| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass actively moving shallow (< 4ft) in pre-spawn phase, cruising flats and emerging vegetation as water temperatures stabilize in low 60s
- Fish showing aggressive feeding behavior, particularly around pad stems and shoreline areas, targeting bluegill forage
| - Flats with emerging lily pad stems in less than 4 feet of water
- Shallow shoreline areas with early vegetation growth
- Protected coves and points where water warms first
| - Bladed Jigs with soft plastic trailers worked through emerging vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) along shorelines
- Spinnerbaits near pad stems and shallow cover
| - Bluegill concentrating in shallow areas
- Crawfish becoming active with warming water
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 48-58 | - Crappies are transitioning from deeper winter holes (20-25ft) to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are becoming more aggressive and schooling near structure, making multiple stops throughout the day to feed
| - Protected coves with submerged vegetation in 8-15 foot range
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Deeper edges of emerging weed growth
| - Crappie Spider Rigging with multiple rods to cover water effectively and maintain precise depth control
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') along weed edges and structure
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) to locate active schools
| - Small baitfish gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Emerging aquatic insects near vegetation
- Small invertebrates in warming shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass actively moving to shallow areas (< 4ft) as water temperatures reach 60s for spawning
- Males preparing and guarding nests while females stage nearby in slightly deeper water
- Increased aggression and territorial behavior around nesting sites
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with submerged vegetation
- Areas near lily pad fields in 2-4 feet of water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations around shallow cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for pre-spawn females
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing bedding bass
| - Bluegill (primary forage confirmed in reports)
- Crawfish (becoming active in warming waters)
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappies are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in coves and near submerged vegetation, typically staging in pre-spawn locations before moving to nesting sites
- Males will arrive first to prepare nesting areas, becoming aggressive and territorial, while females stage slightly deeper until ready to spawn
| - Protected shallow coves with submerged vegetation in 3-8 feet of water
- Staging areas near vegetation edges in 8-12 feet of water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Small minnows gathering in warming shallows
- Emerging aquatic insects near vegetation
- Small invertebrates in shallow areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 67-72 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, focusing on bluegill in and around submerged vegetation in 4-6 feet of water
- Fish are establishing predictable feeding patterns along weed edges and points, making longer movements between feeding areas as they recover from spawn
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 4-6 feet of water
- Points with vegetation near deeper water access
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) dragged slowly along bottom
- Swim Jigs worked through vegetation edges
- Bladed Jigs around vegetation transitions
| - Bluegill
- Young of year baitfish
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappies are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are moving between shallow cover and deeper vegetation edges throughout the day, especially active during morning and evening
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 8-12 foot range
- Secondary points near spawning coves
- Deeper brush piles adjacent to spawning areas
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
| - Small baitfish in the 1-2 inch range
- Young-of-year panfish
- Aquatic insects near vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
