Spring Bass Fishing

With the spawn about to start, I’ll be putting my trout gear away in favor of the spinning rods and bait casters.  Largemouth bass fishing is the one outdoor activity that I’ve been doing all of my life, and it is near and dear to my heart.

Personally, I’m an early guy.  I like being at the boat ramp before the sun is up, and on the water in position as soon as it starts to get light.  I’ve found that the fish start moving around as soon as there is any brightness (especially top water), and I don’t want to miss a thing.

Since it’s early season, the mornings can be cold, and the temps will rise significantly throughout the morning and early afternoon.  It’s all about layers.  It’s not uncommon to be wearing three or four layers when I start the boat engine to an untucked Poncho shirt and pants rolled up to my knees when I break for lunch.  Lord, I love it.

Here’s how I prepare for early-season bass fishing:

From top left:

1. Tilley Airflo Hat:  The perfect fishing hat for face and neck sun protection.  Skin cancer ain’t cool, guys.  Prepare appropriately.
2. TSG Midszn Vest:  A great weight for a fishing vest.  Not too loose, not too tight.  Keep that core warm until the sun gets a little higher.
3. Dead Buff:  I always have a couple of these – they act as a neck warmer in the early morning, and sun protection in the late mornings.
4. Duck Camp Crawfish Hat:  Find the coolest hat you can find and beat it to death.  Top of the heap: this new crawfish hat from our friends at Duck Camp.
5. Poncho Outdoors ‘Alphonse’ Fishing Shirt:  The best fishing shirts on the market.  Add a couple of new plaids for hooking bucket heads.  I’m almost exclusively a long sleeve guy and roll ’em up when I start sweating.
6. Costa Ferg Sunglasses:  There are plenty of options out there, but I’m stuck on Costa.  I have, however, switched to Poly lenses (vs. glass).  They weigh a lot less, provide almost all of the benefits of glass, and the price is a lot lower.  These are under $100!
7. A Really Good Lantern:  For early morning work on the boat.  I like one that has brightness options, as well as a yellow light.
8. Orvis Pro LT Softshell Pullover:  The Orvis Pro gear is as good as anything on the market.  This softshell pullover is a GREAT addition – it provides a little warmth but without any bulk.
9. Hook & Gaff Sportfisher Watch:  Such a cool fishing watch.  I love the band options as well as the left-side winder.  No excuses.
10. Marshwear Clothing Escape Pants:  These have become my go-to pants on the water.  They look like 5-pockets, but are constructed out of a water-friendly fabric, and have pockets in all the right places.  They are functional fishing pants that don’t look like fishing pants.
11. Whiskey Leatherworks Largemouth Bass Belt:  I mean, is there anything cooler?  The chromexcel leather belt is sturdy enough to hold your pliers, and the largemouth ribbon adds just the right amount of cool.
12. Ozark Trail Headlamp:  Since I’m an early guy, I need to see when tying on.  Never leaves my tackle box.
13. Chacos:  Basically a go-to when fishing – obviously when wearing shorts, but also when the forecast is mostly dry.
14. Barbour Nimbus Pull-On Rain Boots:  I get the whole Xtratuf thing, but they are so uncomfortable, and the bottoms are basically tennis shoes.  I like these Barbours because they are built a little more like a 4×4, and are much more comfortable.
15. LL Bean 8″ Bean Boots:  Classic.  If you don’t own these then re-think a lot of your life choices.

What did I miss?