How to Locate Pre-Spawn Bass with Garmin LiveScope

Mastering LiveScope during the pre-spawn is the fastest way to find staging giants before they move up. This guide shows you exactly how to do it, with real pro insights, sonar settings, and location strategies built for Midwest lakes.

Where Pre-Spawn Bass Stage

• Secondary points inside creeks and coves
• Hard bottom areas (gravel, rock, shell)
• Brush piles and docks in 8–12 feet of water
• Channel swings near flats or spawning pockets

How to Use LiveScope to Find Staging Fish

Use Forward Mode with 60–80 ft range to scan target-rich areas quickly. You’re looking for:

• Arcs or dots: Fish suspended near cover or bottom
• Hard returns: Brighter bottom = staging zone
• Movement flickers: Indicates active bait

“The biggest thing I look for is bait and brush. If you’re not seeing either, you’re not around fish.” — Jason Christie, Garmin Pro

Recommended LiveScope Settings for Pre-Spawn

Water Temperature Behavior Timeline

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

• Mistake: Scanning empty flats too long
  Fix: Stick to cover + bait presence first
• Mistake: Using too much range
  Fix: Reduce to 60–80 ft for cleaner targets
• Mistake: Ignoring bottom hardness
  Fix: Prioritize hard spots for staging bass

“I look for fish to stack on hard spots just outside the spawning pockets. If you’ve got LiveScope dialed, you can see 10–15 fish sit tight in one zone.” — Patrick Walters, Bassmaster Elite Pro

Glossary: Key Sonar Terms Explained

• Staging Area: Holding zone before bass spawn
• Secondary Point: Interior point inside a cove
• Hard Spot: Rock, gravel, shell — bright sonar return
• Forward-Facing Sonar: Real-time sonar in front of your boat
• Arc: Sonar return shape of a fish (arched = likely bass)

FAQs