Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Bass are actively transitioning from winter patterns to spawning areas, staging on pre-spawn locations near future bedding sites
- Fish are becoming more aggressive and feeding heavily to prepare for spawning, particularly targeting crawfish and shad
| - Secondary points and creek channel swings where bass stage before moving shallow
- Stump fields along creek banks near potential spawning flats
- Grass edges providing cover and ambush points during pre-spawn movement
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked along transition areas and creek banks
- Bladed Jigs around grass edges and points
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around stumps and woody cover
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools in creek channels and around points
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter depths to staging areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with increased feeding activity during stable weather periods
| - Secondary points and rocky transitions adjacent to spawning flats
- Brush piles in 8-15 feet of water near potential spawning areas
- Deep vertical structure transitioning to shallow flats
| - Jerkbaits worked slowly with long pauses, particularly effective in the clear water conditions
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations, targeting suspended fish near structure
- Tubes worked along rocky transitions and points
| - Shad schools suspended in the water column
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas as water warms
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-68 | - Striped bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging, actively pursuing shad schools in intermediate depths (15-30 feet) as water temperatures warm
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as they feed heavily before spawning, often moving up into tributary areas and utilizing current breaks
| - River mouth areas and major creek channels where pre-spawn staging occurs
- Main lake points and irregular shoreline features adjacent to deeper water
- Current breaks and eddies where bait congregates
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through suspended schools of fish
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled along depth transitions
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') when fish are marked on electronics
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Herring moving into tributary areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Catfish | 58-72 | - Pre-spawn catfish are transitioning from winter depths to shallower feeding zones, becoming more active as water warms
- Fish are staging near spawning areas but still focused on heavy feeding to build energy reserves
- Most active during dawn and dusk periods due to clear water conditions (2.7m secchi depth)
| - Creek channel bends with adjacent structure, particularly in 15-25 foot depths
- Grass edges near deeper water access, especially where channels swing near vegetation
- Brush piles and standing timber along migration routes to spawning areas
| - Live Bait Rigs with slow presentations near structure
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') along channel edges
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly through transition areas
| - Shad schools beginning to move shallower
- Sunfish becoming more active in warming waters
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Fish are in various spawning phases (pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn) with some actively spawning in 5-7 ft near grass beds
- Increased activity during evening hours, with larger fish becoming more active at sundown
| - Submerged grass beds in 5-7 ft where grass is 1-2 ft below surface
- Matted grass areas with hard bottom beneath
- Stumps and submerged vegetation in spawning pockets
| - Frogs/Toads worked over submerged and matted grass
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in vegetation
- Structure Jigs around stumps and hard spots
| - Shad moving into spawning areas
- Minnows in and around grass beds
| - Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning to spawning areas, moving from deep winter haunts to shallower flats and protected coves for nest building
- Males are actively patrolling and preparing nest sites while females stage in slightly deeper adjacent areas
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nest sites, with increased feeding activity during pre-spawn phase
| - Protected rocky or gravel flats in 4-8 feet of water, especially near points and coves
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water, particularly near brush piles
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel substrate leading into spawning bays
| - Tubes worked slowly along gravel areas and potential nest sites
- Ned Rigs for finesse presentations in clearer water conditions
- Hard Jerkbaits with longer pauses for pre-spawn females
| - Shad schools moving into spawning areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-68 | - Striped bass are transitioning from winter patterns to spawning behavior, moving into tributary areas and shallow flats with current. They become more aggressive as water temperatures rise.
- Fish are schooling and making pre-spawn feeding pushes, often chasing bait in wolf packs near points and channel swings leading to spawning areas.
| - River mouth areas and major creek inlets with current flow
- Secondary points and channel swings leading to spawning flats
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water where bait congregates
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through suspended schools of pre-spawn fish
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled along channel edges
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') when fish are holding on structure
| - Large schools of pre-spawn shad
- River herring moving into spawning areas
- Small baitfish congregating in warming shallows
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Catfish | 65-75 | - Moving into shallower spawning areas (2-8 feet) near creek channels and timber, particularly active during dawn and dusk
- Males preparing and guarding nesting sites in protected areas with firm bottom composition
- Increased feeding activity pre-spawn, followed by reduced feeding during actual spawning
| - Creek channel bends with adjacent shallow flats
- Protected coves with standing timber
- Submerged vegetation edges near spawning flats
| - Live Bait Rigs
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Bottom fishing with Texas Rigs (Worming)
| - Shad schools gathering in spawning areas
- Small sunfish in shallow areas
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bass actively feeding on shad spawn early in the day, particularly around submerged grass on points and river channel swings
- Fish are transitioning to more aggressive feeding patterns as they recover from spawn, utilizing laydowns and brush as ambush points
| - Submerged grass on points and river channel swings
- Laydowns and submerged trees
- Brush piles in 8-15 foot range
| - Bladed Jigs worked through grass
- Spinnerbaits around laydowns with slow, steady retrieve
- Texas Rigs (Worming) around brush piles
- Deep Diving Crankbaits (13'+) around deeper structure
| | - Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
- White
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, targeting shad and other baitfish in transitional areas
- Fish are moving from shallow spawning areas to summer holding areas, often suspending near vertical structure
- Showing aggressive feeding behavior during early morning and evening periods, particularly around points and brush piles
| - Main lake points with access to deep water
- Brush piles in 10-20 foot depth range
- Suspended structure near clear water zones, especially near the dam
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits for suspended fish
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic retrieves around points
- Tubes worked through brush piles and rocky areas
| - Shad schools in transitional areas
- Small baitfish relating to brush piles
- Crawfish in rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 68-76 | - Post-spawn stripers transitioning from river areas to main lake, actively feeding to recover energy while following shad schools
- Fish starting to establish summer pattern, suspending near thermocline and relating to structure during day, more active in lowlight periods
| - Points and channel swings adjacent to spawning tributaries
- Main lake humps and ledges near deep water access
- Secondary points with access to both shallow and deep water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked along depth transitions
- Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') with umbrella rigs
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') when fish are spotted on electronics
| - Large schools of post-spawn shad
- Smaller baitfish congregating around points and structure
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Catfish | 68-78 | - Post-spawn catfish are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily during dawn, dusk, and night hours due to clear water conditions (2.7m secchi)
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper structural elements, using creek channels as migration routes
| - Creek channel bends with adjacent brush piles in 15-25 foot depths
- Edges of submerged vegetation near deeper water access
- Standing timber areas along creek channels
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut shad or large minnows
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly along channel edges
| - Shad schools moving along creek channels
- Sunfish in vegetation edges
- Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|