| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-60 | - Smallmouth bass are actively staging on pre-spawn transition areas, showing preference for rocky structure in 4-20 foot depth range
- Fish are responding to baitfish movements, with light bites requiring slow presentations in cooler water
| - Isolated boulders and rock piles in 4-12 feet of water, especially those near deeper water
- Secondary points with rock and baitfish presence, particularly those leading into spawning pockets
- Bluff walls in 15-20 foot range with proximity to spawning areas
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked slowly with occasional bottom contact, especially effective on points and around boulders
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved slowly near bottom structure
- Drop Shot rigged with finesse baits worked along rock structure
| - Shad - primary forage based on multiple fishing reports
- Alewife - mentioned in reports as secondary forage
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-58 | - Staging on rock and gravel transitions near spawning areas, actively feeding on crawfish in 12-14 foot depths
- Utilizing current breaks and protected pockets along rock walls to ambush baitfish
| - Rock piles and boulder transitions on moderately sloping banks
- Current-protected pockets near rock walls with access to spawning flats
- Secondary points with rock-to-gravel transitions
| - Finesse Jigs worked slowly along rock transitions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) in current seams
- Wacky Rigs along rocky shorelines
| - Crawfish emerging and active on rocky structures
- Alewife concentrating in current-influenced areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn striped bass are actively feeding and staging near spawning tributaries and adjacent main lake points
- Fish are making upward movements in the water column as temperatures warm, following baitfish schools
- Most active during early morning and late evening, utilizing current breaks and ambush points
| - Creek mouths and tributary intersections where pre-spawn stripers stage
- Main lake points adjacent to spawning areas
- Rock walls and steep shorelines with current breaks
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through bait schools and along channel edges
- Large Hair Jigs (Preacher) worked vertically in 15-25 feet
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled near structure
| - Schooling shad moving into warmer, shallower waters
- Larger gizzard shad in deeper transition areas
- Various baitfish congregating near spawning areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-63 | - Smallmouth bass are in spawning mode, with some fish actively on beds while others are in post-frontal transition moving between spawning areas and slightly deeper water
- Fish are showing a preference for boulder and gravel areas, particularly isolated structure that provides both spawning habitat and quick access to deeper water
| - Isolated boulder fields with nearby gravel beds in 5-15 foot depth range
- Protected coves with rock or gravel bottom structure
- Rocky points adjacent to spawning bays
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly around boulder structure
- Drop Shot with light finesse presentations
- Tubes dragged slowly across gravel beds
| - Crawfish emerging from winter patterns around rock structure
- Small baitfish relating to spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Largemouth bass are in their spawning phase, moving from pre-spawn staging areas to shallow spawning flats, particularly around boulder-strewn areas as indicated in recent reports
- Fish are actively guarding nests in shallow water, with increased aggression towards intrusive baits. Water temperature of 68°F indicates peak spawning activity
| - Shallow boulder fields and rock piles, particularly in protected spawning bays
- Secondary points with rock transitions leading into spawning pockets
- Laydowns and brush piles adjacent to spawning flats
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through shallow rock fields
- Soft Jerkbaits fished with erratic action near spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs deadsticked near visible beds
| - Crawfish emerging around rocky areas
- Small bluegill and perch in spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-68 | - Striped bass are staging in pre-spawn areas, moving from winter deep-water haunts towards spawning tributaries and creek arms
- Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with heightened activity during morning and evening periods
- Schools are breaking up into smaller groups, following baitfish movements and responding to current breaks
| - Creek mouths and tributary intersections where spawning runs will occur
- Main lake points adjacent to spawning areas
- Rock walls and current breaks near deeper staging areas
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through transitional depths near spawning areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled along channel edges
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') around bait schools
| - Shad schools congregating near spawning areas
- Herring moving into tributary areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, taking advantage of current breaks and rocky structure while transitioning to summer patterns
- Fish are moving between shallow recovery areas and deeper staging points, especially along bluff walls and rock piles in 15-20 foot zones
| - Rocky points and boulder fields adjacent to spawning flats
- Current-swept bluff walls in 15-20 foot depth range
- Wind-driven points with rock structure and baitfish presence
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly along rock transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped through rocky areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to bluff walls
| - Crawfish emerging from winter patterns
- Small shad schools beginning to form
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Bass are actively feeding on shad in post-spawn transition areas, with reports showing both shallow cover activity and schooling behavior
- Fish are splitting time between shallow cover and nearby deeper water, showing aggressive reactions to moving baits
| - Main lake rock banks with laydowns and brush
- Secondary points near creek channels
- Flats adjacent to deeper water
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to banks and through cover
- Bladed Jigs around rocky transitions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for schooling fish
| - Shad (primary forage based on multiple reports of surface activity)
- Crawfish (secondary forage around rocky areas)
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn stripers are actively recovering and feeding, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to main lake structure while following shad schools
- Fish are most active during early morning and late evening periods, showing aggressive feeding behavior around points and creek mouths
| - Main lake points and creek mouths where baitfish transition between shallow and deep water
- Rock walls and current-swept areas where bait gets concentrated
- Secondary points in major creek arms near deep water access
| - Umbrella Rigs worked along depth transitions to target actively feeding fish
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked parallel to rocky points and walls
- Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') with artificial lures around bait schools
| - Shad schools congregating around points and creek mouths
- Various baitfish species utilizing current-swept areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
