Byron Velvick's Springtime Bass Trick: Catch More Lunker Bass
Byron Velvick, a legendary name in bass fishing, renowned not just for winning tournaments but for his unmatched ability to locate big bass year-round. While many anglers struggle to find lunker bass in early spring, Velvick shares a proven spring bass fishing tip: using modified suspending jerkbaits to secure the win.
Here’s Byron Velvick’s Spring Game Plan to help you land more—and bigger—bass this season.
Where to Find Spring Bass
Velvick’s first tip for spring bass fishing is simple: head north. As days lengthen in early spring, water temperatures rise incrementally. While you might assume the sun warms lakes evenly, Velvick advises anglers to rethink that. During his tournament days, Velvick discovered a key secret: the northern ends of lakes and their south-facing banks receive more sun exposure, creating ideal conditions for bass. Focus your efforts on these northern sections, targeting rocks and timber for the best results.
Rocks and boulders are prime springtime bass hideouts, acting like natural batteries that store geothermal and solar energy. Even top-tier bass boat electronics can’t pinpoint the subtle temperature shifts around these structures—but lunker bass can, making them hotspots for your spring fishing trips.
Best Gear for Spring Bass Fishing
While many anglers pound shorelines with creature baits in spring, Velvick’s unique suspending / slow sinking jerkbait presentation stands out, delivering deadly results on trophy bass. To master this spring bass fishing technique, you need the right gear. Velvick’s go-to setup features a Trika 7'3" Medium rod, a Trika TI 100 reel, and fluorocarbon line—a precision-built combo for landing big bass.
Casual anglers might settle for any setup, but Velvick insists the devil’s in the details. High-quality fluorocarbon and an ultra-touch-sensitive rod, like his trusted Trika, are non-negotiable for spring bass fishing. These tools provide the stealth and finesse needed to outsmart wary bass.
The Perfect Spring Bass Lure: Jerkmaster 121
Velvick’s top choice for spring is the Jerkmaster 121 from Livingston Lures. This suspending / slow sinking jerkbait boasts a twitching, darting action that he fine-tunes on every outing. Water temperature plays a critical role in lure performance, Velvick notes. Whether it’s cold, warm, or somewhere in between, these conditions subtly affect how suspending / slow sinking jerkbaits behave—key knowledge for spring bass anglers.
Modifying Your Bass Jerkbait for Success
For pro-level spring bass fishing, Velvick tweaks his Jerkmaster 121 daily—sometimes hourly—to achieve peak efficiency. He keeps lead tape handy, adding small strips to the front hook and testing repeatedly until the lure achieves near-perfect neutral buoyancy or his desired sink rate tailored to the day’s conditions.
Enhancing the Look of Your Bass Jerkbait
Slapping lead tape on a hook might seem sufficient, but Velvick demands perfection. To boost visual appeal, he coats the tape with white nail polish, mimicking the soft, torn underbelly of a baitfish. This detail fools big, pressured bass—especially in spring—pairing perfectly with the suspending / slow sinking jerkbait to trigger strikes from giants in the shallows.
Spring Bass Fishing Tactics with Suspending Jerkbaits
Velvick’s tactic involves short rod taps and sweeps, making his modified Jerkmaster 121 dart erratically before hanging still, tantalizingly close to cover like rocks, boulders, and timber. Springtime trophy bass hug these elements, so proximity is critical. Extended pauses near prime spots are a must—focus on retrieves that end with the lure sitting tight to shallow cover.
The Jerkmaster 121’s E.B.S. (Electronic Baitfish Sound) technology gives Velvick an edge. During pauses, it emits natural baitfish sounds, enhancing the lure’s lifelike appeal even when motionless. Combined with his stealthy approach and custom mods, plus Livingston’s innovative designs, this setup is irresistible to spring bass.
