April may be the best month of the year to get out fishing. Bass are shallow just about everywhere in the country and ready to eat. This is the prime time to be a bass angler. Many lures will catch fish, and while it's hard to pick just six baits, we've narrowed the list to include universal baits that will catch fish no matter what region you live in.
Senko
Right now, one of the best baits to use is a Yamamoto Senko or one of the many imitators that fit the soft stickbait category. You can rig it in many different ways, and it will work any time of the year, but it excels during the spring months.
Right now, one of the best rigs is a wacky rig with a 5-inch version of the bait in a green pumpkin or watermelon shade. Pair it with a solid wacky rig hook like the Berkley Fusion19 weedless wide gap wacky hook or Gamakatsu G-Finesse Stinger Weedless Wacky Hook, and you are ready to start catching some April bass.
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The ChatterBait will work in all months but shines during the spring when most of the bass population is in shallow water. They work in many different areas, but one surefire way to catch fish with them this time of year is around boat docks. They skip exceptionally well, and you can get them to those shady parts of the dock and expect to catch fish. Other great areas are around bushes, overhanging trees, and any shade you can find.
One way to get more out of your baits is to use silicone tubing. You can hook the bait directly through the tubing and not lose quite as many baits from tearing. The ¼-inch size is perfect for a 5-inch Senko.
ChatterBait
Another bait that seems to have been made for spring is the ChatterBait, which has caught plenty of bass this month. Wind it around shallow cover, especially vegetation, and let the vibrating action draw fish in. Stick with tried-and-true colors like green pumpkin and match it with a soft plastic trailer, and you'll have a great bluegill imitator that will work well for you this April.
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It's hard to beat a red crankbait this time of year. They are great tools for fishing around rocky cover. There are many different brands and styles of vibrating jigs, and one excellent option is the Z-Man ChatterBait EVO. It won't break the bank, vibrates like crazy, and gets the attention of springtime bass. Some other good ones are the Z-Man Evergreen Jack Hammer ChatterBait and Strike King Thunder Cricket.
Shallow Crankbaits
If the bass are getting ready to spawn or have already wrapped up the process where you live, a crankbait is one of the best ways to catch fish while also moving quickly and covering water. There are many different crankbaits out there, but many bass will be shallow this month, so a squarebill crankbait or one that dives less than six feet deep will be the best producer.
Fish them around rocky areas like riprap banks, isolated boulders, or manmade objects like seawalls and boat docks, and you can expect to catch plenty of fish. One of the best colors you can use this time of year is something with a reddish or brown hue, as they will look just like crawfish scurrying around in the bottom.
Pitching Jigs
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Pitching a jig to cover and structure will catch fish all year, but it's especially effective this month. Again, with most bass shallow and around cover, you want to fish something efficient for these areas. As bass are around the spawn, they look for shelter to protect their beds, which means bushes, trees, logs, and laydowns are some of the best places to look. Pitching a jig to these areas is a great way to catch fish and remain relatively resistant to snagging the cover.
The standard Arky-style jighead in a 3/8 and ½-ounce size is very popular for pitching to cover and will work well for you this month. Pair them with a crawfish-imitating soft plastic trailer, and you will have an excellent bait to fish all month.
Hollow Bodied Frog
While most people consider frog fishing a summer approach, they are excellent lures for April if the water is in the mid-50s or warmer. Bass, at this time of year, are highly territorial, and frogs on the surface are an intrusion; they can't stand around their bedding areas. They work well before the bass spawn while protecting their beds and then again when guarding their fry after the spawn is done.
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If you can get on an early frog bite, you can have some fun April days on these topwater baits. Most anglers don't start fishing frogs until much later, but you can get an early frog bite before everyone else does and catch some of the biggest bass of the year. Frogs work wonders during the spring months and are great for fishing around bushes, trees, and docks, not just vegetation.
Ned Rig
One more great bait to fish this time of year is a Ned Rig. This bite-sized offering isn't intimidating and looks like an easy meal for bass, no matter what stage of the spawn they are in.
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These little baits catch plenty of fish of all sizes and are a great rig to throw in April. The basic green pumpkin and darker-colored baits on a Ned Rig head are perfect for fishing around targets and anywhere bass are at this time of year. They are also perfect for fishing slightly deeper for bass that are getting close to spawning and for those that have already spawned and moved to a little bit deeper water when they finished.
April is a great month to go fishing because so many baits work. It's also a fun time to try new things and get in on some of the best fishing of the entire year. These six baits are must-haves for fishing this time of year and will work for you.
