| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-60 | - Bass are staging near spawning areas and feeding actively as they prepare for the spawn, utilizing transition zones between deeper winter areas and shallow spawning pockets
- Fish are showing increased activity in the mid-50s water temperatures, particularly around cover in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Steeper main lake points and bluffs leading into spawning pockets
- Rip rap banks with good sun exposure
- Laydowns and docks near the mouths of spawning pockets
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked slowly along points and steeper banks
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked along riprap
- Finesse Jigs around docks and laydowns
- Swim Jigs around laydowns in spawning pockets
| - Crawfish becoming active in the warming waters
- Shad present around points and deeper structure
- Bluegill in dock areas and near shallow cover
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-62 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging locations, actively feeding on crawfish around docks and rocky structure
- Fish are becoming more active with warming water temperatures, but still maintaining relatively close proximity to deeper water access
| - Docks with direct access to deeper water, especially those with rocky bottom composition
- Rocky points and transition areas adjacent to spawning flats
- Channel swing banks with rock or riprap structure
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly with extended bottom contact
- Ned Rigs dragged along bottom structure
- Football Jigs worked methodically around dock posts and rocky areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bottom-oriented baitfish
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 52-65 | - Spotted bass are transitioning from winter deep water patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming temperatures. They are beginning to move towards spawning flats but still maintaining access to deeper water.
- Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased aggression and reaction strikes in the moderately stained water conditions.
| - Secondary points and channel swing banks leading into spawning pockets
- Rocky banks with transition areas from chunk rock to pea gravel
- Brush piles in 12-15ft range adjacent to spawning flats
| - Bladed Jigs worked along rocky transitions and through staging areas
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') parallel to transitional banks
- Shakey Heads worked slowly around brush piles and rocky structure
| - Alewife schools transitioning from deep winter haunts to shallower pre-spawn areas
- Crawfish becoming more active on rocky banks with warming water
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 60-68 | - Fish are actively spawning with many on or near beds in protected pockets and creek arms
- Pre/post spawn fish transitioning between staging areas and bedding areas, showing aggressive territorial behavior
| - Protected backs of creek pockets with bedding areas
- Docks providing cover near spawning flats
- Brush piles adjacent to spawning areas
| - Drop Shot with 4-5 inch leader for precise bed fishing
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with lighter weights (3/16 oz) for shallow cover
- Ned Rigs for covering water to locate active fish
- Hard Topwater (Popping) during low light periods
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Minnows in and around bedding areas
- Shad in transitional areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-65 | - Transitioning from winter deep water to spawning areas, actively seeking warmer water in protected pockets and coves
- Males preparing and guarding nests in rocky areas, while females stage on nearby deep structure
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with aggressive territorial behavior near spawning sites
| - Protected rocky pockets and coves with pea gravel or small rock bottom in 2-8 feet
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Channel swing banks with rock transition areas
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky bottoms
- Ned Rigs dragged through potential spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked over staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish in warming shallows
- Juvenile bluegill around rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-68 | - Spotted bass transitioning to spawning areas in pockets and coves, staging on secondary points before moving shallow
- Males preparing and guarding nests in protected areas while females move between deep and shallow water
- Aggressive territorial behavior around spawning areas, particularly from males guarding nests
| - Protected rocky banks in coves and pockets with nearby deep water access
- Secondary points leading into spawning pockets
- Shallow rock piles in 2-8 foot depth range near spawning flats
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover and bedding areas
- Shakey Heads worked slowly on secondary points and transition areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for suspended pre-spawn fish
- Spinnerbaits worked parallel to spawning banks
| - Crawfish emerging in shallow rocky areas
- Alewife schools in nearby deeper water
- Small bluegill in spawning pockets
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding but scattered between shallow and intermediate depths
- Fish are showing mixed behavior patterns - some still relating to shallow cover while others are moving to steeper banks and points
| - Steeper banks and points with rock and rip rap
- Thick shallow cover including brush piles
- Secondary points leading to deeper water
| - Hard Topwater (Walking)
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12')
| | - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-72 | - Smallmouth bass are actively feeding and recovering from spawn, establishing feeding zones around key structure in moderate depths
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, making short migrations to nearby feeding areas
| - Rocky points adjacent to spawning pockets in 5-15 feet of water
- Channel swing banks with rock and brush in 8-20 feet
- Main lake rock piles near deep water access
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly along bottom structure
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky points and transitions
- Ned Rigs worked methodically through rocky areas
- Small Soft Body Swimbaits worked parallel to structure
| - Crawfish emerging and active on rocky structure
- Small baitfish relating to points and channel edges
- Young of year bluegill beginning to appear in shallower areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn spotted bass actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish staging on secondary points and nearby structure, making frequent movements between shallow and mid-depth zones
| - Secondary points with rocky structure in 8-15 foot depth range
- Brush piles adjacent to spawning pockets
- Rocky banks with access to deeper water
| - Shakey Heads worked slowly along rocky points and transitions
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to banks
- Spinnerbaits around brush and woody cover
| - Alewife schools moving to main lake areas
- Crawfish active on rocky structures
- Small bluegill in shallow areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
