Spring is here & so are the Giants

Our writers thoughts from the Classic

Author

Brian Carter
April 15, 2025

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Robby Halsey’s 9.13 Wins Big Bass Tour

The ultimate solution for rescuing lures snagged on the lake bottom, the Money Saver Lure Retriever is engineered for direct-hit plug-knocking efficiency to empower anglers to navigate heavy cover where trophy fish lurk boldly. With a modest upfront cost, the Money Saver Lure Retriever promises substantial long-term savings by salvaging expensive gear and giving you the confidence to throw your valuable lures into high-risk, high-reward spots. Easy to operate without specialized skills. You keep it in your pocket, and it’s ready when needed. Featuring a compact 2" design that packs a punch with 3oz of weight, the Money Saver Lure Retriever is a portable lifeline for any angler facing snag-ridden fishing environments.

The Past is the Future by Bruce Callis

The fishing community is full of so many great people. I am truly blessed to have known so many that have passed over the years. But, there are many more I don’t know. We aren’t talking about the big names in the industry either. Yes, there are plenty, but for most of us, the true legends of the sport are those who we knew growing up and who are the local guy who either taught us, and others as well, or who we learned from by just being around.


I learned to enjoy the outdoors from the moment I was born. My mom and dad were fishing for white perch along side my mom’s parents before I even popped out. And I was out there with them as a newborn. And we never stopped. I learned so much from them. My dad and grandfather were also hunters, so it was just natural that I learned to hunt from them. I learned a really important fact from them, if we killed it, we ate it. We didn’t go fishing or hunting for food for the table.

Feature Story

April Transitions by Carson Maddux

April Transitions by Carson Maddux

Mid April is a huge transition time in the lakes around my house. The majority of bass have either spawned or are actively spawning, while a few have yet to move up. This gives an opportunity to catch them in numerous depth ranges and on a variety of techniques. April is probably my favorite month to bass fish because conditions and patterns change rapidly. The fish can be here one day and there another. It makes for a challenge, but the fish seem to bite either way. This time of year allows you to pick your strengths and be able to compete. Look for fish in all three stages of the spaw,n and a baitfish spawn to be the heavy hitters until the middle of May.

Even after the big females dump their eggs, there is a population of fish that hang out around the bedding areas to protect the hatchlings. “Fry gaurders” are typically male bass that hang out around the fry to keep predator fish from eating them. They will be near the bed, but not locked on like you typically fish for them. Depending on what kind of structure is around, I like using a frog/popper to cover water and a wacky worm to follow up. I’ll often run shady areas where I think these fish are resting with those baits in hopes of some good quality.

NEW PODCAST DROP

We’re beyond excited to welcome you to our brand-new podcast “The Bass Vault”, launching today! This isn’t your typical show — we’re bringing a fresh twist by diving into the vault and turning some of the best content from our writers into short, powerful podcast episodes you can enjoy on the go.

Our first episode drops today, exclusively for our loyal readers — and starting next week, you can catch new episodes every Wednesday morning at 5 AM! It’s the perfect addition to our growing lineup, alongside favorites like Bass Cast Radio and Before the 1st Cast.

If you enjoy the show, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode — and let’s grow this amazing community together!

Moving Bass How to Catch Them in the Transition

By Calvin Herndon

As we all know in the month of April bass transitions from the prespawn to the spawn. Everyone always wants to know where, when, and how to catch a bass during this transition period. In this article you learn what the fish are doing in this transition, where they are going, and how to catch them. 

Let's start by explaining what is happening during this transition period. In the prespawn fish are feeding up so they can settle down and spawn and keep moving. In this period fish tend to be easier to catch, because they are so aggressive. The bass are feeding up and moving shallow to be able to spawn. It is important to understand bass behavior and their preferred habitat during the prespawn. You will also notice that the water temperature will begin to rise and this is very important to pay attention to during the prespawn into the spawn. Where do the bass begin to move to?

A Final Note

The Moment It all Went down at the 2025 Big Bass Tour

Until next time,

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