Spring Bass Fishing: Dialing In On The Dirt For Big Catches!

If you can find the heat (warm water), you’ll find the mother lode of prespawn bass. Ott DeFoe reveals his tried-and-true strategies for finding and catching spring bass spread across shallow mud flats. His tool of choice? Naturally, this East Tennessee native reaches for a balsawood crankbait.
00:00 Introduction
00:43 Finding spring bass on mud flats
03:57 How to use mapping to find prime mud flats
04:55 Best baits for fishing the dirt
TACKLED USED (retail links)
• CRANKBAIT (featured) - Rapala OG Rocco 5, color - Bream: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/a13qvM | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/46mFHSM
ROD - Bass Pro Shops Crankin' Stick Crankbait Casting Rod - 7' - Medium Fast - B: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/jWKoda
• REEL - Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Baitcast Reel - Right - 6.8:1: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/x9A4dO
• LINE - Bass Pro Shops XPS KVD Signature Series 100% Fluorocarbon Fishing Line, 12-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/RyAZ5y
OTHER BAIT MENTIONS
• LIPLESS CRANKBAIT - Storm Arashi Vibe Lipless Crankbait: Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/3QhbjD8
• FLAT-SIDED CRANKBAITS
Rapala OG Slim 6: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/g1bXAA | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/3VLfUSt
Rapala OG Tiny 4: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/xkKP7R | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/40BhRRS
• Rapala DT Dives-To Series Crankbait (DT 4/6/8): Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/daGRgq
• SPINNERBAIT - Terminator Pro Series Spinnerbait: Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/49tUoFq
• SWIM JIG - Terminator Heavy Duty Swim Jig: Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/49on5Di
• BLADED JIGS - Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/3vkZK7j
*Additional boat-related links at the bottom.
FINDING SPRING BASS ON MUD FLATS
Spring draws bass into shallow waters. If you can find the warmest water, you’ll often find mass consolidations of fish of all species, including bass. DeFoe spies expansive flats using Shallow Water Highlight on his mapping. Mud or silt-bottomed areas are usually the most productive, as the dark bottom retains the sun’s energy and warms quickly. DeFoe explains that areas with subtle depth changes, scattered wood, and emerging vegetation are hotspots for early spring bass.
LURE SELECTION FOR CRANKING THE DIRT
DeFoe reviews his roster of standout lures for this application. All of them are moving baits adept at covering water and contacting cover to trigger reaction strikes. An aggressive wobbling squarebill crankbait excelled as water temperatures pushed the 60-degree mark and flipped the “eat switch” on. Moreover, squarebills fish clean around isolated cover like wood and grass, so fowling is minimal. DeFoe also mixes in subtle flat-sided crankbaits or more traditional round bill varieties based on the water temperature, fish mood, and the targeted running depth. ChatterBaits and swim jigs have their place, too. Check out a list of the best squarebill crankbaits for bass.
MASTERING THE RETRIEVE
Adapting your retrieve to the conditions is crucial. DeFoe shares how pumping the crankbait, especially in ultra-shallow waters laden with grass and debris, can keep your lure clean and trigger aggressive strikes. This technique, coupled with strategic pauses, simulates vulnerable prey, making your bait stand out in a sea of forage.
BOAT SETUP
• BOAT - Nitro Z21 XL PRO: Check out at Nitro bit.ly/3QSnM20
• MOTOR - Mercury Pro XS 250 hp: Check out at Mercury bit.ly/3PeIhVk
• FISH FINDER - Humminbird SOLIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G3 Fish Finder/GPS Chartplotter: Buy at Bass Pro Shops (bassproshops.vzck.net/NkGOmq)
• MAPPING - Humminbird LakeMaster Premium VX Digital Map Chart Card: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/R516Ga | Buy at Humminbird wired2.fish/3uX11Oh
• FORWARD-FACING SONAR (FFS) - Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/MXa6eN
• 360 IMAGING - Humminbird 360 Imaging: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/LXqkRo
• TROLLING MOTOR - Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bit.ly/49npejB
• SHALLOW WATER ANCHORS - Minn Kota Raptor Active Anchoring Shallow Water Anchor, 8': Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/k0RQLN
#rapala24 #basspro24 #humminbird24 #minnKota24 #mercury24
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[@vincentgelles3805]

Ott is the man!

[@douglasspickler4925]

Very cool video. 😎 Thanks for sharing your tips. I have caught bass shallow like that and couldn't believe how shallow they were. That's why fishing is amazing.

[@raygissendanner1476]

Great tips

[@stevegerber835]

I appreciate you doing some real bass fishing.

[@Juststatinfacts]

How sad is your life, find Jesus and stop judging what others are doing!

[@adamlebeck9482]

Those roccos are killers. Ive mopped up with them the last 2 years

[@YankeeDoodle2]

Ott needs to go back to bassmaster there are no Christian morals at mlf