| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Pre-spawn bass are actively feeding and moving from winter locations to staging areas near spawning flats
- Fish are targeting perch around structure, particularly in the 4-7 foot depth range near submerged vegetation
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 4-7 foot depth range
- Laydowns and woody structure adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Transition areas where deep water meets emerging vegetation
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly around structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with long casts and steady retrieves
- Spinnerbaits along vegetation edges
| | - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-58 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are beginning to feed more aggressively but still maintaining deeper water access, primarily targeting yellow perch and other baitfish
| - Rocky points adjacent to deeper water, especially on the north side of the lake where water warms faster
- Secondary points in protected coves with rock and boulder transitions
- Deep water access areas near submerged vegetation in 12-15 foot range
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock transitions
- Blade Baits worked with slow, vertical presentations near deep structure
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky bottom transitions
| - Yellow Perch congregating near rocky structure
- Smaller baitfish holding in slightly deeper water
- Crawfish becoming more active as water warms
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Catfish | 64-71 | - Catfish are beginning to move from deeper winter haunts to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, especially near rocky structure and channel edges
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with most active periods during late afternoon and dusk
- Fish are targeting bottom-dwelling prey like crawfish while also opportunistically feeding on schools of perch
| - Rock piles and hard bottom areas transitioning from 12' to 30' depth
- Channel edges near submerged vegetation in 4-7' depth range
- Boat paths through lily pad fields that create natural funnels
| - Live Bait Rigs with bottom-bouncing presentation
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') along rock transitions
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly through staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter hibernation
- Perch schools in transition areas
- Bottom-dwelling invertebrates
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are in pre-spawn to spawning phase, actively moving between staging areas and shallow spawning flats
- Fish are feeding opportunistically on perch while maintaining proximity to spawning areas, particularly around submerged vegetation
| - Submerged vegetation in 4-5 feet of water, especially grass edges
- Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and vegetation
- Transitional areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Bladed Jigs slow rolled through vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked around grass edges
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly over vegetation
| | - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Pre-spawn fish staging on secondary points and moving into spawning areas as temperatures rise
- Males preparing and guarding nests in protected rocky areas, while females move between staging and spawning areas
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, particularly from male smallmouth
| - Protected rocky coves and bays with gravel or small boulder substrate
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow rock piles in 4-7 feet of water near grass edges
| - Tubes worked slowly around rocky areas and potential nest sites
- Ned Rigs with subtle presentations for pressured fish
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water to locate active fish
| - Yellow Perch congregating in similar spawning areas
- Small Crayfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Catfish | 64-72 | - Catfish moving into shallower areas (4-12 feet) near spawning locations, particularly around rock piles and hard bottom areas
- Increased feeding activity during pre-spawn, especially during dawn and dusk periods
- Males establishing and guarding nesting sites in protected areas near structure
| - Rock piles and boulder areas transitioning from 12' to 30' depth
- Protected coves with hard bottom areas
- Channel edges near submerged vegetation in 4-7' depth
| - Live Bait Rigs with bottom bouncing presentation
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') near structure
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly along bottom structure
| - Perch
- Crayfish
- Bottom-dwelling invertebrates
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 64-72 | - Fish are actively recovering from spawn, establishing post-spawn feeding patterns near submerged vegetation in 4-7 feet and transitioning to deeper rocky structure
- Bass are aggressively feeding to regain energy, particularly targeting perch and other baitfish around grass edges and depth transitions
| - Grass edges and weed lines in 4-7 feet of water, especially where they meet depth changes
- Secondary points with rock piles near deeper water access
- Shallow coves with emerging vegetation adjacent to deeper water
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to grass lines and over transitions
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through scattered vegetation and along edges
- Lipless Crankbaits through sparse vegetation and over hard bottom areas
| - Perch actively moving along grass edges
- Various sunfish species in shallow vegetation
- Emerging baitfish schools near vegetation edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 64-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer locations
- Fish are moving between shallow and mid-depth zones, responding to daily temperature changes and following perch movements
| - Rocky points and transitions adjacent to spawning flats in 4-7 feet
- Secondary rock piles near deeper water in 8-12 feet
- Areas where submerged vegetation meets rocky structure
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky transitions
- Ned Rigs dragged through scattered rock and vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish chasing perch
| - Yellow Perch congregating near rocky structure
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Catfish | 64-72 | - Catfish are actively feeding and recovering from spawn, seeking high-protein forage near structure and transitional areas
- Most active during dawn and dusk periods, moving between deeper daytime haunts and shallower feeding areas
| - Rock piles and hard bottom areas in 12-30' depth range, especially near vegetation transitions
- Channel areas through lily pad fields that create natural funnels
- Deep basin edges adjacent to shallow flats with submerged grass
| - Live Bait Rigs with bottom bouncing presentation
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') near structure
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly through transitional areas
| - Perch
- Crayfish
- Bottom-dwelling invertebrates
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
