| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from winter depths to staging areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, moving from deeper wintering areas to shallower staging points
| - Secondary points and steep breaks adjacent to spawning flats in 5-8 foot range
- Emerging lily pad roots and stems in 3-6 foot range
- Hard bottom areas near deeper wintering holes in 8-12 foot range
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along emerging vegetation edges
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled through sparse vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked methodically through transition areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Young-of-year bluegill in shallow warming areas
- Small baitfish moving shallow with warming trends
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Males staging near shallow spawning flats, creating and guarding nests in protected areas with firm bottom
- Females moving between pre-spawn staging areas (5-8ft) and shallow spawning zones, making frequent feeding movements
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging lily pad growth (2-4ft)
- Firm bottom areas adjacent to deeper water (4-6ft)
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around emerging vegetation and shallow cover
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly over spawning flats
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along transition areas
| - Bluegill beginning their pre-spawn movements
- Small crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed heavily, transitioning between shallow spawning areas and early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing lily pad edges and deeper vegetation as primary cover, making feeding movements into 5-10 foot depths during prime periods
| - Outer edges of lily pad fields where they meet slightly deeper water (5-8 feet)
- Sparse pad areas with access to deeper water nearby
- Emerging deep weedlines forming in the 8-12 foot range
| - Swim Jigs worked through sparse pads and along edges
- Soft Jerkbaits fished with slight pauses near vegetation edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through patches of vegetation
| - Bluegill beginning their spawning activities
- Young of the year baitfish becoming more abundant
- Juvenile crawfish active in vegetation
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
- Purple Colors
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