For bass, February marks start of spring

In our part of the country, February marks the beginning of spring for bass and bass anglers.

From now through about the middle of February, your best bet is still classic, deep-water, winter bass fishing with jigs, tubes, jerkbaits and spoons.

But as the month progresses, bass will begin to move to shallower water and into the creeks and coves. You can expect the water temperatures to range from periods of ice at the beginning of the month to around 48 degrees at the end. As the days lengthen and the water warms bass metabolism, activity and feeding will increase, especially with big mature females developing eggs.

As the month progresses, shift your search from the deep main lake areas of 15 to 25 feet to areas in the creeks and coves with access to only 10 to 15 feet of water. Also, you will find that crawfish imitation baits and colors will become more important.

The key to success this month is finding areas where bass will be more active. Bass do not travel to find warmer water; however, the bass in warmer water are more likely to take your lure.

The first areas of the lake to warm up are the northwest coves and creeks, in a phenomena commonly known as the Northwest Factor. Coves and creeks on the north side of the lake are protected from the cold north wind. Their banks also are exposed to direct sunlight longer as the winter sun rises in the southeast and sets in the southwest. These two factors often produce water up to 10 degrees warmer than coves on the opposite side of the lake and therefore much better bass fishing.

Look for rocky banks with stumps, logs, brush piles. These areas need to set on a steep bank with immediate access to 10 to 15 feet of water. You will usually find this location in the first third of the creek or cove closer to the main lake.

I use two key tactics during this period.

If it is cold and overcast, I will use a Lucky Craft Pointer 100 suspending jerkbait usually in the clown pattern. I'll cast this bait along the structure brake over about 10 feet of water. Simply reel it down to its working depth of 5 feet and retrieve by a series of twitches and pauses. Usually twitch, twitch, pause with the pause lasting 2 to 5 seconds. Your bites usually feel like you've snagged a big plastic bag. Jerkbait fish are often lightly hooked on top of the head so apply like pressure on the hookset and gently work the fish to the boat.

If there have been a string of several days near 50 degrees, the fishing can be great and often quite shallow. I fish in the same location but instead fish for feeding bass rather than neutral suspending fish. I usually start my morning with a Jewel 3/8-ounce Eakins jig in black/blue or Missouri Craw colors and I'll tip it with an Eakins craw. If I don't get any bites I'll shift to a Southern Pro Pitching Tube in either Green Pumpkin or Black Neon, I'll use a 3/0-wide gap hook, and a 3/16 slip sinker. Often the slower fall of the tube will get a strike.

As the day progresses and the sun warms the rocks and the water the fish can become very aggressive. That's when I'll shift to 100 and 200 series Bandit Crankbaits. My key colors now are Firetiger or crawfish reds, browns and greens. If the bass seem to be 2 to 4 feet deep, I'll use the 100; if they are 4 to 8 feet deep, I'll go with the 200 series. Under these conditions you will find the bass from the waters edge out to about 8 feet. Remember, the water is still very cold so work your baits slowly. Also be sure to contact any cover available, hit the stumps and logs with your baits and take advantage of reflex strikes.

Beginning in February, you'll find and catch big female bass getting ready to spawn and pass on their "big genetics." I suggest, especially at this time of year, that you practice catch and release. These are the genes you want to have for the future. If you want a trophy for your wall, have a replica made. All you need are the fish's measurements and perhaps a photo. The cost is close to a live mount but spares the fish.

David Bortner is a promotional bass fisherman who has competed in BASS Federation and Wal-Mart BFL events.