| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 52-62 | - Fish are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming temperatures
- Spotted bass following blueback herring and shad movements into shallower water, with increased feeding activity
| - Secondary points and channel swings near spawning pockets
- Brush piles in 10-15 foot depth range near spawning areas
- Rocky transitions from points to spawning pockets
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near brush piles and points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) slow rolled through transitional areas
- Shakey Heads worked methodically around rocky areas and brush
| - Blueback Herring moving shallow with warming trends
- Shad schools transitioning to spawning areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Largemouth bass transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming trends
- Fish moving from deeper winter holding areas to shallower transition zones, especially on sunny days
- Feeding activity increases as bass prepare for spawn, with aggressive responses to prey around staging areas
| - Secondary points leading into spawning pockets, especially those with brush piles
- Docks adjacent to deeper water in protected coves
- Shallow ledges and transition areas near spawning flats
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through transition zones
- Bladed Jigs around brush and dock posts
- Soft Jerkbaits for suspended fish near staging areas
| - Shad schools gathering in pre-spawn staging areas
- Bluegill beginning to become more active in shallower areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-65 | - Moving from winter depths to shallow, warmer areas (2-8 feet) as water temperatures rise
- Beginning to stage near spawning areas but still actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Congregating in protected pockets and coves that warm faster than main lake areas
| - Protected coves with fallen trees and brush piles in 2-8 feet of water
- Shallow dock areas that receive afternoon sun
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or worms suspended under bobbers
- Ice Fishing Jigs worked slowly near cover
- Micro Crankbaits retrieved steadily in shallow areas
| - Small minnows gathering in warming shallows
- Emerging aquatic insects
- Small crawfish becoming active in warmer areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 62-70 | - Spotted bass actively spawning and staging near spawning areas with water temperatures around 67°F
- Fish making frequent transitions between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones
- Aggressive feeding periods occurring during pre- and post-spawn phases, targeting blueback herring and shad
| - Points adjacent to spawning pockets, as evidenced by recent fishing success
- Brush piles in 8-15 foot range, particularly those near spawning areas
- Rocky areas and shallow flats in protected coves
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) - matching the herring and shad forage base
- Soft Jerkbaits - successful pattern noted in recent reports
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') - effective for covering water and triggering reaction strikes
| - Blueback Herring - primary forage noted in recent reports
- Shad - secondary forage mentioned in fishing reports
- Small Baitfish - typical spring forage in southeastern reservoirs
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, moving from staging areas to shallow spawning flats. Males will be guarding nests while females move between deeper staging areas and spawning zones
- Fish are becoming increasingly aggressive and territorial, particularly around shallow cover and potential spawning sites
| - Protected shallow pockets near docks and laydowns where spawning beds will be established
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Brush piles in 8-12 feet adjacent to spawning flats for staging fish
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible cover and potential bed areas
- Swim Jigs worked through shallow areas and around dock posts
- Soft Jerkbaits for covering water and targeting staging fish
| - Pre-spawn shad schools moving into spawning pockets
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow around docks and cover
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegill actively moving into shallow, protected areas to establish spawning beds, particularly around fallen trees and brush piles
- Males becoming territorial and aggressive while guarding nesting sites in 2-4 feet of water
- Feeding activity increases during pre-spawn, with fish actively seeking food near shoreline structure
| - Protected coves with firm bottom near shoreline structure
- Shallow areas adjacent to docks with brush piles
- Shallow bays with fallen trees and natural wood cover
| - Bobbers with small live bait or micro jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly around spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs fished near brush piles and dock areas
| - Small minnows
- Aquatic insects
- Zooplankton
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 68-75 | - Post-spawn spotted bass actively feeding on blueback herring while transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are relating to hard structure (points and rock piles) and likely suspending near these areas to intercept baitfish
| - Main lake points with rock structure
- Rock piles near spawning pockets
- Brush piles in 15-25 foot range
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked along points and rock structure
- Finesse Jigs dragged slowly through rocky areas
- Shakey Heads worked around brush piles
| - Blueback Herring schooling near points
- Crawfish in rocky areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Recovering post-spawn largemouth are transitioning to active feeding patterns, moving between shallow cover and nearby deeper water
- Fish are establishing predictable daily movements, especially around points and dock areas that provide both shade and access to deeper water
- Actively feeding during early morning and late evening, with shad being the primary forage target
| - Docks with deep water access, especially those near points
- Brush piles in 8-15 feet of water adjacent to spawning areas
- Main lake points with proximity to shallow coves
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic retrieves around docks and points
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting dock posts and brush
- Spinnerbaits worked parallel to points during lowlight periods
| - Shad schools beginning to gather in post-spawn patterns
- Smaller baitfish relating to dock areas and brush
- Crawfish active in rocky areas and around dock posts
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Aggressive post-spawn feeding behavior in shallow to mid-depth areas, focusing on abundant forage in stained water conditions
- Establishing patterns around shallow cover and structure, particularly active during morning and evening periods
| - Protected shallow coves with fallen trees and brush piles in 2-6 feet of water
- Dock areas with adjacent vegetation in 4-8 feet of water
- Secondary points with rock structure transitioning to deeper water
| - Bobbers with live bait or small jigs around structure
- Inline Spinners worked slowly near cover
- Micro Crankbaits parallel to shoreline structure
| - Small minnows in shallow water
- Emerging aquatic insects
- Small crawfish near rocky areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
