| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Moving from winter depths to shallow spawning areas, staging on first major break adjacent to spawning flats
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warmer afternoon periods
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 3-6 foot depth
- First break lines adjacent to spawning flats in 6-8 foot depth
- Southern-facing shorelines that warm faster
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs along transition areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly on break lines
| - Bluegill concentrating in emerging vegetation
- Small baitfish in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Males moving shallow (2-4 feet) to establish spawning beds near hard bottom areas adjacent to vegetation
- Females staging in slightly deeper water (4-6 feet) near spawning areas, moving up periodically to spawn
- Post-spawn fish relating heavily to first prominent vegetation edge as recovery areas
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and sparse vegetation
- Small points and pockets with mixed vegetation
- Shallow vegetation edges near deeper water access
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
- Wacky Rigs
- Soft Jerkbaits
| - Bluegill
- Small baitfish in shallow vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Bass are actively feeding in shallow areas post-spawn, particularly around emergent vegetation edges where they can ambush prey
- Fish are showing aggressive surface-feeding behavior, willing to strike topwater baits around vegetation
| - Emergent weed edges in 2-4 feet of water, especially where matted grass meets open water
- Secondary points with vegetation in 4-6 feet of water
- Protected coves with developing weed growth
| - Hard Topwater (Walking) worked around weed edges with frequent pauses
- Soft Jerkbaits worked erratically through gaps in vegetation
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges during windy conditions
| - Young-of-year baitfish beginning to emerge
- Bluegill moving shallow to spawn
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
