Photos: Ricky Bodsford
The post-spawn period is notoriously one of the toughest times of year to target bass. The “post-spawn funk” is a common saying for a reason.
The fish are lethargic and worn out, but Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brett Hite has found three techniques that excel this time of year.
The Neko Rig, ChatterBait and a topwater are his go-to approaches this time of year and he shares some tips on how to get the most out of the post-spawn period.
ChatterBait
The Z-Man/Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer with a Yamamoto Zako trailer has been one of the hottest baits since it was released and Hite was definitely a major part of the lure’s success thanks to his own success with it. During the pre-spawn, Hite likes to reach for the new ¾ oz. version and fish it deeper than he does during other times of the year.
“It is great for fishing ledges and deep grasslines and you can fish it down to 20-feet, but that 8-12-foot range is really the sweet spot,” he says and adds that a green pumpkin and shad pattern will cover most of his needs. “I like to let it fall down to the bottom or just above the grass and then start the retrieve. One thing I like to do this time of year is wind it a few times quickly and then let it fall back down. This time of year, they really want a fast retrieve.”
He fishes the bait on a 7’3” heavy Evergreen Brett Hite Combat Stick and a 6.3:1 Daiwa Steez A reel spooled with 20-pound Sunline FC Sniper fluorocarbon. He added that that is the perfect retrieve speed since it is not too fast and not too slow and he can still slow roll the bait if desired.
“The Steez A is an excellent choice because it has every bell and whistle available for Daiwa reels. The T-Wing for casting distance, the SV to help it skip a bait perfectly under docks and overhanging limps and it is also Magsealed. As much as I throw a ChatterBait, the Magseal keeps it smooth all season long,” he says.
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Neko Rig
The Neko Rig is another technique that has been getting plenty of attention lately and Hite was quick to add that it is not a new technique.
“We’ve been doing it on the west coast for years and now it is really getting popular across the country. I think it especially good for fish that are grouped up and on the move like they are after they spawn,” he says.
For soft plastics, he likes the whole Yamamoto Kut Tail family and adjusts sizes based on the lake. He prefers the VMC Neko Rig hook in Size 2 and also inserts a tungsten nail weight between 3/32 and 3/16 oz.
He fishes it on a 7’4” medium Evergreen Brett Hite Combat Stick with a Daiwa Tatula LT reel in the 3000 size and spools it with a 10-pound braided line with a 6-10-pound FC Sniper leader.
“The LT reel is so light and the 3000 is more like a 2500 size because it has a shallow, wider school which really helps with casting distance,” he says.
Hite says there really isn’t a bad way to fish the Neko Rig, but he has most of his success with a “shake and drag” retrieve as he put it.
“It is almost like fishing a drop-shot where you want to shake your bait on a slack line. The biggest key is maintaining contact with the bottom,” he adds. “If there is a lot of cover on the bottom and it is really sticky I fish it with my rod tip up to avoid snags. If it is bare, I’ll drag it with my rod tip lower.”
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Topwater Time
Post-spawn bass fishing is definitely one of the best places for a topwater and Hite agrees and says to bulk up your baits.
“The fish want a big meal and a bait like the Evergreen SB 125 or 150 is great and it will also call them up from deeper water. I like to fish it around deeper points, humps, islands, and places adjacent to where they spawned,” he shares.
Hite fishes this bigger topwater bait on a new rod that will be released at ICAST in the same Evergreen Brett Hite Combat Stick lineup.
“It is a 7’3 medium and works great for topwaters because it has a nice parabolic bend. It is also a great rod for lighter jigs and spinnerbaits,” he says.
He will add a 7.3:1 Tatula SV and spool it with 30-pound Sunline braid with a short leader of 12-22-pound Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo Nylon Line.
The Post-Spawn period is a source of anxiety for some anglers, but there is no need according to Brett Hite. The fish are on the move, group up, hungry and ready to bite.
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