| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-62 | - Pre-spawn bass are transitioning from winter depths to spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish stage along vegetation edges and points that provide quick access to both deeper water and future spawning areas
- Feeding activity increases during warming trends, with fish particularly active during stable weather patterns
| - Secondary points with vegetation in 4-8 foot depth range
- Weed edges adjacent to deeper water
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation in 2-4 foot depth
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through sparse vegetation
- Bladed Jigs with steady retrieves along weed edges
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in clearings
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Various baitfish species transitioning to spawning areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth are staging near spawning flats, making frequent moves between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones
- Fish are becoming more active and aggressive as they prepare for spawning, with feeding increasing to build energy reserves
| - Protected coves with hard bottom composition near deeper water
- Weed-rock transition areas in 4-8 foot depth range
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Blade Baits worked with slow, vertical presentations along transition areas
- Tubes dragged slowly across hard bottom areas
- Ned Rigs worked methodically through potential staging areas
| - Bluegill moving shallow as water warms
- Small crayfish emerging from winter shelter
- Juvenile perch in weed-rock transition areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are actively spawning, focusing on shallow hard-bottom areas near shorelines with nearby deep water access
- Fish are maintaining position near beds, aggressively defending territory and making short feeding movements to nearby cover
| - Hard bottom shoreline areas in 2-4 foot depth range, particularly near sand
- Ledges adjacent to spawning flats providing quick deep water access
- Weed edges in 2-8 foot range near spawning areas
| - Bladed Jigs worked parallel to shoreline, particularly effective in murky water conditions
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds or likely spawning areas
- Swim Jigs worked through sparse vegetation near spawning areas
| - Bluegill congregating near spawning areas
- Small baitfish utilizing emerging vegetation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-65 | - Smallmouth Bass actively spawning and defending beds in shallow areas, particularly around hard bottom and rock transitions
- Fish are cruising shallow areas, alternating between spawning activity and feeding opportunities around nearby structure
| - Rock-weed transition areas in 2-6 feet of water
- Protected shallow bays with hard bottom composition
- Rocky points and sheltered coves with spawning substrate
| - Structure Jigs worked slowly around rock transitions
- Bladed Jigs (Chatterbaits) for covering water and triggering reaction strikes
- Tubes dragged slowly near spawning areas
| - Bluegill concentrating in shallow spawning areas
- Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 47-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning to summer patterns, actively feeding but affected by cold fronts and weather changes as evidenced in recent reports
- Fish are utilizing vegetation edges as primary feeding zones, moving between shallow and deeper sections of weed beds based on conditions
| - Weed edges in 2-8 foot depth range, particularly where vegetation meets deeper water
- Massive pondweed beds with scattered post-spawn fish
- Protected areas within matted grass, especially during adverse weather conditions
| - Drop Shot along weed edges, working both inside and outside edges
- Neko Rigs fan-cast along vegetation mats
- Bladed Jigs (chatterbaits) and spinnerbaits worked along weed edges
| - Bluegill in and around vegetation
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge in weed beds
| - Pink Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing weed-rock transition areas as primary feeding zones, especially during morning and evening periods
| - Weed-rock transition zones in 4-8 feet of water
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays
- Shallow flats with mixed vegetation and hard bottom
| - Bladed Jigs worked through vegetation edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily along transitions
- Tubes dragged along hard bottom areas
| - Bluegill gathering in newly emerging weed growth
- Young of year baitfish starting to appear in shallows
- Crayfish becoming more active in transition areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
