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Dean Rojas’ 5 fave spring hard baits

The frog man himself details his Top 5 go-to springtime baits.

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<p>Although he’s most widely known for his prowess with a hollow-bodied amphibian, Elite Series pro Dean Rojas is just as adept at cranking, jerkbaiting and other techniques. After all, one can’t survive on the Elite Series circuit as a jack of all trades, ace of none. In the springtime, Rojas takes an assortment of baits to the lake to effectively present an offering to the bass no matter the stage of the spawn they’re in, from top to bottom. Here are Rojas’ five favorite springtime baits.</p>
Although he’s most widely known for his prowess with a hollow-bodied amphibian, Elite Series pro Dean Rojas is just as adept at cranking, jerkbaiting and other techniques. After all, one can’t survive on the Elite Series circuit as a jack of all trades, ace of none. In the springtime, Rojas takes an assortment of baits to the lake to effectively present an offering to the bass no matter the stage of the spawn they’re in, from top to bottom. Here are Rojas’ five favorite springtime baits.
<p>1. Spro Bronzeye Frog 65. This is a no-brainer. Even if this was a story on Rojas’ favorite fall or summer baits, this frog would likely have a spot in the lineup. After all, he’s had success with it year-round. “The color I use depends largely on the clarity of the water I’m fishing. If it’s clearer, I go with natural tones; in dirtier water, I throw the blacks and browns,” he says. “Docks, grass and flooded edges are good places to see if a fish will come up and hit the frog.”</p>
1. Spro Bronzeye Frog 65. This is a no-brainer. Even if this was a story on Rojas’ favorite fall or summer baits, this frog would likely have a spot in the lineup. After all, he’s had success with it year-round. “The color I use depends largely on the clarity of the water I’m fishing. If it’s clearer, I go with natural tones; in dirtier water, I throw the blacks and browns,” he says. “Docks, grass and flooded edges are good places to see if a fish will come up and hit the frog.”
<p>2. When the topwater bite is around but it’s more of a shad deal, Rojas reaches for the newest Spro topwater, the Bronzeye Shad. The Bronzeye Shad has stacked legs in the rear and a deeper vee on the belly so it’s easier to walk. “This is what I use when the shad spawn is going on, typically around docks and riprap. Every color is a baitfish color, and I like spooky shad and nasty shad.”</p>
2. When the topwater bite is around but it’s more of a shad deal, Rojas reaches for the newest Spro topwater, the Bronzeye Shad. The Bronzeye Shad has stacked legs in the rear and a deeper vee on the belly so it’s easier to walk. “This is what I use when the shad spawn is going on, typically around docks and riprap. Every color is a baitfish color, and I like spooky shad and nasty shad.”
<p>3. Spro Little John. The original crankbait designed by John Crews is Rojas’ first choice for a springtime hard bait when his pair of frogs isn’t producing. “If the fish aren’t coming up for the Frog or the Shad, this runs about 3 feet deep and is good for working around rocks, riprap, grass edges and shallow cover.”</p>
3. Spro Little John. The original crankbait designed by John Crews is Rojas’ first choice for a springtime hard bait when his pair of frogs isn’t producing. “If the fish aren’t coming up for the Frog or the Shad, this runs about 3 feet deep and is good for working around rocks, riprap, grass edges and shallow cover.”
<p>4. Spro McStick. A jerkbait is Rojas’ go-to in colder water when the fish are holding away from the bank. “This is a good stickbait for hitting those fish that are in 6 or 7 feet of water and not on the shoreline,” he says. He looks to points first.</p>
4. Spro McStick. A jerkbait is Rojas’ go-to in colder water when the fish are holding away from the bank. “This is a good stickbait for hitting those fish that are in 6 or 7 feet of water and not on the shoreline,” he says. He looks to points first.
<p>5. Spro Little John DD. If the fish are out deep, the bass can be harder to pinpoint. So Rojas uses this deep diver to cover water. “It’s great for places where they’re still prespawn and in deeper water and haven’t moved up yet,” he says. On the right line and a long cast, it’ll dive to 20 feet.</p>
5. Spro Little John DD. If the fish are out deep, the bass can be harder to pinpoint. So Rojas uses this deep diver to cover water. “It’s great for places where they’re still prespawn and in deeper water and haven’t moved up yet,” he says. On the right line and a long cast, it’ll dive to 20 feet.

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