I'm sure you have all heard this before, but for Lake Guntersville and me it's more than just a saying it's a true belief and my records prove it. My past 18 years of history prove solidly that the bigger bass lead the way to the spawn, to the ditches to the creeks and humps and out deep in the heat.
They will spawn in 50 to 55 degree water and this time of year when common sense tells you to fish slow and deep, I'm here to tell you than you will catch fish deeper, but if you want the bigger ones move shallow. Fish the 4 to 7 foot water, on sunny warm days, use fast moving baits and hang on. The bigger bass are already moving up in this 45-degree water, we just need a little warmth at 10 to 20 foot depths and when it occurs the bigger fish will be feeding on top of the shallow flats and you will benefit from it!
Don't be afraid on a warm day to get down rite shallow, I mean 6 inches of water because the bigger fish will even make that move if we get enough sun over this next few weeks or days. Kick up mud on your trolling motor, when you do your probably getting to the real big bass areas.
When most anglers feel the spawn is on in that 63-degree water, it is, for the smaller fish but the bigger fish have already laid out and are moving to a post spawn pattern. Now is time to head to the ridges and creeks because the bigger bass are not on the bed their coming off and their hungry and anxious to find a good meal. While many are fishing the 3-pound females on the bed I head to the ledges for the bigger fish.
Old but true the bigger bass do everything first so when you need a tournament bite think ahead of the pattern and you will be successful!