Ready to catch more spotted bass on blueback herring lakes? Learn the proven seasonal tactics and key baits!
Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Emil Wagner, in collaboration with Bass University, presents a seminar focusing on mastering spotted bass fishing on herring lakes throughout the seasons. Emil, has extensive experience guiding on Lake Lanier and has spent significant time on herring lakes like Clarks Hill and Lake Hartwell, where he recently made the top ten in a Bassmaster Elite Series event. In this class, he will share his deep knowledge of how spotted bass act and move in these unique fisheries, explaining that they are different from other bass, especially when herring are present, and share his proven strategies for fishing for spotted bass throughout Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
During the seminar, Emil will break down seasonal patterns, detailing the transitions spotted bass make and the different baits they want. He highlights Spring patterns, including his favorite shaky head tactics for targeting prespawn and spawning spotted bass on secondary points and brush piles in various depths. He will also discuss the herring spawn, a crucial event on these fisheries tied to specific water temperatures, explaining how spotted bass focus intently on herring and providing insights on his approach and go-to baits like the Berkeley Magic Swimmer and fluke-style baits for this aggressive bite on points. You'll learn that the herring spawn bite can last from sun up to sundown.
Emil will guide you through his methods for targeting spotted bass in various situations, from running and gunning on brush piles and humps in Summer, covering typical depths and key baits like jerk shots and pencil poppers, to locating and getting baits down to suspended fish using drop shots and underspins in deeper water in later Summer and Fall. He details how spotted bass on herring lakes are very condition-oriented and knowing when to swap baits is key. You'll learn about the fall transition where fish locations change and how to find unpressured fish, plus techniques for the exciting fall schooling bite using topwater baits. Finally, he covers Winter techniques, focusing on the key ditch bite, explaining how to approach obvious and sneaky ditches and the baits like shaky heads, spoons, and Damiki rigs used to catch fish deep, as well as his approach for fishing rocks where some of the biggest spots in the lake live, using shaky heads and crankbaits.
If you want to learn about spotted bass fishing and master seasonal tactics on herring lakes, this seminar with Bass University and Emil Wagner offers expert insights into fish behavior and proven techniques designed to help you enhance your skills and catch more big spots.
Emil Wagner Spotted Bass On Herring Lakes Class Chapters

0:12: Bassmaster Elite Emil Wagner IntroductionMeet Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Emil Wagner, making his first appearance as a Bass University instructor. Learn about his extensive background guiding on Lake Lanier and his success on herring lakes like Lake Hartwell and Clarks Hill, including his recent top ten finish in a Bassmaster Elite Series event.
3:47: Spring Spotted BassDive into spring patterns for spotted bass, covering the transition from winter and how these fish differ from largemouth. Learn where to find prespawn and spawning spots on secondary points and around floating docks and brush piles. Get the breakdown on essential springtime baits, including the highly effective shaky head, Neko rig, and jerkbaits. In this chapter you'll learn to master the techniques and bait selections for consistent spotted bass action as the water warms in the spring.
11:30: Herring SpawnExplore the critical herring spawn event on these lakes, understanding when it happens based on water temperature. See how spotted bass key intently on herring and become extremely aggressive. Get the scoop on the go-to baits for this explosive bite, such as the Berkeley Magic Swimmer and fluke-style lures, and learn the necessary retrieves. Don't miss this seasonal prime window for fast and furious spotted bass action – learn the secrets to capitalizing on the herring spawn.
14:14: Summer PatternsDiscover the straightforward, aggressive summer game plan centered around finding and fishing brush piles. Learn about the "running and gunning" approach to cover water efficiently, focusing on points and humps in key depth ranges. Get insights into the top baits for summer and understand how spotted bass are very condition-oriented, requiring adjustments. Pick up the speed and efficiency needed for summer success by learning where spotted bass hold and what lures trigger bites in the heat.
20:25: Fall PatternsNavigate the fall transition as spotted bass relocate from summer areas. Learn how to find unpressured fish by expanding your search to "off the wall" places. Get ready for the exciting fall schooling bite and learn how to target fish when they come up. Adapt to the changing conditions of fall to find concentrated fish and experience the thrill of the schooling bite.
23:15: Winter PatternsUnderstand the winter slowdown and master the highly productive ditch bite, the number one pattern on herring lakes. Learn to identify both obvious and sneaky ditch locations and how fish move through them. Discover the essential winter baits like the shaky head, jigging spoon, and Damiki rig for deep fish, plus techniques for targeting big spotted bass on shallow rock. Don't let the cold stop you – learn the proven winter strategies and key baits for catching numbers and big spotted bass during the colder months.

Buy tackle from this class from our partners at Tackle Warehouse
As an affiliate, we receive a small commission if you purchase using these links
Berkley Cane Walker Pencil Popper Topwater - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Cane_Walker/descpage-BCW.html?from=butv
Berkley Dime 10 Crankbait - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Dime_10_Crankbait/descpage-BKD.html?from=butv
Berkley Magic Swimmer Swimbait - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Magic_Swimmer_Freshwater_Swimbait/descpage-BMSSS.html?from=butv
Berkley Powerbait Jerk Shad - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Powerbait_Jerk_Shad_10pk/descpage-PJS.html?from=butv
Emil's Best Damiki Rig Bait (Powerbait Maxscent Flatnose Minnow) - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Powerbait_Maxscent_Flatnose_Minnow/descpage-FNMS.html?from=butv
Emil's Best Neko Rig Worm (Magnum Powerbait Maxscent Hit Worm) - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Powerbait_Maxscent_Hit_Worm_Magnum_10pk/descpage-MHWM.html?from=butv
Emil's Best Wacky Rig Worm (Powerbait Maxscent The General) - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Powerbait_Maxscent_The_General_Worm/descpage-DMGS.html?from=butv
Emil's Shaky Head Jighead (Gamakatsu G-Finesse Trickyhead) - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakatsu_G-Finesse_Trickyhead_Shakey_Head_3pk/descpage-GFTR.html?from=butv
Humminbird Electronics - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-HUMMBFFCP.html?from=butv
Spotted Bass Jerkbait (Berkley Stunna Jerkbait) - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Stunna_Jerkbait_100/descpage-BSJS.html?from=butv