| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Actively feeding and staging in pre-spawn areas, relating heavily to emerging vegetation in moderate depths
- Moving between deeper staging areas and shallower spawning zones, particularly active during warming trends
| - Weed edges in 14-foot depth range parallel to docks
- Protected areas between docks with emerging vegetation
- Secondary points with vegetation leading to spawning bays
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses parallel to structure
- Lipless Crankbaits burned over emerging vegetation
- Spinnerbaits worked along dock edges and through vegetation
| - Yellow Perch
- Bluegills
- Minnows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Crappies staging in pre-spawn locations, forming loose schools near spawning areas
- Active feeding during daylight hours as they prepare for spawn
- Concentrating in shallow to mid-depth zones due to moderate water turbidity
| - Submerged vegetation in 4-8 foot depth range
- Protected coves with warming water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) with 1/32 oz or lighter jigheads
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around vegetation
- Bobbers with suspended plastics for precise depth control
| - Small minnows in 1-2 inch range
- Aquatic invertebrates near vegetation
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-68 | - Bass moving shallow (2-8 feet) to spawn, with males establishing and guarding nests while females stage nearby
- Pre-spawn feeding activity increases as water warms, with fish actively patrolling shoreline areas
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom near submerged vegetation
- Shallow areas adjacent to docks providing spawning habitat
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting shallow cover and visible beds
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around staging areas
- Swim Jigs around emerging vegetation
| - Bluegills moving shallow ahead of spawn
- Small perch in vegetation edges
- Minnows schooling in warming shallows
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappies staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow flats and moving into spawning zones, most active during dawn and dusk periods
- Males establishing and guarding nesting areas in protected shallow water, while females stage slightly deeper until ready to spawn
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with submerged vegetation in 2-6 feet of water
- Docks and other man-made structures adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays with scattered vegetation
| - Crappie Dock Shooting - effective for targeting fish holding tight to dock structure
- Bobbers - suspended presentations over spawning areas and around vegetation
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) - precise presentations to visible beds and structure
| - Small minnows congregating in spawning areas
- Aquatic invertebrates active in warming shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, particularly around emerging weed growth and dock structures
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, utilizing multiple depth zones throughout the day
| - Emerging weed edges in 8-14 foot depth range
- Dock structures adjacent to deeper water
- Points and coves with submerged vegetation
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through emerging vegetation
- Swim Jigs paralleling weed edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water
| - Bluegills beginning to spawn in shallower areas
- Young of year perch in emerging weed growth
- Minnows schooling around dock structures
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappies are transitioning to deeper water and beginning to form loose schools near submerged vegetation and dock areas
- Feeding patterns become more active as fish recover from spawn, with peak activity during morning and evening periods
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 8-12 feet of water
- Dock areas with 6-10 feet of depth
- Deeper basin edges where vegetation meets open water
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along weed edges and between docks
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding tight to structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') for suspended fish near cover
| - Small minnows suspending near vegetation
- Aquatic invertebrates in and around vegetation
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Pink Colors
|
