March and April are perhaps the best months of the year for catching spotted bass. In early March, the spotted bass will move up from their deep-water haunts and start feeding in the shallows in preparation for the spawn.

In early spring, fish with a 3/8- or a 1/2-ounce spinnerbait with willowleaf blades and a chartreuse-and-white or a solid-white skirt. Search for red clay banks where crawfish and shad congregate, which means spotted bass will go grocery shopping there.

Fish a point with larger chunk rock instead of pea gravel. Fish your spinnerbait fast on 12- to 15-pound test line in water depths from 2- to 10-feet deep on these points in the early morning.

As a switch-up tactic, switch to a Carolina-rigged plastic lizard with a 1/2-ounce sinker and fish waters 5- to 15-feet deep, during the midmorning period. You'll never need to fish more than 20-feet deep for spots during March and April. Target main river points and manmade brushpiles with the Carolina-rigged lizard. Use at least a 3- to a 4-feet-long leader and a leader line smaller than 12-pound test.