April Bass Fishing on Falls Lake, NC
- Bass Hippy
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
April is a prime month for bass fishing at Falls Lake, North Carolina, as largemouth bass move into shallow waters to spawn. Understanding their behavior and employing effective techniques can significantly enhance your fishing success during this period.
Bass Behavior in April
During April, largemouth bass at Falls Lake are typically in various stages of the spawning process. They migrate from deeper waters to shallow areas, often between 1 to 8 feet deep, to prepare their nests. Early in the month, bass at the lower end of the lake may begin spawning, while those around the Ledge Rock area tend to spawn later in April.
Effective Fishing Techniques
To capitalize on the bass's spawning behavior, consider the following techniques:
Soft Plastics: Utilize soft plastic lures such as worms and creature baits to target bass on their beds. Casting these lures into shallow areas and working them slowly can provoke defensive strikes from nesting bass.
My go-to worm for a wacky rig. Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho 5 Stick Bait
These 3" Hellgramites from Nikko are great to use when the Bass are not reactive. Not many people use them on the lake but I always get strikes on them.
Reaction Baits: Spinnerbaits and crankbaits can be effective in eliciting reaction strikes from bass guarding their nests. Retrieving these baits through shallow spawning areas can trigger aggressive responses.
Berkley Choppo Topwater Lure
Topwater Lures: In calmer conditions, topwater lures like frogs and poppers can entice explosive strikes, especially during early morning or late afternoon when bass are more active near the surface.
Prime Fishing Locations
Focus on areas with suitable spawning habitats, including:
Shallow Flats and Coves: Bass often choose protected, shallow flats and coves with sandy or gravel bottoms for spawning.
Vegetation and Structure: Look for submerged vegetation, stumps, and brush piles in shallow water, as these provide cover and protection for nesting bass.
Weather Considerations
Water temperature plays a crucial role in spawning activity. Bass typically begin spawning when water temperatures reach the upper 60s to low 70s Fahrenheit. Monitoring local water temperatures can help predict spawning movements and optimize fishing efforts.
Regulations and Conservation
Always adhere to North Carolina's fishing regulations, including size and bag limits for largemouth bass. Practicing catch and release during the spawning season helps preserve the bass population and ensures future angling opportunities.
By understanding bass behavior during the spawning season and employing appropriate techniques, anglers can experience productive and rewarding fishing at Falls Lake throughout April.
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