By this time of the year, the spring bass bite is usually very consistent. Beginning in late March the weather in northern California is typically pleasant and mild. Sure, there is always the occasional storm that moves in and throws the bite off for a day or two, but by and large the weather is stable and the daytime highs range from the upper 60’s to middle 70’s.

When the spring weather is consistent you can pretty much catch bass on your own terms. The fish are aggressive and can be caught just about anytime you can get on the water.

Well, the weather this spring has been anything but typical or stable. Since early February we’ve seen a steady parade of storms. One day the barometer is up. The next day it is down. On Monday the water temperature is 56 degrees. Then a cold storm moves through dumping frigid rain. The next thing you know the water temperature is back down to 51 degrees on Wednesday morning.

If you think this spring has been a frustrating one for bass anglers, put yourself in the shoes…’er the fins of the bass. When the weather stabilizes the bass move up into coves and toward shoreline structure because they want to spawn in the worst way. When a low pressure area moves in they are forced to retreat. If the low results in a significant amount of cold rain the retreat is often prolonged.

Now that I’ve unfurled my tail of doom and gloom, I’m happy to announce that there is a bright spot. Bass, particularly big bass, are very vulnerable during the pre’spawn period. This year’s pre-spawn period has been prolonged by the weather. A large number of big bass have been landed by lucky anglers since the middle of February. To tap into these big fish you’ve got to have two things in your favor, time and patience.

The keys to good bass fishing in the face of the conditions we’ve experienced is consistent weather and rising water temperatures. When the weather is dry for a period of 24 to 36 hours, the fish will begin moving up and cruise offshore of spawning structure during the afternoon hours, since this is the warmest time of the day. To be successful, you’ve got to be on the water during these stable afternoon periods. Even if you can only slip away for a few hours the rewards can be great. If you’re planning on fishing all day on Saturday and that is when a front moves in, things are likely going to be tough.

When the conditions are right, power fishing is the best way to go after the bass. You can go ahead and leave that drop shot rod at home. Big jigs tipped with pork or plastic, 6,8 and 10 inch plastic worms, suspending jerkbaits, slow rolled spinnerbaits and swimbaits are the weapons of choice. If you can utilize a live shiner or a big crawfish, these baits will pay big dividends.

The big female bass need calories to nourish their eggs. They instinctively know that they won’t be feeding much during and immediately after the spawn. As a result, during the pre-spawn they are looking for big baits, something of substance that will tide them over for a lengthy period of time, that they don’t have expend a lot of effort catching.

Now that we’ve taken a look at the when’s and how’s of catching quality spring bass, lets talk about some Norcal waters that offer a good chance of success. Of the north state’s well know bass factories, Lake Berryessa, Clear Lake and the Delta are all producing bass of trophy proportions.

The best action is taking place in the Delta. Both Bobby Barrack of the Back To Class Guide Service and Randy Pringle of the Fishing Instructor Guide Service have boated bass in excess of 10 pounds over the past week, along with numbers of bass in the 4 to 8 pound range. Either Persuader or Terminator spinnerbaits in chartreuse and white or blue and white are doing the damage.

For a chance at a trophy, slow roll these baits past ambush points while twitching them to make the blades “clack” every few seconds. If spinnerbaits fail to produce flipping jigs and creature baits such as Sweet Beavers is a great option. The spinnerbaits are favored because they allow you to cover more water in less time.

At both Berryessa and Clear Lake jigs, swimbaits, big plastic worms, and jumbo live minnows provide the ingredients for success. Look for the biggest bass holding on prime structure offshore of spawning flats.

One way to pinpoint productive areas is to begin fishing small worms or dart headed grubs on flats in 4 to 8 feet of water. These baits will draw strikes from small male bass. Once you locate males you can rest assured that larger females will be holding in nearby offshore waters.

One of the down sides of fishing many of the north state’s marquee waters is the intense tournament pressure they experience nearly every weekend. Fortunately there are several “sleeper” lakes that represent good options.

At the top of the list is Lake Amador. This lake is known primarily for the outstanding trout action it offers. Bass fishing pressure has been fairly light, yet great fishing is available if you hit the lake on the right day.

Just look at the great afternoon trip Larry Hemphill and Brandon Brown had to the lake on March 29. While working jigs and 8 inch plastic worms the duo boated 25 bass including 8 largemouths between 4 and 6 pounds. Had they been fishing a tournament they could have weighed a 23 plus pound five bass limit.

Collins and Scotts Flat Lakes are both kicking out good numbers of fish. At Scotts Flat in Nevada County, smallmouths to 4 pounds are the main fare for anglers working jigs and suspending jerkbaits.

The primary target for Collins Lake’s bass anglers has been the lakes 1 to 3 pound spots. Collins has a solid population of Florida strain largemouths that are being largely ignored, as most anglers are working the lake with small plastic worms and small live minnows. For a big bite there is no better offering than a half ounce black or brown Rod Strainer Jig tipped with a No. 180 Yamamoto grub.

For anglers that are willing to travel, Lake Almanor prodigious smallmouth population will stir to life soon. Almanor is full of bass in the 2 to 3 pound range, but it offers plenty of fish ranging up to and beyond 5 pounds. The bite generally begins in early to mid April and peaks by mid May. Plastic worms and jigs are productive as are reaction baits such as jerkbaits and large Roostertail spinners.