| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 54-62 | - Bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding but remaining near deep water access
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with increased feeding activity around emerging vegetation
| - Grass lines adjacent to deeper water, particularly emerging submerged vegetation
- Secondary points and ledges near spawning bays
- Protected shallow coves with early vegetation growth
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through grass
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled along grass edges
- Wacky Rigs worked around ledges and transition areas
| - Shad schools staging in pre-spawn areas
- Minnows relating to emerging vegetation
- Early season bluegill activity in shallow areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish following daily temperature patterns, moving shallower in afternoons when water warms and deeper during cooler periods
| - Rocky points and transition areas adjacent to spawning flats in 4-10 foot depth range
- Offshore humps and rock piles near deep-water wintering areas
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in protected coves
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure, especially effective during cold fronts and early morning
- Blade Baits for actively feeding fish, particularly effective over offshore structure
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky transitions
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small perch in transitional areas
- Bluegill starting to move shallow
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Largemouth bass transitioning into spawning phase, moving from pre-spawn staging areas to shallow spawning pockets with protection from wind and easy access to deeper water
- Fish actively feeding on bluegill in the shallows and responding aggressively to baits banged into hard cover like rocks and brush
| - Rock piles and boulders in 4-10ft flats leading into spawning pockets
- Flooded brush with nearby deep water access
- Submerged vegetation in protected spawning bays
| - Bladed Jigs worked around rock piles and through vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) skipped under overhanging cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked through submerged vegetation
| - Bluegill concentrating in spawning areas
- Crawfish active around rocky areas and brush
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 54-65 | - Smallmouth bass are moving into spawning areas, focusing on rocky and gravel areas in 4-10 foot depths. Pre-spawn feeding is aggressive as they prepare for spawning activities.
- Males are establishing and guarding nesting sites while females stage nearby, making multiple trips between deeper transitional areas and spawning flats.
| - Rocky points and shorelines with gravel or boulder substrate in 4-10 foot depths
- Protected coves with hard bottom and nearby deep water access
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water staging areas
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rocky points and spawning flats
- Tubes dragged and hopped around boulder areas and gravel beds
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near staging areas
| - Perch congregating near spawning areas
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Minnows active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-71 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding and recovering, holding near submerged vegetation adjacent to spawning areas
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, showing preference for grass edges and dock areas
| - Submerged vegetation near docks
- Deep grass edges in 8-12 foot range
- Secondary points with vegetation
| - Swim Jigs worked slowly through submerged grass
- Bladed Jigs around vegetation edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through thick grass patches
| - Bluegill in shallow vegetation
- Young of year perch near grass edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 65-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, utilizing both reaction strikes and methodical feeding patterns around structure
- Fish are transitioning between shallow spawning areas and summer locations, making frequent stops at transitional structure like humps
| - Offshore humps in 4-10 foot depth range with rocky or hard bottom composition
- Secondary points with mixed rock and vegetation near deeper water access
- Transitional areas between spawning flats and summer deep structure
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly with twitching action along bottom structure
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily along the edges of structure
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic action to trigger reaction strikes
| - Bluegill in and around vegetation edges
- Small baitfish relating to rocky structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Pink Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
