| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-55 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior on multiple forage types, with particular interest in suspending baitfish and crawfish near rocky structure
| - Ledges and rock transitions adjacent to spawning flats
- Boulder fields in 8-15 foot depth range
- River channel edges with rocky structure
| - Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses between twitches
- Finesse Jigs worked slowly along bottom structure
- Drop Shot with small profile baits near vertical structure
| - Alewife suspending near structure
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Bluegill in shallow rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to spawning flats, staging on adjacent structure
- Actively feeding on crawfish in rocky areas, particularly around boulders on deep flats as indicated by recent reports
| - Boulder fields and rock piles on deep flats adjacent to spawning areas
- Secondary points with rock-to-grass transitions
- Protected coves with hard bottom composition
| - Finesse Jigs worked slowly around boulders and rock transitions
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting isolated cover near staging areas
- Football Jigs dragged along deep flat areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Smallmouth bass are actively spawning and defending beds in shallow water (4-6 foot range), showing aggressive territorial behavior
- Fish are transitioning between pre-spawn feeding and spawning activity, with some fish still staging on nearby deeper structure
| - Boulder fields and rocky areas in 4-6 foot depth range for actively spawning fish
- Adjacent drop-offs and ledges in 8-12 foot range for staging fish
- Protected coves and points with hard bottom composition
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly through spawning areas
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for spooky fish
- Tubes dragged slowly across rocky areas
| - Crawfish are primary forage during spawn phase
- Small baitfish holding near spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 54-65 | - Largemouth bass are in spawn/prespawn mode, actively protecting beds and staging near spawning areas
- Fish are transitioning between staging areas and spawning flats, highly territorial and aggressive
| - Isolated boulders in 5-10ft depth range near spawning flats
- Laydown trees in 8-12ft of water adjacent to spawning areas
- Protected coves and bays with suitable spawning substrate
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly around isolated structure
- Texas Rigs with soft plastics around laydowns and bed areas
- Finesse Jigs flipped to visible beds and staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging in warming waters
- Minnows in shallow staging areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass are actively feeding and recovering, splitting time between shallow and mid-depth zones
- Fish are showing aggressive surface feeding behavior when conditions are right, particularly around points
- Bass are targeting both bluegill and crappie, suggesting an opportunistic feeding pattern
| - Rocky points with quick access to deeper water
- Boulder fields in 8-15 foot depth range
- Secondary points with scattered rock
| - Hard Topwater (Popping)
- Deep Diving Crankbaits (13'+)
- Tubes
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Crappie suspended near structure
- Crawfish active among boulder fields
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth are actively feeding to recover energy, targeting bluegill beds and dock areas as primary feeding zones
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, moving between shallow feeding areas and slightly deeper recovery zones
| - Docks with access to deeper water, especially those near spawning flats
- Grass edges in 5-10 foot range
- Rock piles and boulder areas adjacent to spawning flats
| - Wacky Rigs cast to dock walkways and edges
- Structure Jigs with craw trailers worked through grass and dock pilings
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeted at dock shadows and grass edges
| - Bluegill, particularly those on spawning beds
- Crawfish active in rocky areas and dock pilings
- Small baitfish relating to dock areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
