Larger bass are more likely to hold near these areas, which are prime ambush points. Small Minnow-Shaped Plug Many bass anglers never use a Carolina rig for anything but a soft worm. Places to Catch Bass Top places to catch bass in early spring, before they spawn, are wherever the water warms up quickly. This includes rocks, stumps, and wood, which retain warmth. Work rock and gravel bottoms and riprap shores, and focus especially on flats and in backwaters, sloughs, bays, and coves.
Aquatic plants are another good location marker.
When you set the hook on a bass in the midst of thick weeds, be prepared to reel quickly and apply a lot of pressure to get the fish coming your way and to the surface. You must react quickly, and your tackle has to be up to the task. Some bass anglers are big on using scented products but frown on natural baits. Try adorning a jig with a piece of nightcrawler, a leech, or even a small minnow. Also check main-lake points.