The post-spawn period is often one of the most challenging times of year for bass anglers. While fish are still present in good numbers, their behavior becomes unpredictable and less aggressive, making them harder to catch. This shift in attitude largely stems from the physical and mental toll the spawn takes on bass. After weeks of guarding beds and expending energy, bass—especially females—are stressed, sluggish, and not in a hurry to chase down bait. Unlike the prespawn phase, where bass tend to group up and feed actively, post-spawn fish often scatter into less obvious locations.
During this recovery period, bass tend to spread out and suspend in areas that don’t always show up as productive on a map. They can be hard to pinpoint, and it may take weeks before they group up again on offshore structures or grass beds. Because of this, anglers need to put themselves in a position to locate bass that are still willing to eat, even if only opportunistically.
Introducing Our Post-Spawn Rod Kits
Since we all like a challenge, Ol' Bob sat down and put together the best rod kits to target these finicky post-spawn fish. Each component of these rod kits have been meticulously chosen by our very own Bob McKamey. He takes into consideration the preferences of our top pros coupled with his 50 years of rod building knowledge to develop the most complete and well thought out rod kits anywhere in the industry. From handle length, to reel seat and even down to the guides and suggested spacing, it is all here.
"I love to catch'em year round and you have to be able to adapt, even during the tougher times of the year. If we only caught fish when it was easy, it wouldn't be fun anymore. Hopefully these rod kits will get y'all more bites during the post-spawn on your home lake" - Bob McKamey
We have 11 Post Spawn Rod Kits and I wanted to highlight some of my favorite here in this blog. Click Here to see the full collection.
Texas Rig Post Spawn Rod Kit
Specifications: 7'2" | 8-17 lb. | 1/4 - 9/16 oz. | Fast Action | Medium Heavy Power
Fishing a Texas rig for post spawn bass is very effective because its weedless setup lets you work through heavy cover like grass, brush, and timber without getting snagged. It’s incredibly versatile, allowing you to fish a wide range of soft plastics at different depths and speeds. One of the most popular blanks in the Elite Pro lineup is the NEPS86MHF and its power and action is ideal for throwing your favorite worm, senko or brush hog around cover. Also, during the post spawn is usually a time for shad spawn and this kit is great for throwing your favorite single swimbait to mimic your lake's baitfish.
Carolina Rig Post Spawn Rod Kit
Specifications: 7'6" | 12-20 lb. | 1/4 - 1 oz | Fast Action | Heavy Power
Fishing a Carolina rig for post spawn bass is effective because it provides excellent bottom contact while allowing your soft plastic to gently glide unrestricted. The added weight helps you cover large areas quickly, making it perfect for locating scattered fish. The NMB904 provides a little extra length at 7’6” plus the sensitivity of the Elite-X blank with the nano-resin allows anglers to feel every rock and detect even the slightest bite. In addition to the carolina rig this blank is great for a larger football jig or a big hair jig made famous on the TVA Lakes.
Mid-Depth Crankbait Post Spawn Rod Kit
Specifications: 7'6" | 8-17 lb. | 3/8 - 1 oz | Mod-Fast Action | Med-Heavy Power
Fishing a crankbait for post-spawn bass is an incredibly effective way to cover water quickly, helping you locate active fish fast. The wobbling, erratic action of a crankbait triggers reaction strikes from bass that might not hit slower presentations. I love the Norman Deep Little N or The Bomber 6A on this blank. I typically spool my reel with 12 pound fluorocarbon when fishing these middle depth baits. The CB905 is a perfect mid-depth cranking rod for those fish that are moving into the 10’-15’ depth range. Plus, with a variety of depths and styles available, crankbaits are incredibly versatile for targeting bass in almost any season or condition. Don't forget these come in the 14 MHX Metallic colors!
Hard Body Swimbait Post Spawn Rod Kit
Specifications: 7'11" | 12-25 lb. | 1 - 4 oz.| Mod-Fast Action | Heavy Power
Fishing a hardbody swimbait for bass is an effective post spawn technique because it mimics the realistic look and movement of baitfish, triggering aggressive strikes from big bass. It shows the bass a vulnerable, big meal that is perfect for hungry fish that are done spawning. The SWB956 is the go-to hardbody swimbait blank and can throw big baits long distances and the moderate fast action keeps the fish from throwing the large treble hooks. My big bait of choice is the Bull Shad for a hard body or the MegaBass Mag Draft in a large soft body bait.
Post Spawn Spinning Rod Kits
Moving on to some of the spinning options Bob has created for the post-spawn rod kits. From drop shot to shaky head and even one designed specifically for the latest technology like forward facing sonar, our post spawn spinning kits will have you covered.
Drop Shot Post Spawn Rod Kit
Specifications: 6'9" | 6-15 lb. | 5/32 - 7/16 oz. | Extra-Fast Action | Medium Light Power
A drop shot rig is a highly effective method for targeting bass during the post-spawn, particularly in deeper water or around structure such as stumps, brush piles, and bridge pilings. As bass tend to be more cautious after spawning, the subtle presentation you can achieve with the NEPS81MLXF and your favorite finesse bait can be key to triggering bites.
Shakey Head Post Spawn Rod Kit
Specifications: 7'2" | 8-17 lb. | 1/4 - 9/16 oz. | Fast Action | Medium Power
Fishing a shaky head excels during the post-spawn because it presents a natural, subtle action that entices finicky or pressured fish to bite. The versatility of the NEPS86MF matches perfectly with the shaky head when fishing in various conditions, from rocky bottoms to brush piles. Plus, the stand-up presentation of the bait keeps it in the strike zone longer, increasing your chances of getting bit. The fast action allows the angler to have great control over the movement of the jig head and the medium power can pull fish away from dangerous cover quickly.
Forward Facing Sonar Post Spawn Rod Kit
Specifications: 7'0" | 6-10 lb. | 1/16 - 5/16 oz. | Fast Action | Light Power
Forward-facing sonar is a game changer because it lets you see fish and structure in real time, giving you the ability to target specific fish with precision. As bass tend to be here one day, gone the next, FFS helps you understand how bass are reacting to your lure, allowing for on-the-fly adjustments to trigger strikes. The NSJ841 is a presentation rod. It allows the angler to impart instant and exacting movements to their lure while studying the fish’s movements in real-time. This custom build coupled with forward facing sonar will put more fish in the boat!
For many of us that have fought through the post-spawn, success comes down to adapting your approach. By understanding the bass’s behavior, focusing on high-percentage areas like isolated cover, taking advantage of the shad spawn, and adjusting your speed based on pressure, you can turn a tough time of year into a productive one. Although Bob has been in rod building for 50 years, he has been fishing longer. When designing any rod kit, handle setup or guide train he has both anglers and rod builders in mind to create the ultimate fishing machine!
