| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 42-52 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter patterns, making short feeding windows during warmer parts of day as evidenced by the reported 30-minute bite window
- Fish are staging near pre-spawn areas, relating to rock structure and moving between different depth zones as temperatures fluctuate
| - Rock piles in 10-15 foot range, particularly those near deeper water as mentioned in fishing reports
- Steep shoreline drop-offs with boulder structure, providing quick access to multiple depth zones
- Protected coves with hard bottom, where water may warm more quickly
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly along rock structure, proven effective in recent reports
- Drop Shot with small profile baits, effective given the clear water conditions noted in lake profile
- Ned Rigs worked slowly on rock piles and transition areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter patterns, becoming more active on rocky structure
- Small baitfish relating to rock structure and depth changes
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 42-55 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from winter patterns to staging areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, moving from deeper winter haunts to shallower transition areas
| - Transition areas near spawning flats with stump fields in 8-12 foot depth
- Secondary points with access to deeper water and wood cover
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation in 5-8 foot depth
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through stump fields with yo-yo retrieves
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly along depth transitions
- Jig and Trailer combinations dragged near stumps and wood cover
| - Bluegill concentrating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Minnows schooling in transition zones
- Crawfish becoming more active with warming water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 42-60 | - Smallmouth bass are in various stages of the spawn, with some fish building beds while others are actively spawning in 11-16 foot depth range
- Fish are actively feeding on both crawfish and insects, showing increased aggression as water temperatures reach optimal spawning range
| - Rocky ledges and reefs in 11-16 foot depth range, particularly near steep shoreline drop-offs
- Hard bottom areas with stumps and boulders in protected coves
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Drop Shot with finesse baits, particularly effective for spawning fish
- Tubes worked slowly along bottom structure
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') for active fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Aquatic insects becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-68 | - Bass actively moving into spawning areas, transitioning from pre-spawn staging to actual spawning activity
- Fish protecting nesting sites near stumps and other shallow cover, with some still in pre-spawn feeding mode
| - Shallow stumps in protected coves and bays (2-6 feet)
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays (8-12 feet)
- Protected shoreline areas with hard bottom composition
| - Finesse Jigs worked slowly around stumps and spawning areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover
- Soft Jerkbaits for pre-spawn fish
| - Bluegill gathering in spawning areas
- Minnows in shallow water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Actively recovering from spawn, transitioning to deeper structure and establishing summer feeding patterns
- Feeding activity increasing but still somewhat inconsistent as indicated by 'slow bite' in recent reports
- Moving between shallow and mid-depth zones, using complex shoreline features and rock structures as transition routes
| - Rock piles and boulder fields adjacent to spawning flats
- Steep dropoffs near shore with good rock structure
- Stumps near deeper water, as evidenced by recent catch reports
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) - proven effective in recent reports
- Drop Shot - matches clear water conditions and sight-feeding behavior
- Tubes - effective for bottom-oriented fish around rock structure
| - Crawfish emerging from winter habitat
- Small baitfish (smelt patterns showing success in reports)
- Young of year perch beginning to appear
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish establishing daily movement patterns between shallow feeding zones and deeper resting areas, particularly around stump fields and ledges
| - Stump fields in 8-12 foot depth adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points with drop-offs into 11-16 foot range
- Shallow coves with wood cover near deep water access
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to depth changes
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through stump fields
- Spinnerbaits around shallow wood cover
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow areas near cover
- Minnows schooling along depth transitions
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
