Both males and females are susceptible to bait during pre-spawn , being quite hungry after the winter phase.

Buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits or Texas rigged creatures, lizards, frogs or crawfish imitations can all be productive during this phase. Watermelon red flukes have proven to be very successful too, especially at Witklip. Staging females in deeper water can also be goaded with Carolinas, drop shot rigs or deep diving crankbaits.

Here are 10 ten tips supplied by local anglers:

• At full moon or new moon fish tend to be more aggressive.
• If you cannot see the fish, target thicker cover or deeper water. Fish slowly. Submerged humps and rocks are a favourite.
• Bass prefer harder or gravel-type substrates to make nests.
• Try and fish in areas of the dam that receive the first rays of the sun and stay in the sun for the most of the day.
• Use craws, salamander species, crab, baitfish (kurper) and frog (platanna) imitations. Bass will however defend their spawn against practically anything.
• Lipless cranks, buzzbaits or propeller lures are great baits for getting early season and aggressive bass to bite, especially males.
• Big baits on spawning bass can often bear fruit. The bigger the bait, the bigger the threat.
• Early spawners might be found in very shallow water and will gradually go deeper.
• Not all bass spawn at the same time. Bass spawn much earlier in the Lowveld region.
• Release bass immediately after catching them.

Also read: Part 1 – Lowveld Spring fishing guide: Pre-spawn