| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-62 | - Transitioning from winter patterns to shallow spawning areas, actively seeking warmer water in protected areas
- Feeding actively but sporadically as they prepare for spawn, with increased activity during warming trends
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats
- Deeper transitions near spawning areas serving as staging points
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs around vegetation edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for targeting isolated cover
| - Bluegill in shallow warming areas
- Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Largemouth bass moving into spawning areas, particularly in protected shallow areas with vegetation
- Males actively guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water nearby
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, with fish more likely to strike out of defense than hunger
| - Protected shallow bays with vegetation in 2-4 feet of water
- Deeper vegetation edges in 6-8 feet for staging females
- Areas with firm bottom composition near vegetation for spawning
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around vegetation and potential spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly near spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and bedding bass
| - Bluegill around spawning areas
- Small bass and panfish threatening nests
- Crawfish becoming active in warming waters
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed heavily, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are splitting time between shallow cover and nearby deeper areas, making feeding forays into the vegetation
| - Weed edges and pockets in 5-10 feet of water, especially near spawning flats
- Deeper vegetation in 10-15 feet of water for resting areas
- Shallow matted grass areas during prime feeding periods
| - Swim Jigs worked through and around vegetation edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through weed pockets
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along outer weed edges
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
- Young of the year baitfish emerging in vegetation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
