| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Bass transitioning from winter locations to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with rising water temperatures
- Fish staging near spawning flats but holding on adjacent deeper structure, making periodic movements shallow to feed
| - Main lake points and channel swings adjacent to spawning bays
- Secondary points with access to deeper water near reed beds
- Emerging weedlines in 8-10 foot depth range
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to emerging weed edges and points
- Lipless Crankbaits around sparse vegetation and transition areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly over staging areas
| - Bluegill moving shallow to spawn
- Small baitfish in transitional areas
- Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth bass actively feeding in shallow water near rocky areas, particularly with water temperatures around 65°F
- Fish staging near spawning areas but still focused on feeding, showing aggressive reaction to moving baits
| - Boulder fields and rocky points in pre-spawn staging areas
- Shoreline transitions where rock meets deeper water
- Submerged humps adjacent to spawning flats
| - Spinnerbaits worked along rocky transitions
- Ned Rigs worked slowly around boulders
- Tubes dragged through rocky areas
| - Minnows
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Moving into shallow spawning areas (2-6 feet) near emergent vegetation and protected coves as water temperatures approach mid-60s
- Males actively guarding nests while females stage on nearby drop-offs and deeper weed edges
| - Western reed beds and emergent vegetation in 2-4 feet of water
- Protected coves with firm bottom composition
- Nearby deeper weed edges (8-10 feet) where pre/post spawn fish stage
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover and spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly through spawning flats
- Spinnerbaits along edges of spawning areas for actively feeding fish
| - Bluegill spawning in similar areas
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Spawning smallmouth bass are actively establishing and guarding nests in shallow rocky areas, typically 2-6 feet deep where the water warms first
- Males become highly territorial and aggressive, defending nests against all intruders, making them susceptible to reaction strikes
- Pre-spawn fish stage on adjacent deeper structure, moving shallow as temperatures stabilize
| - Rocky points and boulder-strewn shorelines in 2-6 feet of water
- Protected bays with hard bottom composition
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Tubes worked slowly around rocky areas and potential nest sites
- Ned Rigs fished with subtle movements near spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses to trigger defensive strikes
| - Minnows/Shiners in shallow transitional areas
- Crayfish emerging from winter habitat
- Small perch in rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are moving between shallow cover and nearby deeper water, establishing predictable daily movement patterns along weed edges
| - Weed edges adjacent to spawning flats in 8-10 foot depth range
- Emergent vegetation zones on the western portion, especially reed edges
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly along weed edges
- Spinnerbaits parallel to reed lines and through transition areas
- Wacky Rigs pitched to visible cover and edges
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow vegetation
- Young of year baitfish emerging in warming shallows
- Crawfish becoming more active in transitional areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Transitioning to deeper, summer-pattern locations but still actively feeding near post-spawn areas
- Moving between shallow feeding zones and deeper resting areas throughout the day
- Aggressively defending territory and actively feeding to recover energy from spawn
| - Rocky points adjacent to spawning bays
- Submerged humps in 15-20 foot depth range
- Transition areas between rock and weedlines
| - Drop Shot with finesse presentations in clear water
- Tubes worked along rocky transitions
- Ned Rigs fished slowly on points and humps
| - Minnows/Small Baitfish
- Crayfish emerging in rocky areas
- Small perch along weedline edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
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