Clent Davis’ top 10 spawn and postspawn baits

We head out with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Clent Davis as he breaks down 10 baits he recommends for the spawn and postspawn.
We head out with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Clent Davis as he breaks down 10 baits he recommends for the spawn and postspawn.
The first bait up, one Davis helped design, a glide bait. The Duel Hardcore Ninja Twitch’n Glider 180SS to be exact.
The first bait up, one Davis helped design, a glide bait. The Duel Hardcore Ninja Twitch’n Glider 180SS to be exact.
“Around the spawn, I like to throw it around seawalls, laydowns, really anywhere they like to spawn. A lot of them won’t eat it, but they’ll at least come follow it.”
“Around the spawn, I like to throw it around seawalls, laydowns, really anywhere they like to spawn. A lot of them won’t eat it, but they’ll at least come follow it.”
“It’s really a big search bait. I usually have a weightless stick bait tied on to throw in behind it and that’ll usually catch all the ones that don’t bite the glide bait.”
“It’s really a big search bait. I usually have a weightless stick bait tied on to throw in behind it and that’ll usually catch all the ones that don’t bite the glide bait.”
Davis likes to throw a topwater a lot also this time of year, but we’ll get to that in a minute. He noted that he will move to the glide bait when it gets a little too windy for the topwater.
Davis likes to throw a topwater a lot also this time of year, but we’ll get to that in a minute. He noted that he will move to the glide bait when it gets a little too windy for the topwater.
Next up, Davis pulls out a pack of Mister Twister Tri-Alive Night Crawlers in one of the most popular drop-shot colors in the history of the technique.
Next up, Davis pulls out a pack of Mister Twister Tri-Alive Night Crawlers in one of the most popular drop-shot colors in the history of the technique.
However, in this instance he likes this color on a shaky head as opposed to a drop shot. “Hologram Dawn has become as standard for me as Green Pumpkin. They eat it man, largemouth and spots.”
However, in this instance he likes this color on a shaky head as opposed to a drop shot. “Hologram Dawn has become as standard for me as Green Pumpkin. They eat it man, largemouth and spots.”
“Unless it’s just pure mud, I throw that color a lot. I remember a Tour event my first or second year that I fished on Hartwell. I used that exact same setup and did really well, and the water there was pretty dirty too.”
“Unless it’s just pure mud, I throw that color a lot. I remember a tour event my first or second year that I fished on Hartwell. I used that exact same setup and did really well, and the water there was pretty dirty too.”
Bait number three, a Mister Twister Comida. A soft-plastic stick bait is one of the most thrown style of baits around the spawn and prespawn. Partly because it is so versatile and partly because it so subtle. Though Davis does like to skip docks with the bait wacky rigged, he may Texas rig it from time to time for pitching.
Bait number three, a Mister Twister Comida. A soft-plastic stick bait is one of the most thrown style of baits around the spawn and prespawn. Partly because it is so versatile and partly because it so subtle. Though Davis does like to skip docks with the bait wacky rigged, he may Texas rig it from time to time for pitching.
“I usually rig it weightless with 14- to 16-pound test on a baitcaster. I don't really like to sight fish. So, I’ll cast this setup around during the spawn and if I’m around them, they eat it. In the postspawn, I’ll move to the wacky-rig setup with it for fishing around fry guarders.”
“I usually rig it weightless with 14- to 16-pound test on a baitcaster. I don’t really like to sight fish. So, I’ll cast this setup around during the spawn and if I’m around them, they eat it. In the postspawn, I’ll move to the wacky-rig setup with it for fishing around fry guarders.”
Next up, a box Davis can’t wait to pull out every year. It’s topwater time.
Next up, a box Davis can’t wait to pull out every year. It’s topwater time.
The Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil is Davis’ go-to topwater around the spawn and postspawn. “I’ll throw it in the spawn, especially for spotted bass. But even largemouth too, I’ve thrown it in Florida when they were spawning. If you can get that thing over a bed, they're going to roll on it even if they don't eat. So, then you know where they are. I like it a lot in the postspawn too. If I can’t get them to eat a swim jig around a shad spawn, then I’ll throw that.”
The Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil is Davis’ go-to topwater around the spawn and postspawn. “I’ll throw it in the spawn, especially for spotted bass. But even largemouth too, I’ve thrown it in Florida when they were spawning. If you can get that thing over a bed, they’re going to roll on it even if they don’t eat. So, then you know where they are. I like it a lot in the postspawn too. If I can’t get them to eat a swim jig around a shad spawn, then I’ll throw that.”
Next up, another soft plastic ...
Next up, another soft plastic …
... paired with a Nichol’s Lures Toad Stool.
… paired with a Nichols Lures Toad Stool.
