| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-74 | - Pre-spawn bass are actively feeding and transitioning from winter areas to spawning flats, focusing on crawfish forage near gravel and sparse weed areas
- Fish are making periodic movements between deeper staging areas and shallow pre-spawn locations as they prepare for the upcoming spawn
| - Outside weed edges adjacent to gravel bars with sparse vegetation
- Secondary points and transitions leading to spawning flats
- Rocky humps and hard-bottom areas where crawfish are active
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along gravel bars and sparse weed edges
- Punch skirts with creature bait trailers for thicker vegetation patches
- Shallow diving crankbaits (squarebills) worked around transitional areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy and becoming more active
- Small baitfish relating to emerging weed growth
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-65 | - Bluegills moving from winter depths to warming shallows, staging near emerging weed growth and brush piles
- Actively feeding during warming trends, particularly during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
- Transitioning between deep winter haunts and pre-spawn areas, with movement patterns influenced by daily temperature fluctuations
| - Outside edges of emerging weed growth in 6-12 foot depths
- Brush piles adjacent to spawning flats in 8-15 foot depths
- Protected coves with early warming trends, especially those with dark bottoms
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended at varying depths to track fish movement
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly near structure
- Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or worms around emerging vegetation
| - Small minnows gathering in warming shallows
- Emerging aquatic insects near new weed growth
- Zooplankton becoming more active in warming water
| - Purple Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-75 | - Pre-spawn fish actively moving into shallow spawning bays and staging areas, with males beginning to create and guard nests in protected areas
- Increased feeding activity as fish prepare for spawning, with heightened aggression and territorial behavior
- Fish moving between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones based on daily temperature fluctuations
| - Protected shallow bays with gravel or hard bottom areas for spawning
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Weed edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Brush piles in 8-12 foot depth range serving as staging areas
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and bedding areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked along transition areas
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges and through spawning pockets
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and slow presentations to bedding fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegill in shallow spawning areas
- Young of year baitfish starting to appear
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegills are moving into shallow, warmer waters (2-6 feet) to establish spawning beds, particularly in protected coves and near emerging vegetation
- Males become aggressive and territorial while guarding nesting sites, making them more likely to strike at small baits entering their space
- Fish are most active during warmer parts of the day when water temperatures reach optimal spawning range
| - Protected coves with firm bottom composition, especially near emerging weed growth
- Outside edges of developing weed lines in 4-6 foot depth range
- Shallow areas near brush piles where spawning colonies can establish
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep, worked slowly through spawning areas
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked with subtle movements near bedding areas
- Live Bait Rigs with small worms or insects for finicky fish
| - Small insects and larvae near developing vegetation
- Tiny minnows in the 1-inch range
- Emerging aquatic invertebrates
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-75 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning between spawning flats and early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing weed edges and gravel bars as primary feeding zones, with increased activity during morning and evening periods
| - Emerging weed edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points with gravel or rock
- Brush piles in 12-18 foot range near spawning areas
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly along weed edges
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') on gravel bars
- Spinnerbaits parallel to emerging vegetation
| - Crawfish on gravel and rocky areas
- Young of the year bluegill near vegetation
- Small baitfish relating to emerging weed growth
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills are actively feeding in shallower areas to recover energy, particularly around newly emerging weed growth and brush
- Fish are establishing daily patterns between feeding areas and slight deeper water rest areas, with peak activity during morning and evening
| - Outside weed edges in 8-10 feet of water, particularly where they intersect with woody cover
- Shallow coves and protected areas with emerging vegetation in 3-6 feet
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays in 5-8 feet
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 1-3 feet below surface near weed edges
- Hover/Mid-Strolling with small soft plastics along weed edges
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly through brush pile areas
| - Small aquatic insects emerging from new weed growth
- Tiny minnows congregating around brush and weed edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
