Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 56-64 | - Bass are staging for spawn, moving from deeper water to shallow pre-spawn areas, particularly around rocky structure. Fish are actively feeding but may pause during cold fronts
- Males are moving shallower (1-3 feet) to prepare spawning areas while larger females remain slightly deeper, making periodic movements shallow to feed
| - Rip rap and rocky banks in 1-3 feet of water, especially near spawning flats
- Rocky points near spawn creek entrances
- Submerged vegetation when water levels are high
- Docks adjacent to spawning flats
| - Bladed Jigs worked slowly along rocky banks
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) in shallow cover and vegetation
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') cranked slowly near rip rap
- Shakey Heads worked through rocky areas
| - Shad schooling near spawning areas and creek mouths
- Bluegill in shallow vegetation and around docks
- Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Green Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Catfish | 55-68 | - Catfish becoming more active as water warms, moving from deep winter holes to transitional areas near spawning flats
- Increasing feeding activity during pre-spawn, particularly during warming trends
- Following shad schools but staying close to structure for ambush opportunities
| - Rock piles and rip rap areas in 8-15 feet of water
- Creek channel bends adjacent to spawning flats
- Main lake points with access to both shallow and deep water
| - Live Bait Rigs positioned near structure
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly along transitions
| - Shad schools in pre-spawn patterns
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
- Small sunfish near shoreline structure
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Crappie are transitioning from winter patterns to spawning areas, actively feeding while staging near shallow water access points
- Fish are showing increased activity around docks and man-made structures, using these as staging areas before the spawn
| - Docks with deep water access, particularly those near spawning flats
- Brush piles in 8-15 feet adjacent to shallow water
- Rock piles and rip rap areas that warm quickly in spring
| - Crappie Dock Shooting - particularly effective for reaching fish under docks
- Finesse Jigs - work slowly around structure
- Bobbers - effective for suspended fish around docks
| - Shad - primary forage base in the lake
- Minnows - actively being targeted by crappie according to reports
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 55-65 | - Spotted bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging, actively feeding to build energy reserves while moving toward spawning areas
- Fish are following shad schools while relating to rocky structure, particularly on wind-blown points and transition areas
| - Rocky main lake points adjacent to spawning pockets
- Riprap banks with deep water access
- Secondary points in major creek arms with rock or boulder structure
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near structure
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through transitional areas
- Bladed Jigs around wind-blown points
| - Shad schools congregating near points and channel swings
- Crawfish becoming more active as water warms
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Bass are in full pre-spawn to spawning mode, actively searching for and creating beds in shallow areas with 1-2ft visibility, particularly around docks and rocky flats
- Fish are becoming increasingly territorial and aggressive as they protect spawning areas, making them more likely to strike defensive baits
| - Shallow rocky flats and rock piles in 1-3 feet of water, especially during water level fluctuations
- Dock areas with firm bottom composition for spawning
- Protected coves and points with appropriate spawning substrate
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through bedding areas and around docks
- Structure Jigs flipped to visible beds and dock posts
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for searching pre-spawn staging areas
| - Bluegill concentrating in shallow spawning areas
- Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas as water warms
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Catfish | 65-75 | - Catfish moving into shallower spawning areas (2-8 feet) near rocky banks, riprap, and protected coves as water temperatures stabilize
- Males actively guarding nesting sites while females stage in slightly deeper adjacent areas
- Aggressive feeding periods before and after spawning, particularly during dawn and dusk
| - Rocky banks and riprap areas in 2-8 feet of water
- Protected coves with firm bottom composition
- Deeper staging areas adjacent to spawning flats (10-15 feet)
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut shad or nightcrawlers fished near bottom
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with large soft plastics around rocky structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with scented baits
| - Shad schools moving into spawning areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie are transitioning to shallow spawning areas, particularly around docks and brush piles in 2-6 feet of water
- Fish are becoming increasingly aggressive as water warms, staging near shallow cover and ambush points
- Males are establishing and guarding nesting areas while females move in and out of spawning zones
| - Protected dock areas with good sun exposure
- Shallow brush piles near spawning flats
- Rock piles and rip rap in spawning coves
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Bobbers
| - Young-of-year shad
- Small minnows
- Small bluegill
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-68 | - Spotted bass actively moving into shallow spawning areas near rocky points and pockets, typically staging on adjacent deeper structure
- Males aggressively defending nests while females move between shallow and deeper water during the spawning phase
- Feeding activity increases during pre-spawn, becomes territorial during spawn, with fish responding to both sight and lateral line stimuli
| - Rocky points and pockets with gravel or small boulder substrate in 2-8 feet of water
- Secondary points with mixed rock and vegetation in protected coves
- Transitional areas between spawning flats and deeper water, especially near rock piles
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible bed areas and rocky cover
- Shakey Heads worked slowly around spawning areas and staging points
- Spinnerbaits worked parallel to banks during cloudy or windy conditions
- Soft Jerkbaits for suspended fish moving between spawning areas
| - Shad schools gathering in spawning pockets and coves
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas as water warms
- Small bluegill starting to move shallow with warming trends
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy while remaining relatively shallow
- Fish are utilizing dock structures and submerged vegetation as ambush points, particularly during morning and evening feeding periods
| - Secondary points and rocky areas adjacent to spawning flats in 4-8 feet of water
- Docks with deep water access, especially those near spawning bays
- Submerged vegetation edges where present, particularly in 3-6 foot depths
| - Swim Jigs worked parallel to dock lines and through vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around dock posts and vegetation
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along rocky transitions
| - Crawfish emerging from rocky areas
- Young shad schools beginning to form in shallow areas
- Bluegill moving into spawning areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Catfish | 65-75 | - Post-spawn catfish actively feeding and recovering, moving from shallow spawning areas to transitional depths near channel edges and points
- Fish are following shad schools and becoming more active with warming water temperatures, feeding heavily during dawn and dusk periods
| - Rock piles and rip rap areas adjacent to deeper water in 8-15 feet
- Channel edges near creek mouths where shad congregate
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in 10-20 foot depth range
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut shad or prepared baits near structure
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') along channel edges
- Carolina Rigs dragged slowly across rocky areas
| - Shad schools moving into post-spawn patterns
- Crawfish active in rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 68-75 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer haunts, staging at intermediate depths around vertical cover
- Schools becoming more concentrated around key structure, actively feeding to recover from spawn
- Most active during early morning and evening, seeking shade during bright conditions
| - Brush piles and submerged structure in 8-15 foot depths adjacent to spawning flats
- Dock edges and corners, especially those near deeper water
- Rock piles and rip rap areas where shad congregate
| - Crappie Dock Shooting for shaded cover during bright conditions
- Crappie Spider Rigging to effectively cover depth ranges and locate transitioning schools
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') around brush piles and vertical structure
| - Shad schools beginning to concentrate in post-spawn patterns
- Small bluegill and sunfish fry becoming available as forage
- Various minnow species around dock and brush pile structure
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn spotted bass are actively feeding to recover energy, focusing on rocky points and transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
- Fish are becoming more active with warming waters, showing aggressive response to wind-generated current on points and banks
- Starting to establish summer patterns with both shallow and deep movements throughout the day
| - Main lake rocky points with access to deeper water
- Wind-blown banks with rip rap or boulder structure
- Secondary points in major creek arms with submerged vegetation
| - Spinnerbaits worked along wind-blown banks and points
- Shakey Heads worked slowly on rocky structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for actively feeding fish
| - Shad schools beginning to group up in post-spawn patterns
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|