| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Fish are transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving progressively shallower as water temperatures rise, relating heavily to emerging reed growth and remaining winter vegetation
| - Reed edges in 3-7 foot depth range, especially where they intersect with points or subtle depth changes
- Secondary points with mixed hard bottom leading into spawning bays
- Deeper vegetation edges adjacent to spawning flats that provide staging areas
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through and around emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled near reed edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked methodically through reed clumps
| - Bluegill concentrated near emerging vegetation
- Crawfish becoming active on hard bottom areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-55 | - Fish staging in pre-spawn areas, moving from winter depths to transitional structure while preparing for spawning
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with most active periods during early morning and afternoon
- Smallmouth showing aggressive reaction strikes in clear water conditions, especially around structure transitions
| - Rocky points adjacent to deeper wintering areas
- Transition areas between deep water and shallow flats
- Secondary points with mixed rock and reed cover
- Shallow rock and gravel flats warming earliest in the day
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses
- Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Tubes dragged on rocky transitions
- Ned Rigs worked slowly on pre-spawn staging areas
| - Young-of-year perch
- Small shiners
- Early season crawfish
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Largemouth bass moving into shallow spawning areas near reed beds in 3-7 foot depths, actively establishing and guarding nests
- Males become territorial and aggressive during nest defense, while females stage in slightly deeper water near spawning flats
| - Reed bed edges in 3-7 foot depths, especially where they meet harder bottom
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation, particularly on the north side of the lake
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats with mixed bottom composition
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around reed edges and sparse vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly parallel to spawning areas
- Shakey Heads for sight fishing located beds
| - Bluegill moving into similar spawning areas
- Crayfish becoming more active in warming shallows
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Male smallmouth bass actively guarding nests in shallow protected areas, typically 2-6 feet deep, with females staging nearby in slightly deeper water
- Most aggressive during the pre-spawn period, with defensive behavior once on beds
- Feeding activity peaks during early morning and afternoon hours, typical of clear water patterns
| - Protected shallow bays with hard bottom (sand/gravel/rock) in 2-6 feet of water
- Points and rocky areas adjacent to spawning flats
- Reed line transitions near hard bottom areas
| - Tubes worked slowly through spawning areas
- Ned Rigs for finesse presentations around beds
- Hard Jerkbaits for targeting pre-spawn fish and females staging near spawning areas
| - Bluegill in shallow spawning areas
- Small shiners around reed edges
- Young-of-year perch in transitional areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are relating heavily to reed edges and nearby drop-offs, making feeding forays into 3-7 foot depths
| - Reed line edges where they meet deeper water (3-7 foot range)
- Secondary points with mixed rock and vegetation near spawning bays
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water with emerging vegetation
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to reed edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in and around reed patches
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along transitions
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow areas near vegetation
- Young of the year baitfish beginning to emerge
- Crayfish becoming more active in warmer water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-68 | - Smallmouth bass are actively feeding in shallow water (3-7 feet) during morning and early afternoon hours, showing aggressive post-spawn behavior
- Fish become more selective as sun gets higher, transitioning from aggressive topwater strikes to suspended feeding patterns
| - Points adjacent to reed lines in 3-7 feet of water
- Rocky transitions near shallow flats
- Hard structure areas with bluegill spawning activity
| - Hard Topwater (Walking) with aggressive retrieves during early morning
- Hard Jerkbaits with fast cadence as sun rises
- Finesse Hair Jigs for following fish and midday periods
| - Bluegill in shallow spawning areas
- Shiners and young perch in open water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
