Fishing Report for Largemouth Bass using Frogs/Toads in Spring (Spawn)

Item: Lake Dardanelle
Author: Katherine Field

Katherine Field

Blue Ambassador

4/22/21

Lake Dardanelle

Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Frogs/Toads
Structure
Lily Pads

Just competed in the Hobie Bass Open Series on Lake Dardanelle. The bass are starting to spawn and moving up very shallow. When prefishing, most of the temperatures were mid 60s, as high a 70 degree in some shallow, protected areas. During the tournament, a cold front lowered the temps to low to mid 50s, however bass would still hit the frog. I was fishing in a muddy, shallow flat, covered with emerging vegetation and lily pads. Water levels and temps were fluctuating quickly over several days but still was able to find bass in 9 inches to 2 feet of water. The bass would not hit on frogs that displaced a lot of water; the bite was very subtle. You can find success on this type of flat with a more quiet presentation and allowing the frog to pause for longer periods on the edges of vegetation. Bass are hitting on the long pause, on slow moving, subtle frogs.