| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Fish are transitioning from winter depths to shallow spawning areas, staging on the first significant break adjacent to spawning flats
- Actively feeding during warming trends, particularly during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
- Moving between deep winter holdover areas and pre-spawn staging points based on daily temperature fluctuations
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays with good sun exposure
- Submerged humps near spawning flats, especially those with emerging vegetation
- Deep weedline edges in 14-18 foot range that provide access to both deep and shallow water
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along emerging vegetation edges
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled through staging areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in cooler periods
| - Bluegills congregating near emerging vegetation
- Crawfish becoming active with warming temperatures
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-55 | - Transitioning from winter deep water areas to shallow warming bays, staging near access points to spawning areas
- Feeding activity increases as water temperatures rise, with fish becoming more active during afternoon warming periods
| - Rocky points and transition areas adjacent to spawning bays in 8-15 foot depth
- Offshore rock humps in 20-25 foot range near spawning areas
- Protected coves with gradually sloping bottoms that warm quickly
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses in transition areas
- Tubes dragged slowly across rocky structure
| - Yellow Perch moving shallow with warming trends
- Bluegills in warming bays near cover
- Juvenile crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Largemouth bass transitioning from pre-spawn staging areas to spawning flats, with males preparing and guarding nests in protected areas
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, with fish becoming more active during warming trends
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with firm bottom composition, particularly those with emerging vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays, especially those with gradual slopes
- Shallow dock areas in 2-6 foot depths that offer cover and warming water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and bedding areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly through spawning flats
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and working around visible beds
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow for their own spawning preparation
- Small baitfish utilizing warming shallow waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Staging near shallow spawning flats in 5-15 feet, moving between pre-spawn feeding areas and spawning locations
- Males actively guarding nests in protected areas while females move between deep and shallow water
| - Protected shallow bays with gravel or small rock bottom adjacent to deeper water
- Rock and boulder structures in 8-15 foot depth range near spawning flats
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly around spawning areas and transition zones
- Tubes dragged and hopped across rocky areas
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for sight fishing bedding fish
| - Small yellow perch in transitional areas
- Bluegills near shallow cover
- Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are utilizing multiple depth ranges, moving between shallow cover and deeper weedline edges as they follow warming water temperatures
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays where fish stage during post-spawn recovery
- Emerging weedlines in 8-12 foot depth range, especially near deeper water access
- Docks providing shade and cover in 5-8 foot depths
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked erratically around emerging vegetation and points
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through transitional areas
- Spinnerbaits parallel to developing weedlines
| - Bluegill beginning to school in early summer patterns
- Young of year baitfish emerging in shallows
- Crawfish active in warmer shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-68 | - Actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, targeting both crayfish and small fish near rocky structures
- Moving between shallow and intermediate depths (8-25 feet) throughout the day based on light conditions and forage activity
| - Rocky points and offshore rock humps in 15-25 foot range
- Shallow boulder fields and transition areas near deeper water
- Complex shoreline areas with mixed rock and vegetation in 8-15 feet
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly along rock transitions
- Ned Rigs dragged and hopped through rocky areas
- Tubes worked with a slow drag-and-hop retrieve around boulders
| - Crayfish emerging and active on rocky structures
- Yellow Perch in small schools near vegetation edges
- Small Bluegills along shallow rock-weed transitions
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
