Gerald Swindle and the Shad Spawn

By Gerald Swindle

The concept of pattern fishing for bass was first defined by Roland Martin in 1969: “A ‘pattern’ is the exact set of water conditions such as depth, cover, structure, temperature, clarity, currents, etc., which attracts fish to a specific location and to other similar locations all over the same body of water.” In Pro Patterns, we interview a top bass fishing expert to get insights and details of his favorite pattern that will help you catch more and bigger bass. Print these patterns to create a notebook that will help you catch bass anywhere and anytime.

Gerald Swindle

When the shad begin spawning in impoundments, hungry postspawn bass are drawn to those areas. That’s where you will find Elite pro Gerald Swindle chucking a spinnerbait. He says the bite is unique and can produce the most violent spinnerbait strikes of the year. When you see shad trailing your lure during the retrieve, look out. “A bass will follow the shad, and when they scatter, the bass instinctively hits the spinnerbait.”

Seasons

  • Late spring

Water Conditions

  • Water temperature: Low 70s
  • Water color: Not an issue, although a little stain can help.
  • Wind/current: The shad won’t spawn in direct current, but any wind blowing into the spawning area will make the bass bite more aggressively.

Structure/Cover

  • Structure: Shallow flats and shorelines
  • Cover: Rocky banks and grassbeds
  • Depth: Rarely deeper than 6 feet

Tackle

  • Lure: Half-ounce War Eagle double willow spinnerbait. If water is clear or slightly stained, throw a blue glimmer skirt. If the water is dirty, try the “spot remover” color (chartreuse/white). Experiment with gold and silver blades. There are days when one works better than another. Add a red Eagle Claw Trailer Hook to the back of the spinnerbait to catch the short strikers.
  • Rod: Quantum 6-10 KVD spinnerbait rod
  • Reel: Quantum 6.3:1 gear ratio baitcast reel
  • Line: Vicious 17-pound-test fluorocarbon

Presentation

  • Cast/Flip/Pitch: Cast parallel and tight to rocky banks, bushes or grass and watch for shad to follow the lure. That’s critical.
  • Retrieve: Medium speed to keep the spinnerbait beneath the surface.
  • Illustration (Click to enlarge):

    • Click to enlarge illustration


Keys to Success

The pattern works best during the first hour or two of the morning. Determine what type of cover the shad are spawning on and you can duplicate throughout the lake. One clue to spawning shad is look for the baitfish swimming in circles — that’s a dead giveaway.


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