| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-62 | - Pre-spawn bass moving from winter depths to staging areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish becoming more active during warming trends, particularly in afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation, especially near deeper water access
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Docks adjacent to spawning flats providing staging areas
| - Jerkbaits worked slowly with long pauses near emerging vegetation
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through sparse vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around docks and emerging cover
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Perch in transitional areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Fish are transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming temperatures
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with aggressive reaction strikes common on moving baits
- Using transitions between deep wintering areas and shallow spawning flats as primary movement corridors
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning flats, especially those with rock or boulder structure
- Transition areas between deep water and shallow flats in 8-15 foot range
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in protected bays
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses over points and transitions
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock transitions
- Blade Baits worked vertically through suspended fish
| - Shad schools suspending near points and channel breaks
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy in rocky areas
- Small baitfish relating to warming shallow areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 48-58 | - Moving from deep winter haunts to warming shallows (8-15 feet), staging near spawning areas
- Actively feeding during warming trends, with peak activity during afternoon hours when water temperatures rise
- Congregating in pre-spawn schools, often relating to structure near spawning flats
| - Protected coves with brush piles in 8-15 foot depth range
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Submerged vegetation edges near shallow flats
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Hover/Mid-Strolling
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
| - Small minnows gathering in warming shallows
- Early-season aquatic invertebrates near vegetation
- Young-of-year baitfish schools
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-68 | - Pre-spawn to spawning behavior, with fish moving from staging areas to shallow spawning flats and protected areas
- Males actively guarding nests in shallow areas, while females move between deeper staging areas and spawning zones
| - Protected docks in 2-6 foot depths, especially those near spawning flats
- Shallow vegetation edges in protected coves
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Shakey Heads worked slowly around dock posts and pilings
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for targeting under docks and near cover
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near spawning areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegill near spawning areas
- Young of year baitfish beginning to appear
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-65 | - Mix of spawning and pre-spawn fish at 62°F, actively moving between staging areas and spawning flats
- Aggressive response to moving baits in wind, showing active feeding behavior on rock structures
- Post-frontal conditions may require slower presentations with hair jigs and tubes
| - Marked rock points with adjacent deeper water
- Rocky areas in 4-8 foot range for spawning activity
- Wind-blown structure and main lake points
| - Hard Jerkbaits with long casts on windy days
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly near bottom
- Tubes dragged off rocky edges
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-65 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow flats and moving into spawning areas as water temperatures stabilize
- Actively feeding during daylight hours, especially during warming trends
- Males guarding nests in protected areas while females move between deep and shallow water
| - Protected shallow bays with brush piles and submerged vegetation in 2-6 feet of water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Transition areas between deep water and spawning flats
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Bobbers
- Crappie Dock Shooting
| - Small minnows
- Emerging insects
- Zooplankton
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed more aggressively, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing shallow vegetation edges and dock areas as primary feeding zones, especially during morning and evening periods
| - Shallow vegetation edges where milfoil and cabbage grass meet deeper water (4-8 feet)
- Docks adjacent to spawning flats, especially those with deeper water access
- Secondary points with emerging vegetation in 2-6 foot depth range
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around vegetation edges and dock posts
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges and between docks
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses over emerging vegetation
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
- Young of year perch in emerging weed growth
- Crawfish active in warmer shallow areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-65 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are transitioning off beds but remaining relatively shallow, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish showing mixed behavior with some still on beds while others are beginning to move to early summer patterns
| - Rocky points and shallow boulder fields in 5-15 foot range
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
- Main lake points with access to open water
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic retrieves in shallow to mid-depths
- Drop Shot rigs worked slowly around rock piles
- Tubes dragged along rocky transitions
| - Shad (primary forage based on recent reports)
- Crayfish emerging in rocky areas
- Small baitfish in shallow water
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappies are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are showing increased schooling behavior, gathering around newly emerging weed growth and brush piles
- Feeding activity peaks during early morning and evening hours, with fish moving between depths based on light conditions
| - Emerging weed edges in 8-15 foot depths, especially near points and inside turns
- Brush piles adjacent to spawning flats in 12-18 foot depths
- Suspended fish relating to creek channel edges near spawning bays
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Small minnows and fry
- Emerging aquatic insects
- Zooplankton in deeper water columns
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
