By Andrew Ragas Springtime conjures the thoughts of warming weather and water temperatures. In return, abundant schools of pre-spawn smallmouth bass invade the shallows to stage for spawn. This magnificent period of the year for fishing makes me forget winter, and neglect all other responsibilities for the upcoming weeks that follow. Each spring is different, and while the annual movement of bass from deep to shallow is inviting, the fish themselves don’t always follow our prescribed patterns faithfully. Just because they may be shallow and vulnerable doesn’t always mean they’re apt to strike. They still must somehow be triggered, but the question is how? Most smallmouth anglers have used a jerkbait at some point. It’s a lure choice that plays a huge role in my winning spring strategy. Suspending jerkbaits in the form of hard baits and soft baits catch early spring smallmouths better than most other lure choices I throw. Part of it is through technique while most of it is due to their capability to freeze in space and hover in the faces of fish. Since jerkbaits outfish most other artificial baits by a wide margin in spring, their suspense and triggering effects are