May marks the onset of prime bass fishing season across the United States. For anglers seeking the thrill of reeling in trophy bass from the banks of ponds and small lakes, Your success bass fishing in May will depend on understanding regional differences in weather and bass behavior. Your location in the northern, central, or southern United States will help determine the best tactics, lures, and strategies for targeting bass in May, tailored to your area’s distinct climates.
Last updated on March 8th, 2025 at 07:50 am
SUMMARY: May bass fishing offers prime opportunities across the US. In the North, focus on warmer parts of the day and use slow-moving lures. In the Central region, adapt to variable conditions and target windblown areas. In the South, fish early or late, and use topwater lures in shallow cover.
May can make for some outstanding bass fishing, with prespawners, spawners, and post-spawners all in play across the country. Remember that bass behavior in your area in May is less about the calendar and more about water temperatures, as we discuss in our breakdown of the fishing “seasons.” While it might be early summer for your annoying cousin in south Florida, you may still be square in the middle of spring. Either way, bass can be caught.
Note that despite all the excitement about spring bass fishing, it can also be confusing and frustrating when the same areas where you were catching bass last week are completely abandoned this week. And some post-spawn fish may tend to be sluggish, which some fishermen call the “post-spawn blues.” The good news is that there are likely bass in your pond in a more active phase, though you may have to move around until you find them. Even then, you may need to create a ruckus to get their attention with shiny blades along with rattles and chatters.
Bass Fishing in May for Your Region
Northern United States
Northern states should be solidly in prespawn territory in May, with milder temperatures and occasional rain showers. As bass become more active in preparation for spawning, possibly late in the month, they will migrate toward shallow waters, making them more accessible to bank anglers.
Focus on fishing during warmer parts of the day when bass are more active. Look for areas with sun exposure, such as shallow flats and rocky shorelines, where bass gather to warm themselves, as well as shallow areas with cover, such as fallen trees, brush piles, or vegetation, which are likely locations for the eventual spawn. Retrieve lures slowly to entice sluggish bass in cooler waters.
Slower-moving lures such as jigs, soft plastic creature baits, and spinnerbaits, in natural colors like green pumpkin or watermelon, mimic the movements of prey and are effective in enticing bites from cautious bass in cooler temperatures. Topwater lures like buzzbaits, poppers, and frogs can be effective in the early morning or late evening, when bass are feeding near the surface. In late morning or early afternoon, transition to shallow-running crankbaits and texas-rigged soft plastics that can be worked through cover with ease.
Bass boss Mike Iaconelli is kind enough to offer his favorite lures for the month of May on his fishing blog. For the northern region (and beyond), he likes a shakey head, which will actually excel in all three phases of the spawn. With some version of a straight-tailed worm with a flat end. (Pro tip: Ike says he’ll improvise a flat head if needed by biting off an eighth of an inch from the head.) This lure will trigger bites as it glides to the bottom or as you shake it on the bottom.
READ MORE ABOUT PRESPAWN FISHING.
Central United States
Central United States anglers may find May has a split personality, with the spawn in full force in the first half of the month, followed by a couple of weeks of post-spawn activity, subject to water temperature variations. In general, May brings warmer temperatures and fluctuating weather patterns, including sudden storms and windy days. Anglers must adapt their tactics to changing conditions to maximize their chances of success.
Keep an eye on weather forecasts and plan fishing trips around periods of stable weather. During windy days, target windblown shorelines and points where bass congregate to ambush prey. When storms approach, take advantage of the increased activity levels of bass and cast near cover to capitalize on their feeding frenzy.
Early in the month, when bass are spawning, use finesse techniques with soft plastics to target visible (and not visible) nests, dragging the lure across the bed from multiple directions and mimicking potential threats to trigger strikes. Later in the month, post-spawn bass will begin transitioning to deeper water as they recover from the spawning process. Target drop-offs and underwater structures where bass congregate. But don’t abandon the shallow areas, where male bass will linger for a while to protect the small fry.
Experiment with a variety of lures to match changing conditions. Topwater lures such as buzzbaits and poppers are effective during calm mornings and evenings when bass are feeding near the surface. As the day progresses and temperatures rise, switch to fast-moving lures like crankbaits and swimbaits to cover more water and trigger reaction strikes from active bass. Pro Mike Iaconelli likes a shakey head in all three phases of the spawn, which is ideal for the central region in May. With some version of a straight-tailed worm with a flat end. (Pro tip: Ike says he’ll improvise a flat head if needed by biting off an eighth of an inch from the head.) This lure will trigger bites as it glides to the bottom or as you shake it on the bottom.
READ MORE ABOUT SPAWN FISHING. AND POSTSPAWN FISHING.
Southern United States
For southern United States fishermen, the end of the spawn in late April, means rapidly changing conditions from post-spawn to presummer to summer heat. Late May can bring hot and humid conditions, active bass, and ample opportunities for anglers to land trophy-sized fish.
Post-spawn bass will begin transitioning to deeper water at this time as they recover from the spawning process. Target drop-offs and underwater structures where bass congregate. But don’t abandon the shallow areas, where male bass will linger for a while to protect the small fry. As the weather warms up, fish early in the morning or late in the evening when temperatures are cooler and bass are most active. Pay close attention to water clarity, as clear water requires stealthier approaches to avoid spooking shallow bass.
Use a combination of topwater, shallow-diving, and weedless lures to tempt aggressive bass in shallow cover. (Pro Tip: When in doubt, choose something loud and flashy: Spinnerbait, rattling bait, or chatterbait, for example, combined with a quick retrieve.) Topwater frogs and buzzbaits are effective for enticing explosive surface strikes, while Texas-rigged soft plastics and jig-and-pig combos excel in penetrating dense vegetation where bass hide.
Pro Mike Iaconelli is a fan of topwaters for this post-spawn period. A bait that can be “walked” will cover a lot of water where there’s little cover, a buzzbait will do the same amid cover, and a popper will create a ruckus around stumps or patches of grass. He also likes a prop bait; I’m thinking a Whopper-plopper. And finally, Ike calls a crankbait a post-spawn “killer.” That’s good enough for me.
READ MORE ABOUT POST-SPAWN FISHING. AND SUMMER FISHING.
Weather Trends for Bass Fishing in May 2024
Temperatures
Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center are predicting a warm May 2024, with portions of nearly all 50 states experiencing above-average temperatures. The greatest chances for unseasonable heat are in the Great Lakes region and the Pacific Northwest. This is a continuation of a pattern that included a record-warm winter.
Precipitation
Rainfall should be above-average in the Southeast U.S. Parts of the Pacific Northwest and Southwest are most likely to see precipitation below the seasonal average.
Conclusion
Regardless of your location in the United States, May offers prime opportunities for bass fishing in ponds and small lakes. By understanding regional weather patterns and bass behavior, anglers can tailor their tactics and lure selection to maximize their chances of landing trophy bass. So grab your gear, head to your favorite fishing spot, and experience the thrill of bass fishing in May firsthand!
Resources
- Top Four Bass Baits for May – Ike’s Fishing Blog
- Spring 2024 weather forecast: NOAA says parts of all 50 states will be warm – usatoday.com
