The phrase "big bass like big baits" has probably been bantered about for as long as there has been bass fishing. And, of course, there's a lot of merit to the statement. However, that doesn't mean only large bass will hit a large bait. In other words, just because an angler chucks an oversized bait into the water, it doesn't guarantee a trophy bass. It does, however, tip the odds a little in our direction, and that's the advantage we're all searching for.

Catching big bass consistently requires more than just luck. Using big baits at the right times and under the right conditions can definitely play in an angler's favor. While oversized baits may pay off throughout the year in varying conditions, perhaps no time is better for jumbo baits than right now while bass are feeding voraciously in preparation for the spawn.

More bass, especially big bass, are caught during the springtime than the entire remainder of the year combined. In part, the numbers of fish caught is attributable to the amount of angler effort in the spring. Nevertheless, literally tons of bass are caught at this time of year simply because the fish are on the move and looking to suck up every piece of forage they can find.

Bass fishing can be very scientific and even quite frustrating at times. Fortunately, fish movement during the spring is actually easy to understand and fairly predictable. The fish have been hanging out in deeper water over the winter, but now the water temperature is on the rise and spawning season is just around the corner. Both of these factors steer the bass into ever-shallower water as spring progresses.

Bass will not just shift from deep water into extremely shallow water immediately. Instead, they will follow tapering points, drift up coves and creek channels, and hang on the edges of dropoffs or other breaks in depth. By positioning along areas with depth variation, the bass can easily move up or down in the water table as temperature and conditions warrant.

While the bass are in this transition and looking for forage, anglers can throw a number of different large baits and find success. Lake habitat, water conditions and angler preferences all influence this success. With that in mind, let's take a look at a few different baits to consider.

Soft plastics, especially plastic worms, are definitely one of the most prominent baits in a bass angler's arsenal. Right now is a great time to use them. When the bass are moving up tapering points, in the brush, or even relating to structure along the banks, many big-bass chasers will start throwing oversized plastics.

In years past, worms were typically used one of two ways for the most part -- either Texas-rigged with a bullet sinker or Carolina-rigged with an egg sinker. Nowadays plastic worms are still used in the traditional manner, but also with football heads trailed behind various jigs, and in a number of other ways.