a predator, bear in mind that it will seek to maximize its feeding opportunities by being "on the prowl" when insects, crustaceans and other creatures in its world are the most active. These creatures are most active during the full and new moons as well as during the major and minor lunar periods of each day. Check out my free moon feeding charts, then you can concentrate your fishing around the days and times when the overall level of life is at its highest.

Q: What are your sure-fire, big-fish lure for Spring?

A: Well, I've been fortunate enough to fish numerous bodies of water, not just here in the United States, but also internationally. One thing I've noticed is that large bass and larger predatory species react quite similarly wherever you fish. I target "trophy fish" with the Original Fishing Snake™. For a soft-plastic bait I co-developed, the Snake swims, floats and coils on the surface - even when rigged with a No. 4 hook. Therefore, it allows you to fish it slow, avoiding the need to constantly retrieve, as is the case with other pseudo-snake lures on the market today. This lure has produced two verified bass weighting over 17 pounds, and a 14.2-pounder that can be seen on our trophies page. Snakes are indigenous to every country in the world and thrive around brush, cover and water's edge. I, for one, truly believe that plastic worms mimic baby snakes, as earthworms die in water. And I've yet to see a cylindrical minnow with a ripple or paddle tail.

Q: Do you have any last thoughts on springtime fishing?

A: Spring is typified by one or two warm, pleasant days followed by a cold front. It's during these frontal passages that spring fishing is at its toughest. This is because the fish actually undergo a pronounced physical change. As soon as clouds begin to reappear following a day or two of bluebird skies, begin fishing shallower and on the edges of heavy cover. Bass holding deep in brush and weeds move out first and become more active. The fish in the deeper holes readjust more slowly and will begin to move shallower. Water temperature greater than 70° is key to your topwater success with this bait. Above all, fish very slowly. And finally, I consider bed fishing unethical. Once you get to really know bass and appreciate their beauty, bed fishing becomes out of question.