Davis helped design the Toad Stool during the coming-out party for the Ned rig a couple years ago, and it is a bait that he always keeps in the boat.
Davis helped design the Toad Stool during the coming-out party for the Ned rig a couple years ago, and it is a bait that he always keeps in the boat.
Completed Ned rig.
Completed Ned rig.
“It’s a great bait for when the spots are on the bed. But any of them will eat it. I’ve caught plenty of largemouth around the house on it. Especially those really clear, highland reservoirs. If you don’t have a lot of cover in the water and you're just throwing around rocky points where they're bedding, yeah it’s a good deal.”
“It’s a great bait for when the spots are on the bed. But any of them will eat it. I’ve caught plenty of largemouth around the house on it. Especially those really clear, highland reservoirs. If you don’t have a lot of cover in the water and you’re just throwing around rocky points where they’re bedding, yeah it’s a good deal.”
“Like I said, I don't like to look at them on bed anyway. And a lot of the super clear lakes, they bed so deep that you can’t see them even if you want to. The Ned rig is a great deal to catch those fish.”
“Like I said, I don’t like to look at them on bed anyway. And a lot of the super clear lakes, they bed so deep that you can’t see them even if you want to. The Ned rig is a great deal to catch those fish.”
Perhaps Davis’ favorite bait of the postspawn and a favorite during the shad spawn, a swim jig is up next. And as good as it is during those times, it still has a place during the spawn, as well.
Perhaps Davis’ favorite bait of the postspawn and a favorite during the shad spawn, a swim jig is up next. And as good as it is during those times, it still has a place during the spawn, as well.
“Usually the first hour every morning, you can throw that thing and catch bass from a bed. You can get them to roll on it when they’re on bed on up in the day. But for that first hour they will absolutely crush it.”
“Usually the first hour every morning, you can throw that thing and catch bass from a bed. You can get them to roll on it when they’re on bed on up in the day. But for that first hour they will absolutely crush it.”
Davis pairs a Mister Twister Buzz Bug with a Nichol’s Lures swim jig in his signature color, Shad Spawn.
Davis pairs a Mister Twister Buzz Bug with a Nichols Lures swim jig in his signature color, Shad Spawn.
“That is the color for the postspawn and the shad spawn. It is the deal. It doesn't matter if you're fishing around grass, seawalls, docks or whatever.”
“That is the color for the postspawn and the shad spawn. It is the deal. It doesn’t matter if you’re fishing around grass, seawalls, docks or whatever.”
One bait that Davis admits he should fish more than he does, the jerkbait, is good during both the spawn and postspawn.
One bait that Davis admits he should fish more than he does, the jerkbait, is good during both the spawn and postspawn.
“When you're trying to locate spots on little offshore humps during the spawn, they’ll come up and eat a jerkbait. The smallmouth will definitely eat the fire out of it when they're spawning. You can cover a lot more water fishing with a jerkbait for spawners than you can dragging something on bottom. And it’s good for fry guarders around docks in the postspawn.”
“When you’re trying to locate spots on little offshore humps during the spawn, they’ll come up and eat a jerkbait. The smallmouth will definitely eat the fire out of it when they’re spawning. You can cover a lot more water fishing with a jerkbait for spawners than you can dragging something on bottom. And it’s good for fry guarders around docks in the postspawn.”
Another soft plastic up next.
Another soft plastic up next.
The Mister Twister Poc’it Craw.
The Mister Twister Poc’it Craw.
One of Davis’s favorite techniques around the spawn is punching mats.
One of Davis’ favorite techniques around the spawn is punching mats.
This is his full setup. “I always use a punch skirt now when I’m punching. It’s hard for me to get away from it. I just think it gets more bites. It’s a confidence thing probably, I just can’t seem to get away from them.”
This is his full setup. “I always use a punch skirt now when I’m punching. It’s hard for me to get away from it. I just think it gets more bites. It’s a confidence thing probably, I just can’t seem to get away from them.”
The ninth bait on the list for Davis, a Nichols Lures Pulsator Spinnerbait. This bait has one job for Davis in the postspawn, and that’s targeting bass feeding on a shad spawn in dirtier water.
The ninth bait on the list for Davis, a Nichols Lures Pulsator Spinnerbait. This bait has one job for Davis in the postspawn, and that’s targeting bass feeding on a shad spawn in dirtier water.
Last, but certainly not least in stature ...
Last, but certainly not least in stature …
... the Mister Twister Mag 12-inch Buzz Worm. “When I’m fishing brush in the postspawn, I’ll always throw that big worm first to try to get the random big largemouth out and then I’ll go to a shaky head.”
… the Mister Twister Mag 12-inch Buzz Worm. “When I’m fishing brush in the postspawn, I’ll always throw that big worm first to try to get the random big largemouth out and then I’ll go to a shaky head.”