Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Pre-spawn bass are actively moving into the backs of pockets and creek arms, transitioning from winter patterns to spawning areas
- Fish are establishing ambush points near deep water access, particularly around flooded cover and grass edges
| - Flooded brush and cover in the backs of creek arms
- Rock points and rip rap areas offering warmth
- Grassy areas adjacent to creek channels
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around flooded cover
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along rock and rip rap
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through grass
| - Crawfish becoming active around rocky areas
- Minnows in grassy areas
- Shad schools in creek arms
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 55-65 | - Pre-spawn crappie are transitioning from deeper winter areas to shallow spawning zones, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are staging near spawning areas and becoming more aggressive, especially during warmer periods of the day
| - Brush piles in 8-12 feet of water near spawning flats
- Protected coves with submerged vegetation
- Bridge pylons and man-made structure adjacent to spawning areas
| - Bobbers with live minnows around brush piles
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Crappie Spider Rigging
| | - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | White Bass | 52-62 | - White bass staging in pre-spawn areas near tributary mouths and current breaks, actively feeding as they prepare for spawning
- Schools moving in waves through shallow flats and along channel edges during warming trends
| - Tributary mouths and incoming channel areas with current breaks
- Secondary points and flats adjacent to spawning areas
- Standing timber areas near creek channels
| - Blade Baits worked vertically along channel edges
- Lipless Crankbaits retrieved through shallow staging areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along current breaks
| - Schooling shad in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small baitfish concentrating near current breaks
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn Striped Bass are actively feeding and staging near spawning tributaries, following shad schools in transitional areas
- Fish are making movements from winter deep water patterns to shallower staging areas, particularly during warming trends
| - River channel meets main lake points and flats - prime staging areas
- Rip rap banks near tributary entrances - warming water attracts bait
- Secondary points with access to deeper water - transition staging areas
| - Umbrella Rigs - mimics spring shad schools
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) - effective for actively feeding fish
- Bladed Jigs - creates reaction strikes in stained water
| - Shad schools beginning spring movements
- Small baitfish congregating in warming areas
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Bass are transitioning to spawning areas, moving from pre-spawn staging areas to shallow flats and protected spawning pockets near rock banks and grass
- Fish are becoming more aggressive and territorial as they prepare for and engage in spawning activities, with frequent feeding on bluegill in shallow areas
| - Rock banks with adjacent grass - primary spawning areas
- Protected coves with hard bottom and cover
- Shallow flats near deep water access
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) - proven effective in recent reports for working through grass and around rocks
- Soft Jerkbaits - excellent for targeting pre-spawn fish
- Spinnerbaits - effective in turbid water conditions around vegetation
| - Bluegill - primary forage noted in recent fishing reports
- Crawfish - active in rocky areas during spring warming
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie moving shallow (2-8 feet) to spawn around brush piles, vegetation, and laydowns in protected areas
- Males establishing and guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper, making frequent moves between staging and spawning areas
- Actively feeding during dawn and dusk periods, with increased activity on warmer days
| - Protected coves with brush piles and laydowns in 2-8 feet of water
- Secondary points near spawning areas with submerged vegetation
- Bridge pylons and deeper structure in 8-12 feet for staging fish
| - Bobbers with small jigs worked around shallow cover
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) for precise presentations to visible structure
- Crappie Spider Rigging for targeting staging fish in slightly deeper water
| - Small minnows and shad fry
- Small insects and larvae around vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | White Bass | 58-68 | - White bass are actively spawning in tributary areas and current breaks, with males arriving first followed by females
- Fish move in waves from deeper pre-spawn staging areas to shallow spawning grounds, particularly active during dawn and dusk
| - Tributary mouths and river sections with moderate current
- Standing timber areas near spawning flats in 2-6 feet of water
- Rocky points and gravel areas adjacent to deeper water
| - Inline Spinners worked parallel to current breaks
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') around timber and points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for imitating shad
| - Shad schools in tributary areas
- Small baitfish gathering in spawning areas
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-68 | - Striped Bass are actively spawning in river sections and tributary areas, making aggressive movements between pre-spawn staging areas and spawning grounds
- Fish are schooling heavily and making frequent shallow water appearances, especially during dawn and dusk periods
- Post-spawn fish begin transitioning back to main lake points and channel edges, following shad movements
| - River channel areas and tributary inflows where spawning activity occurs
- Main lake points adjacent to spawning areas for staging fish
- Rip rap banks and bridge pillars near spawning grounds
| - Large Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked parallel to spawning areas
- Umbrella Rigs for actively feeding fish around points
- Spinnerbaits in shallow water during lowlight periods
| - Large schools of pre-spawn shad
- Small baitfish congregating near spawning areas
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 54-68 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding in shallow areas, particularly early in the day before wind creates turbidity
- Fish are relating to emergent vegetation and shoreline cover, showing aggressive feeding behavior on both shad and crawfish
| - Reed lines and pocket areas within vegetation
- Secondary points with shoreline weeds and cattails
- Flooded brush in shallow water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting pockets in vegetation
- Bladed Jigs worked along weed edges
- Swim Jigs through scattered vegetation
| - Shad moving into shallow areas
- Crawfish active in rocky and vegetated areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are relating to structure in 8-15 feet of water, moving between brush piles and bridge pylons
- Most active during morning and evening periods, suspending near structure during midday
| - Brush piles and laydowns in 8-15 feet adjacent to spawning flats
- Bridge pylons and man-made structure near deeper water
- Submerged vegetation edges where they transition to deeper water
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Small shad and minnows
- Young-of-year baitfish
- Small bluegill
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | White Bass | 58-72 | - White bass are actively schooling in post-spawn patterns, using standing timber as ambush points for feeding on shad
- Fish are staying in the upper water column due to turbid conditions (1.9m Secchi), particularly active during low-light periods
| - Standing timber areas in shallow to medium depth zones
- Current breaks and river influence areas where shad congregate
- Points and irregular shoreline features near deeper water
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked around timber
- Spinnerbaits parallel to timber lines
- Lipless Crankbaits for covering water and locating active schools
| - Shad schools in upper water column
- Small baitfish relating to timber
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn Striped Bass are actively feeding to recover energy, moving between river and main lake areas following shad schools
- Fish are becoming more aggressive and will stage near current-swept points and rip rap areas for ambush feeding opportunities
| - Current-swept main lake points where river channels meet the main lake
- Rip rap areas along channel edges
- Bridge pillars and adjacent deep water access
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked along depth transitions
- Spinnerbaits parallel to rip rap in low light conditions
- Umbrella Rigs for actively feeding fish around bait schools
| - Shad schools moving from spawning areas to main lake
- Small baitfish utilizing current breaks near structure
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|