---
title: "Best Early-Season Bites: Bass, Walleye, and Crappie"
description: "You don't have to wait until June for the fishing to get good. With the right tactics, you can have consistent success on the most popular freshwater species. Here's how to find and catch early-season bass, walleye, and crappie. Bass Illustrations by Pete Sucheski"
date: "2014-02-20"
modified: "2014-02-20"
authors:
  - name: "Todd Kuhn"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/todd-kuhn/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/gone-fishin/2014/02/catch-three-early-season-fish-species-how/"
categories:
  - "Bass Fishing"
  - "Crappie Fishing"
  - "Fishing"
  - "Freshwater"
  - "Panfish Fishing"
  - "Walleye Fishing"
---

# Best Early-Season Bites: Bass, Walleye, and Crappie

![](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/01/HZEVEAOASQRC2TPJJ7DJU5AUG4.jpg>)

You don't have to wait until June for the fishing to get good. With the right tactics, you can have consistent success on the most popular freshwater species. Here's how to find and catch early-season bass, walleye, and crappie.

## BASS

*Illustrations by Pete Sucheski*

**Where to Find fish**
Suspended in deep water with cover stumps, riprap, rocks, etc. in places adjacent to ­shallows.

**Water Temp pre-spawn trigger**
0 to 58 degrees (smallmouths); 55 to 63 degrees (largemouths)

**Structure to search**
Riverbeds, roadbeds, and old-growth tree lines leading from deep to warming shallow feeding areas

**Primary Baits**
Jigs, tubes, and worms in traditional patterns like crawdad and black-and-blue

**Bait weights**
In depths of less than 20 feet, use ³⁄₈ to ½ ounce; greater than 20 feet, use ¾ to 1 ounce

**Presentation**
Slowly crawl or drag heavyweight baits through structure, staying in contact with stickups. Fish s-l-o-w-l-y.

## Walleye

**Where to Find fish**
From a spawning area, locate the closest spot with a depth of 30 feet and a flat bottom.

**Water Temp pre-spawn trigger**
38 to 44 degrees

**Structure to search**
Back bays, lake bottoms, or anywhere there is a depth closest to the 30-foot mark near shallows

**Primary Baits**
Lindy rigs tipped with the largest live minnows available, or vertical jigs tipped with a minnow

**Bait weights**
Walking sinkers in ¹⁄₈ ounce in 6 to 10 feet of water; ¼ ounce for 10 to 15 feet; ½ ounce for 15 to 25 feet

**Presentation**
Position the boat on the upwind side and drift through the target area as slowly as possible, with the Lindy rig.

## Crappie

**Where to Find Fish**
Structure pathways such as rock ledges, rocky shoals, roadbeds, and creekbeds. Look for suspended baitfish.

**Water Temp pre-spawn trigger**
40 to 45 degrees

**Structure to search**
Areas with stained or muddy water and a dramatic depth change nearby

**Primary Baits**
Bass Pro Marabou Stump Jumpers, Road Runner Bang Shad Buffet Rig, and Northland Mimic Minnow

**Bait weights**
¹⁄₈ to ¼ ounce

**Presentation**
Slowly wind-drift jigs on long lines around pronounced tributary points.