Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-68 | - Bass are actively patrolling shallow areas near spawning flats, feeding heavily on bluegill and perch in preparation for spawning
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, responding well to both moving baits and slower presentations around cover
- Bass are transitioning between deeper winter areas and shallow pre-spawn staging areas, using bridge areas and rip rap as migration routes
| - Bridge areas and adjacent rip rap banks where multiple recent catches have been reported
- Submerged vegetation edges near shallow spawning flats
- Northern dike area with heavy cover
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
| - Bladed Jigs worked with a moderate retrieve around vegetation and structure
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along rip rap and bridge areas
- Swim Jigs targeting areas between sparse vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked in heavier cover and matted vegetation
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow and stage near spawning areas
- Perch actively feeding in and around vegetation edges
- Shad schools starting to move into warmer shallow water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-58 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, targeting crawfish and baitfish near rocky structure
| - Main lake points with transition from deep to shallow water, especially those with boulder and rock structure
- Secondary points in bays and coves that offer protection from cold fronts
- Rock piles and humps adjacent to deeper water staging areas
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions, allowing for both vertical and horizontal presentations
- Football Jigs dragged slowly across rocky areas to imitate crawfish
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses to trigger reaction strikes from suspended fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy in rocky areas
- Small baitfish schools suspended near points and structure
- Young of year perch gathering near emerging vegetation edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Catfish | 60-68 | - Catfish are becoming increasingly active as water temperatures reach the low-mid 60s, moving into shallower feeding areas near structure
- Fish are staging near current areas and hard structure, actively feeding during warming trends
| - Bridge areas with rip rap, especially where current is present
- Rocky points and shoreline structure adjacent to deeper water
- Submerged vegetation edges near hard structure
| - Spinnerbaits worked along rip rap and structure edges
- Live Bait Rigs positioned near current breaks and structure
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around vegetation edges and rocky structure
| - Bluegill gathering near shallow structure
- Shad schools moving into warming shallows
- Perch relating to rocky structure
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-48 | - Pre-spawn pike are actively feeding and moving into shallow, vegetated areas to prepare for spawning. They are particularly aggressive during this period, looking to build energy reserves.
- Fish are staging near spawning areas, making frequent feeding runs into even shallower water during warming trends.
| - Shallow bays and coves with emerging vegetation in 2-4 feet of water
- Points and inside turns adjacent to spawning areas
- Shallow flats with matted grass providing ambush cover
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly along emerging weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near vegetation
- Inline Spinners with stop-and-go retrieve in open pockets
| - Yellow Perch congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Bluegills moving shallow with warming trends
- Minnows schooling in warming shallows
| - Vibrant Assorted Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are actively engaged in spawning activities, moving between staging areas and shallow nesting sites. Fish are defensive of their territory and responding well to both aggressive and finesse presentations.
- Early morning and afternoon feeding windows are evident, with fish particularly active around emerging vegetation and shallow structure as noted in recent topwater success
| - Shallow reeds and emergent vegetation, particularly along edges as supported by recent buzzbait success
- Bridge pilings and adjacent rip rap, proven productive in recent tournament reports
- Protected spawning flats near shoreline structure
| - Drop Shot with slow, subtle presentations - verified effective by recent tournament success
- Bladed Jigs with paused retrieval, matching recent reports of fish hitting on the fall
- Buzzbaits worked along vegetation edges, particularly during afternoon hours
| - Shad - primary forage based on recent fishing reports
- Bluegill - typical spawn-time forage
| - Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are actively moving into spawning areas, with some fish staging on adjacent points and structural elements before moving shallow
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior during stable weather periods, particularly around island areas and sandy transitions
| - Sandy flats near islands with 7-foot deep adjacent holes
- Points with mixed rock and grass structure
- Shallow rocky areas with spawning potential
| - Bladed Jigs worked steadily through transitions
- Tubes worked around rocky areas
- Drop Shot for pressured fish in deeper staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
- Small baitfish relating to grass edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Catfish | 60-68 | - Catfish becoming increasingly active as water temperatures climb into the 60-65°F range, moving from winter holding areas to spawning locations
- Fish actively feeding during pre-spawn period, particularly during periods of current or after rain events
- Males beginning to search for and prepare spawning cavities near structure, while females stage in nearby deeper water
| - Bridge areas with rip rap, especially where current is present
- Deep holes (7ft+) adjacent to sandy areas for staging females
- Rock piles and boulder areas near spawning flats
- Areas where submerged vegetation meets harder structure
| - Live Bait Rigs with bottom bouncing presentation
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') near structure
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly along rock transitions
| - Bluegill congregating in spawning areas
- Shad schools in transition areas
- Perch relating to rock structure
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 40-55 | - Pike are actively spawning in shallow, vegetated areas with water temperatures between 40-50°F, moving into matted grass and lily pad areas
- Post-spawn fish remain shallow and become aggressive feeders, utilizing weed edges and points as ambush locations
| - Shallow bays with matted grass and lily pads (1-3 feet deep)
- Weed edges adjacent to spawning areas
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly through shallow vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) retrieved steadily along weed edges
- Buzzbaits over matted vegetation during warmer periods
| - Bluegill congregating in spawning areas
- Yellow Perch in shallow vegetation
- Minnows moving into warming shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are relating heavily to shallow cover (docks, laydowns, matted grass) in 3 feet or less of water
- Bass are showing increased feeding activity, willing to chase moving baits while still responding to slower presentations
| - Docks in shallow water (3 feet or less), especially those with additional cover nearby
- Weed edges and matted grass areas
- Rip rap banks with access to slightly deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with creature baits around docks and laydowns
- Swim Jigs worked along rip rap and weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly near vegetation
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow areas around docks and vegetation
- Young of year shad beginning to show in open water areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass actively feeding on crawfish around rocky structure, regaining energy after spawning period
- Fish transitioning between shallow spawning areas and early summer haunts, using boulders and rock piles as primary holding areas
| - Boulder fields and rock piles in 8-15 foot range
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper summer structure
- Rocky points adjacent to spawning bays
| - Football Jigs dragged and hopped along rocky bottom
- Tubes worked through boulder fields
- Ned Rigs fished slowly around rock structure
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish relating to rocky structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Catfish | 60-72 | - Actively feeding after spawn, utilizing current areas and structure for ambush points
- Moving between deeper holes and shallow feeding zones as temperatures fluctuate
- Becoming more aggressive in feeding behavior as water warms above 64°F
| - Bridge areas with rip rap, especially where current is present
- Deep holes (7ft+) adjacent to sandy areas
- Areas where submerged vegetation meets harder structure
| - Live Bait Rigs positioned near structure and current breaks
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around bridge pilings and rip rap
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation edges
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow areas
- Shad schools moving along structure
- Perch relating to vegetation edges
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 55-68 | - Pike are actively feeding in shallow, vegetated areas during post-spawn recovery, particularly around matted grass where they can ambush prey
- Fish are showing aggressive surface-oriented feeding patterns, attacking prey from below in vegetation
| - Matted grass beds in 3-5 feet of water
- Weed edges adjacent to slightly deeper water
- Shallow vegetation flats near points and coves
| - Buzzbaits worked over and along edges of matted grass
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked just below surface
| - Bluegill
- Perch
- Various Minnows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|