The pre spawn is all about transition. Bass are feeding heavily to prepare for the demanding spawn ahead, and a perfectly presented NOVA is an easy meal they simply will not turn down.
Big fish leave winter structure and start staging on:
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Secondary points
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Channel swings
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Rock transitions
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Deeper docks leading into spawning pockets
Shaky Head
The key to fishing a shaky head during the prespawn is simple. Slow down and maintain bottom contact. We are dragging the Nova while allowing pauses on the retrieve.
Early spring water is still cold. Fish are feeding, but they want a subtle presentation. The NOVA paired with a shaky head gives them an easy meal that stays in the strike zone.
Our weights of choice:
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1/8 oz and 3/16 oz for most situations
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1/4 oz when fishing deeper water or heavy wind
This setup excels on:
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Rock points
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Gravel transitions
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Secondary points
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Skipped under docks
Our recommended setup:
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7 foot or longer medium spinning rod for maximum casting distance for open water. (We are using a shorter 6'8 length if we are fishing docks)
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2500 to 3000 size spinning reel (while the 2500 is most popular we have converted to a 3000 size because it will aid in casting further)
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20 lb CAST X12 braid (The thin diameter braid will allow you to cast this finesse rig much further and increases bite detection and have better hook sets)
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7 to 10 lb fluorocarbon leader (Less stretch, better hook sets)
Pro Tip
Keep your leader short enough that your connection knot stays outside the guides on the cast. This increases casting distance, keeps you further off the fish, and allows you to cover more water efficiently.
Work the bait slowly. Drag it and maintain bottom contact.
Fishing a shaky head this way at the start of the prespawn has produced some of our biggest fish of the season.
Ned Rig
The Ned rig shines when fish are pressured, positioned on flatter structure, or need a smaller, slower presentation.
We choose the Ned over a shaky head when:
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Fish are less aggressive
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They are set up on flats instead of steeper points
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The bite calls for a compact profile
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We want a slower fall with an upright posture
A shaky head maintains steady bottom contact. The Ned allows the NOVA to stand up and hover. That upright profile often triggers prespawn fish that are studying a bait before committing.
We cut the NOVA down about one quarter inch for the Ned. This creates a tighter profile without sacrificing action.
Why the NOVA excels on a Ned:
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Ribbed body that slows the fall and displaces water
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Balanced body shape that helps the bait stand upright
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Embedded glass rattle that produces a subtle ticking sound
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Unique tail shape that activates on the lift
One of the biggest advantages of the NOVA on a Ned head is its swim on the rise and fall. When lifted, the tail activates naturally. On the fall, the ribbing and body design create subtle movement that pressured fish cannot ignore.
Head sizes we prefer:
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3/32 and 1/8 oz for most situations
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Heavier only when depth or wind requires it
Preferred gear:
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7 foot medium to medium light spinning rod depending on head size
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2500 to 3000 size spinning reel
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12 lb CAST X12 braid for lighter heads
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20 lb CAST X12 braid for a power Ned with a stouter hook
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6 to 10 lb fluorocarbon leader
We use the same reel platform across all finesse techniques to maintain consistency.
Work the Ned with subtle lifts and controlled pauses. Let it fall on semi slack line and watch for the line to jump.
If the shaky head is your bottom contact search tool, the Ned is your precision finesse adjustment when the bite gets tough.
Finesse Jig NOVA combo
When prespawn fish position on rock and transition banks, this is how you get a giant bite.
We pick up the finesse jig when:
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Fish are feeding more aggressively
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They are staging on hard cover
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We want a bigger meal profile
We cut the NOVA down about one quarter inch to pair perfectly with the Queen Tungsten Peanut Jig. The shortened profile creates a compact but substantial craw presentation that prespawn bass cannot ignore.
This combo mimics crawfish extremely well. The subtle click from the embedded glass rattle combined with bottom contact around rock creates the exact sound and profile of a natural craw moving across structure.
The NOVA pairs perfectly with the tungsten Peanut Jig we offer on our site. The compact tungsten head increases sensitivity and keeps the bait tight to bottom where staging fish are positioned.
We typically throw:
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3/8 oz
Target:
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Secondary rock points
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Rock to clay transitions
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Channel swings with brush
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First hard cover entering spawning pockets such as blowdowns and docks.
Recommended gear:
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7 foot 2 inch to 7 foot 4 inch medium heavy casting rod
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High speed casting reel
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12lb fluorocarbon or 30lb X12 to a short 12lb fluorocarbon leader
This setup gives you the sensitivity to feel every rock transition and the power to control heavy prespawn females.
Fish it with short drags and controlled hops. Just like the Shaky head you want to maintain bottom contact and incorporate pauses.
The bite is often a dull thump or simply added weight as the jig clears rock.
When fish want a bigger meal, this is how you get them to commit. This combo consistently produces personal bests and larger bites during the prespawn window.
Neko Rig
If we could only pick one rig for the prespawn, this is it.
The Neko rig is the entire reason we designed the NOVA.
During testing, this setup produced nearly 24 pounds for our best five Lake Lanier spotted bass. One week later it produced 25 pounds of Tennessee smallmouth. That is not random. That is repeatable performance during transition season.
Prespawn bass stage on:
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Channel swings entering pockets
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Secondary points
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Rock transitions
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Isolated brush in 8 to 20 feet
The Neko allows you to keep the NOVA vertical and in the strike zone longer than any other presentation.
Our setup:
• 1/16 or 3/32 nail weight depending on depth and wind
• Size 1 or 1/0 finesse hook
• Medium Neko Hack or O ring
• 7 foot plus medium light spinning rod
• 2500 to 3000 size spinning reel
• 10 lb CAST BFS braid or 12 lb CAST X12 braid
• 7 to 10 lb fluorocarbon leader
The ribbed body slows the fall and creates subtle displacement. The embedded glass rattle adds a faint ticking sound that mimics natural forage. The unique tail design activates with the smallest movement.
Lift it. Let it fall. Maintain bottom contact and work it down structure.
The bite can feel like pressure or a slight tick. Watch your line and stay ready. When you get a bite simply reel down into the fish and let the rod do the work. do not set the hook!
When prespawn fish are staging but not fully committing shallow, this is how you get the biggest bites of the season.
This rig built the NOVA. And it continues to prove why.
Spring Is Here. Do Not Miss This Window.
Prespawn does not last long.
This is when the biggest fish in the lake are the most predictable they will be all year.
The 4.5” NOVA was built for this transition. Balanced profile. Subtle ribbing. Embedded glass rattle. Coffee scent infusion. It gives you the confidence to slow down when it matters and the versatility to adjust as fish reposition.
If you are serious about capitalizing on prespawn giants, you need a bait that can:
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Maintain bottom contact on staging structure
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Trigger pressured fish in clear water
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Add subtle sound without overpowering the presentation
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Adapt across multiple rigging styles
The NOVA does all of it.
Load up now while colors are in stock and dial in your prespawn system before the push to the bank begins.
You can grab everything here:
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