| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Bass beginning to move from winter depths to warming shallows, staging near transitional areas between deep and shallow water
- Feeding activity increasing with warming trends, particularly during afternoon hours
- Fish positioning near brush piles and dock edges that provide both cover and quick access to deeper water
| - Rock to weed transition areas in 4-8 foot depths
- Dock edges adjacent to deeper water
- Brush piles positioned on transition banks
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through transition zones
- Bladed Jigs around dock posts and brush
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly near cover
| - Perch moving shallow with warming trends
- Bluegill beginning to stage near docks and brush
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn bluegill are transitioning to warmer shallows, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are utilizing multiple water columns as indicated by success with suspended presentations
| - Weed-to-rock transition areas in 4-8 feet of water
- Boulder fields adjacent to emerging vegetation
- Protected shallow flats with scattered rock structure
| - Bobbers with suspended presentations 2-4 feet below surface
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly near structure
- Live Bait Rigs with small presentation
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae
- Emerging aquatic vegetation
- Small crustaceans
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Largemouth bass moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly near available cover like docks and brush piles in 2-6 foot depths
- Males preparing and guarding nest sites while females stage nearby, making multiple trips between deeper pre-spawn areas and shallow spawning zones
| - Protected shallow areas near docks with firm bottom composition
- Transition areas where weeds meet rock, especially in 2-4 foot depths
- Shallow brush piles and other cover in protected pockets
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible cover and potential spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around staging areas
- Spinnerbaits worked parallel to spawning flats in stained water
| - Bluegill establishing in shallow areas near cover
- Perch moving shallow with warming water
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-65 | - Bluegill are actively moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly near hard bottom and weed-to-rock transitions as water temperatures warm
- Fish are becoming more aggressive and territorial as they prepare spawning beds, feeding opportunistically throughout multiple water columns
| - Weed-to-rock transition areas in 2-4 feet of water where spawning beds are being established
- Boulder areas with adjacent vegetation in protected shallow water
- Hard bottom areas near shoreline structure in 1-3 feet of water
| - Bobbers with suspended presentations 1-2 feet below surface
- Live Bait Rigs with small presentations
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with 1/32 oz jigs
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae
- Tiny crustaceans and zooplankton
- Small worms and leeches
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn bass transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish moving between shallow cover and slightly deeper staging areas throughout the day
| - Docks adjacent to spawning flats, especially those with brush piles
- Weed to rock transition areas in 4-8 foot depth range
- Shallow brush piles near shoreline structure
| - Bladed Jigs worked around dock posts and through transitions
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting dock shade and brush
- Spinnerbaits worked parallel to shoreline structure
| - Bluegill gathering near docks and shallow cover
- Perch relating to weed/rock transition areas
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-65 | - Post-spawn bluegill are actively transitioning between habitat types, particularly utilizing weed-to-rock transitions as staging areas
- Fish are feeding at multiple water columns despite turbid conditions, showing willingness to move up in the water column to feed
| - Weed and rock transition areas, particularly along ledges
- Rocky areas with adjacent vegetation
- Shallow structural elements in 3-6 foot depth range due to turbid water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly through transition areas
- Bobbers with suspended presentations to target multiple water columns
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked along structure edges
| - Minnows
- Small aquatic insects
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
