What’s the Difference Between Largemouth Bass in Florida and the North?

Springtime is that time of year anglers get giddy with visible optimism oozing from their pores. It is a terrible time for us to play poker. Snow is a distant memory, plants turn lush green, and birds chirping frantically and beautifully. No angler doubts a new lunker is going to grace their mantle in the immediate future. Unfortunately, largemouth bass do not intend to be that easy.

Regardless of where you live, the bite before the legendary pre-spawn time is not always fruitful. Few know this better than fishing guide and B.A.S.S. Open veteran Destin DeMarion. Around New Year’s, DeMarion leaves his home in Pennsylvania and heads to Florida. Here he is a full time fishing guide on Florida’s rivers and lakes before returning home in early May. This puts him in the thick of spring fishing for over five months in dramatically different parts of the country!

So what’s the difference between largemouth bass in Florida and the North? Today DeMarion is going to help us break it down.

Catching Late Winter Largemouth Bass Up North

On Northern waters, DeMarion insists largemouth bass begin biting just as the ice melts, but finding them is no easy task. He suggests, “Begin fishing in popular ice fishing areas. The bass are eating the same panfish the ice anglers were after, and they did not disappear with the ice.” Fish that wintered here typically stay for several weeks before heading for shallow, pre-spawn areas.

Fish are cold blooded, thus the colder states have a shorter growing season. Once the ice is gone, largemouth bass waste no time filling their bellies. Contrary to what many believe, largemouth eat in cold water, but are less willing to chase food because their metabolism remains low. So putting bait in front of them is important, and DeMarion suggests a blade bait, “A blade is a great vertical presentation for bass.” He explains, “It puts the bait right in front of their faces, which does not require them to burn calories chasing.” The ½-ounce Binsky by Fish Sense Lures in color schemes gold and sexy shad are his favorite.

DeMarion also keeps a ½-ounce lipless crankbait and jerkbait closeby. He claims, “A blade bait is great, but I also catch a lot of fish with traps (lipless crankbaits) and jerkbaits when the water is still in the 30’s.” The trap is especially productive in areas with weeds. “With weeds around, I am looking for a reaction bite with the trap. I use a steady retrieve, but when it is stuck in the weeds, I snap my rod sharply to break it loose. When that happens, often times a bass will react and eat it.”

Water temperature dictates how he retrieves a jerkbait, “The colder the water, the slower and longer the pauses. As it gets closer to spawn and the water creeps into the upper 40’s and low 50’s, I like an erratic cadence with brief pauses to illicit reaction strikes.”

“When the water begins to warm up, when spring is finally here to stay, you can follow the bass into their transition, pre-spawn areas,” DeMarion insists. “Now is the time to focus on dark bottoms. This is key. Water with a dark bottom composition warms up fastest and holds the heat.” Look for darker areas in bays, canals, and feeder creeks. “I have seen it 10 degrees warmer than other areas on the lake.” The warmer water puts fish in a more aggressive mood.