Any and all of the baits and methods discussed in this article will work at one time or another. The important thing is to think about the time of year and what the bass are eating.

Spring isn’t spring everywhere at the same time. It may be early, middle or late spring in your neighborhood. It’s one thing in the North. It’s another in the South. And a minnow isn’t a minnow. It’s a shad, a shiner, a fathead or something else.

Look before you throw your first bait. Learn to match the hatch. It’ll make a world of difference in your bass fishing this spring -- and right through the entire season.