Illinois Bass Fishing During Post Spawn (Tough Bite Tips)

Good morning brothers.

Isn’t it amazing how much a body of water – or more importantly, the bite – can change from day to day? This can be true during any time of the year, but here in Illinois the months of April, May and June can offer up some of the best largemouth bass fishing you could hope to experience… and at the exact same time… some of the most frustrating.

Just depends on the day…

… and… about 587 other factors…

So hey, no sweat right?! Let’s get into it!

Fishing the Midwest Post Spawn Period

It is difficult to pinpoint The Post Spawn Period with exact certainty. Many anglers believe there are 4 key elements that signify the fish are still Post Spawn, and not yet exhibiting Pre-Summer behavior. In Illinois (and other states in the Midwest) The Post Spawn Period is typically when you have water between 65° and 70°. Spawning has completed, and the females are no longer shallow – they’ve shuffled off to deeper waters (think deeper shelves, the ends of main lake or secondary points, or even suspending). The males however can still be found guarding the nests along the shoreline. This is true for both largemouth and smallmouth bass…

Leave them alone. They have a job to do and their old lady just ran out on ’em!

Finally, you’ll know if you’re not yet into the Pre-Summer Period when regular behaviors and feeding activity have yet to resume. The fish are still sluggish, tight-lipped, lock-jawed, lazy… and this will drive you freakin’ crazy!

I know y’all just did the hibbidy-dibbidy a bunch but DANG IT… do you really need 2 to 4 weeks to recuperate?!

Sometimes. Not always. Other factors have come into play in recent years as well, aside from temperature. Things like the length of the day, sun & moon cycles, barometric pressure and weather patterns – these are all given more weight than in yester-years.

If you notice some of the signals I’ve listed here when you are out on the water, there is a good chance you can figure out what kind of behavior you can expect (or not expect) from the bass you’re targeting. If you’re on a lake with both largemouth and smallmouth bass, you’ll probably be able to find areas with fish in several different moods.

But remember: even when the bite is TOUGH, there are things that we can and should be doing as anglers to capitalize on our time on the water!

How to Make the Most of an Illinois “Post-Spawn Fishing Trip”

Even though fishing Post Spawn conditions can be tough, there are still things we can to do to make the most of our limited time on the water. Here are 4 tips that will help you make the most of the day:

1. Find NEW Fish-Holding Structure & Cover

It’s always a good idea to be mindful of your surroundings. On days like the one in the video above (where the water was clear and low) I was able to see tires, pallets, standing timber and some distinct rocky ledges that I had never noticed before.

Adding waypoints during a tough day is an investment in future fishing trips for when the water – and the bite – return to normal. If you do this, you’ll be able to quickly remember and cast to these fish-holding spots that other anglers are unaware of.

2. Work on Your TECHNIQUE

Every cast is a chance to improve your accuracy. Every retrieve is an opportunity to improve your “feel” (your ability to feel what is above and below the water). Every breeze gives you an opportunity to work on your positioning & boat control. Every tap is a chance to perfect your hookset. Every battle is a joy, and a rep that builds your ability to play & net fish.

Every trip – good or bad – should be seen as an opportunity to build your skills.

During the one above, I started with a Megabass Pop-X. It’s one of my new favorites.

But the bite was slow. They weren’t reacting. So I had to slow down, and eventually caught a few nice fish on some of my favorite stickbaits.

While using both presentations, I was deliberate in my actions, and I told myself that even if I didn’t catch anything, I was going to improve as an angler. (I also made a point to test a Z-Man EZ Tube on a Pro Bullet, which did result in one aggressive smallmouth bass.)

Don’t lose sight of this and sleepwalk through the day. Stay present and do your reps.

3. Try LIVE BAIT

Live bait is always an option. It’s also something that I tend to forget when I am bass fishing in Illinois. When we’re targeting smallmouth bass up in Wisconsin, it’s a different story. Live bait like leeches and crawlers are automatic.

If you have live bait available… grab some and use it!

(I wish I had some with me during the trip above… next year I’ll try to think ahead a bit better…)

4. Be GRATEFUL & Think Some Good THOUGHTS

Dude. You’re out in nature. Breathing the fresh air. Soaking up the sun. Sweating from your hard work. You’re doing something that others wish they were doing right now, but for one reason or another – they cant.

Never fall into feeling sorry for yourself.

That is WEAK.

Weak men are WORTHLESS.

It’s easy to slip into a pity-party when the bite is nonexistent. I’m guilty, too. But remember: weak men aren’t able to lead a family. Learn to make the most of the tough days on the water, because at some point you’ll have someone with you that needs to see what it means to push through adversity. To get kicked in the teeth and keep going. To take some “bad luck” and turn it around.

These lessons don’t just apply to fishing – they apply to life.

Don’t quit. When the going gets tough, there’s only one thing to do:

Keep casting.

Eventually, your luck will turn around – just like it did here:

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Oh hey – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2023 had some ups and downs for all of us, but overall, it was a great year. This project, The Minimalist Fisherman, continues to grow, and some new opportunities have surfaced in the last few months. If you’ve ever subscribed, shared a post, emailed me, or donated – thank you!

I appreciate the support, and we all want to wish you a prosperous 2024. God bless.

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