In the spring, many anglers anticipate when fish move shallow to spawn. In many lakes around the region, the spawn positions the fish shallower as the season transitions to warmer weather. Before all that happens, though, the fish live in a pre-spawn mode. They tend to migrate to areas that transition between deep waters and shallows, making it easier for them to move up and down in the water column. On a sunny day, they tend to move up, and on cloudy, chilly days, they move a little deeper.
This pre-spawn is when a channel swing bank becomes a critical transition zone for the fish. A channel swing bank mixes deep water and shallow water. Electronics might show the bottom contour changes from bluff to mixed or broken rock. This zone may also transition from mixed or broken rock to a flat. These transitions happen in as little as a few feet to a few yards. This type of lake bottom gives the fish greater flexibility depending on conditions. They may move short distances but the terrain results in changes to the channel.
With that explanation, what is the best way to fish a channel swing bank in the pre-spawn? Areas where the fish are located can be small, which requires efficient and thorough casting. Three baits cover a channel swing in the pre-spawn.
Jerkbait—this allows covering the deeper side of the channel and can trigger suspended fish.
Crankbait—this allows coverage on the channel bank but more importantly on the transition to the flat.
Jig—this is the most important of the three baits. It covers all the locations of where the fish can be: The channel side, the transition, or the flat.
The jerkbait has a focused attack on a channel swing bank. It is at its best when used on the channel side. Either along the bluff or over the deeper water up to the transition. On sunny days, the fish will move up and become more active, but they may not get to the flat bank. This puts the fish in a small area where they can be caught. These suspended fish will get on the jerk bait and can be caught quickly. There is also a good chance of quality and multiple fish in one small area.
The crankbait brings a different approach to catching pre-spawn fish on a channel swing bank. A wide wobble crankbait, like a wiggle wart or rock crawler, is great in these situations. Right at the transition is likely where the bites will come on the crankbait. The fish are near the bottom and wanting to get to the flat. After a couple warmer days, the fish will get up on the flat and eat the crankbait. A big key to getting crankbait bites on a channel swing bank in the pre-spawn is wind. It does not take much wind, but a wind blowing directly onto the channel swing can make the fish more aggressive and wanting to eat.
For complete coverage of a channel swing bank, a jig is the deal. It allows fishing the bluff/steep side of the bank, either away from the bank or right on the bluff. As the terrain transitions, the jig will cover all the depth changes thoroughly. The jig can do its best work either later in the day or after several days of sun when the fish fully commit to the flat again. Fish the first piece of cover after the transition, such as wood debris, brush, or a large rock, but a fish will position with a purpose. A Jewel 7/16-ounce TJ Finesse Jig can quickly and efficiently provide shallow to deep coverage whether the water is clear or dirty.
Channel swing banks can sometimes be hard to locate depending on the body of water an angler is fishing. They have their advantages, though. They have a small window where the fish are active and willing to bite, and they provide a small area where multiple active fish can be located quickly. However, the channel swing banks can pose challenges. You can fish five channel swing banks no bites then pull up on one and catch multiple fish in short order. The fish may also school farther back in creek arms or on the main lake. The most important strategy is to have those key baits that will cover the transitions of a channel swing efficiently and thoroughly while still adjusting to what the fish are doing.
