| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 39-62 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are staging near spawning areas, making predictable movements between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones
- Fish are actively feeding but moving slowly, requiring slower presentations as evidenced by multiple reports mentioning success with slow retrieves
- Bass are showing a strong preference for structure, particularly docks, indicating a transition period where they seek both cover and access to spawning areas
| - Wooden docks, especially those nearest to deep water access
- Grass flats with mixed rock and vegetation in 6-10 feet
- Main lake points where southern bays meet the main lake basin
| - Bladed Jigs worked slowly around dock edges and through vegetation
- Structure Jigs skipped under docks or pitched to posts
- Lipless Crankbaits worked slowly over transitional areas
| - Bluegill (primary forage based on multiple reports)
- Crappie (mentioned in reports as secondary forage)
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 39-42 | - Smallmouth bass are staging on deep rock piles in pre-spawn, schooling heavily before moving shallow
- Fish are responding best to slow, methodical presentations in cold water (39-41°F)
| - Deep rock piles adjacent to spawning flats
- Rock to sand transitions near shallow water
- Main lake boulder fields and reefs
| - Blade Baits worked slowly with short 2-foot hops off bottom
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses between twitches
- Tubes dragged slowly across rocky structure
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Perch in deeper water near rock structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 46-54 | - Largemouth bass are actively spawning and guarding beds in shallow protected areas, particularly in canals and around docks
- Fish are showing varied activity levels with water temperatures between 46-54°F, transitioning between pre-spawn and spawning phases
- Bass are becoming increasingly territorial and aggressive in protecting spawning areas
| - Docks in protected areas, especially those with deeper water access
- Rip rap areas near bridges
- Rock piles in spawning depth zones
- Protected shallow canals with firm bottom
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around docks and bedding areas
- Spinnerbaits along rip rap and between docks
- Football Jigs worked around rock piles
- Frogs/Toads around shallow cover
| - Bluegill gathering in spawning areas
- Crappie in transition areas
- Small baitfish around dock structures
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-65 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning from deep pre-spawn staging areas to shallow spawning flats, with males beginning to establish and guard nesting sites
- Fish become increasingly aggressive and territorial as water temperatures rise, actively feeding before and during the spawn
- Movement patterns follow rock-to-sand transitions, as males seek out ideal spawning locations protected from wind and wave action
| - Protected rocky flats in 2-6 feet of water, especially those adjacent to deeper water
- Rock-to-sand transitions in protected coves and bays
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel substrate
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits with longer pauses near spawning flats
- Ned Rigs fished around potential spawning areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small perch in shallow areas
- Juvenile baitfish moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth are actively feeding while recovering, primarily targeting bluegills around docks and vegetation
- Fish are showing two distinct patterns - larger bass holding tight to dock fronts, while smaller fish are more active cruising between docks
| - Dock fronts, especially those near green vegetation
- Lanes and spaces between docks with adjacent vegetation
- Protected coves with firm bottom and emerging vegetation
| - Drop Shot with finesse worms worked slowly around dock posts
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') burned between docks for active fish
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around vegetation near docks
| - Bluegill
- Young of year baitfish
| - Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning to post-spawn feeding patterns, becoming more active and aggressive as they recover from spawning
- Fish are moving from shallow spawning areas to nearby deeper structure, often schooling on rock piles and reefs
| - Rock-to-sand transition areas in 8-15 feet of water
- Deep rock piles and reefs adjacent to spawning flats
- Points and irregular shoreline features with mixed rock and gravel
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly near structure
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rock-to-sand transitions
- Ned Rigs worked methodically around rock piles
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Yellow Perch in and around rock structures
- Small baitfish relating to transitional areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
