| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-65 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning into pre-spawn patterns, actively feeding while moving towards spawning areas in shallow water
- Fish become more active as water temperatures rise throughout the day, with feeding increasing during warm periods
| - Shallow brush piles and laydowns in 5 feet or less of water
- Protected coves and bays with warming water
- Channel edges adjacent to shallow flats
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly around cover
- Ned Rigs worked along bottom near staging areas
- Tubes pitched to visible cover in shallow water
| - Small baitfish (including fatheads and shiners)
- Early season crawfish emerging from winter areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-65 | - Smallmouth bass are actively moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in areas with less stained water and temperatures around 64°F
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, willing to chase faster-moving baits like swimbaits in pre-spawn patterns
| - Sand Cut Slough and similar shallow areas (5 feet or less) with clearer water
- Protected areas with laydowns in shallow water
- Shallow flats that warm quickly in spring
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked with brisk retrieves
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around cover
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for clear water areas
| - Small baitfish (evident from swimbait success)
- Young of year perch
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Fish are actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, particularly around submerged vegetation as noted in recent reports
- Fish showing aggressive behavior with willingness to chase moving baits like spinnerbaits and swimbaits
- Moving between shallow spawning areas and early summer feeding zones along migration routes
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 5-10 feet of water, as supported by recent fishing reports
- Channel edges near Sand Cut Slough providing migration routes
- Mixed rock and vegetation areas where multiple structure types intersect
| - Spinnerbaits worked steadily through and over vegetation, matching recent successful reports
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish as noted in reports
- Swim Jigs around vegetation edges as an alternative power-fishing technique
| - Small baitfish schools as evidenced by swimbait success
- Young of year perch beginning to emerge
- Small bluegills around vegetation
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
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