Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-65 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth bass actively feeding in shallow water, moving up from winter locations to stage near spawning areas
- Fish are targeting crawfish heavily on and around rocky structure, showing aggressive feeding behavior in warming waters
| - Isolated boulders in 3-8 foot depth range, especially those near potential spawning flats
- Rocky points and transitions where deeper water meets shallow flats
- Hard-bottom areas near grass/coontail edges in 10-18 foot range serving as transition zones
| - Tubes worked slowly along bottom around boulder areas
- Hard Jerkbaits with longer pauses between twitches in cooler water
- Ned Rigs worked methodically around rock structure
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small perch in slightly deeper transition areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-58 | - Pre-spawn largemouth are actively feeding in rotational patterns on main lake points, with 15-25 cast windows of aggressive feeding before moving
- Fish are staging between shallow grass areas (7-10 feet) and deeper main lake structure, making feeding moves into vegetation
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning bays, particularly those with deep water access
- Grass edges in 7-10 foot depth range
- Protected bays with emerging vegetation
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with longer pauses, especially the deeper-diving models
- Swim Jigs worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs around grass edges
| - Perch - primary forage based on multiple successful reports
- Bluegill - secondary forage mentioned in vegetation areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | White Bass | 48-58 | - White bass beginning to stage near tributary areas and main lake points before spawning run, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish moving in loose schools, transitioning between winter deep water areas and pre-spawn staging locations
- Becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with feeding activity increasing during stable weather periods
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning tributaries or channels
- Transitional areas between deep winter holes and shallow spawning flats
- Wind-blown shorelines with good depth transitions
| - Blade Baits worked with aggressive vertical hops near staging points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily through transitional depths
- Lipless Crankbaits worked with yo-yo retrieves parallel to depth changes
| - Young-of-year Perch congregating near points and transition areas
- Small baitfish schools moving shallow with warming trends
- Larger shiners transitioning to spawning areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Crappie are transitioning to shallow pre-spawn staging areas, especially around reed beds, actively feeding on insects and small baitfish
- Fish are becoming more active with warming water temperatures, showing preference for protected areas with emerging vegetation
| - Reed beds in 2-6 feet of water, especially in protected bays
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow brush piles near spawning areas
| - Bobbers with small jigs worked slowly around reeds
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs near vegetation
- Hover/Mid-Strolling along edges of reed beds
| - Insects, particularly emerging aquatic insects
- Small baitfish gathering in warming shallows
- Juvenile bluegill in and around vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 65-75 | - Fish are actively engaged in spawning behavior, with some smallmouth on beds while others are transitioning between pre and post-spawn phases
- Actively feeding during movement periods between spawning activities, particularly around sand to rock transition areas
| - Sand to rock transitions in 4-8 foot depth range
- Isolated boulders and rock piles in shallow water
- Protected spawning bays with hard bottom
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along transitions
- Tubes dragged or hopped on bottom
- Small paddletails swam near structure
| - Crawfish - primary forage evidenced by multiple reports
- Small baitfish in shallow transitions
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Largemouth bass moving from pre-spawn staging areas to spawning flats, actively searching for and establishing nesting sites in protected areas
- Males become aggressive and territorial, defending nests, while females move between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with coontail and grass edges in 2-4 feet of water
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats with access to deeper water
- Shallow areas near docks providing both cover and stable spawning substrate
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around visible beds and spawning areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting grass edges and dock posts
- Soft Jerkbaits for cruising fish between spawning areas
| - Bluegill starting to move shallow and establish their own spawning areas
- Perch relating to grass edges and shallow structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | White Bass | 52-65 | - Actively staging and moving into spawning areas, typically in protected bays and along gradual slopes
- Schooling behavior intensifies as fish gather in pre-spawn locations
- Feeding becomes more aggressive as fish prepare for spawning activity
| - Protected bays with gradual slopes and firm bottom
- Main lake points adjacent to spawning bays
- Shallow flats near deep water access
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked steadily through spawning areas
- Blade Baits worked with lift-and-drop retrieve near staging areas
- Inline Spinners cast parallel to shorelines in spawning bays
| - Young perch in shallow areas
- Small baitfish schools staging near spawning areas
- Emerging juvenile fish near weedbeds
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappies are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly reed beds, preparing nests and becoming more aggressive in their feeding patterns
- Fish are staging in pre-spawn areas near reed beds during cooler periods, moving into the shallows during warmer parts of the day
| - Shallow reed beds in 2-6 feet of water, especially in protected bays
- Transition areas between reeds and deeper water for staging fish
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep near reed edges
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs when fish are less aggressive during cold fronts
| - Small insects and larvae becoming active in warming waters
- Young-of-year bluegill and small baitfish
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 70-78 | - Smallmouth bass are actively feeding in deeper transition zones (12-22ft), showing aggressive behavior towards both perch and crawfish forage
- Fish are schooling on offshore structure and relating heavily to grass edges and rock structure during post-spawn recovery
| - Deep weed edges and coontail breaks in 10-18ft
- Offshore rock piles and isolated boulders in 12-22ft
- Sand grass transition areas in 10-18ft
| - Tubes worked aggressively along structure and weed edges
- Drop Shot when fish are spotted on electronics in deeper water
- Small swimbaits for suspended fish over structure
| - Yellow Perch in offshore areas
- Crawfish around rock and hard bottom areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning between spawning flats and early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing grass edges and points as primary feeding zones, particularly during morning and evening periods
| - Grass edges in 7-10 feet adjacent to spawning flats
- Main lake points with submerged vegetation
- Protected coves with emerging weed growth
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked erratically along grass edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through scattered grass
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges in wind
| - Perch moving along weed edges
- Bluegill beginning to establish in shallow grass areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | White Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn white bass are actively feeding and recuperating, forming loose schools that chase baitfish in the upper water column
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to main lake feeding zones, using points and weedlines as migration routes
| - Main lake points where spawning areas transition to deeper water
- Emerging weedlines in 10-16 foot depth range
- Secondary points with access to open water feeding areas
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked at varying speeds along points and weedlines
- Inline Spinners cast parallel to structure and retrieved steadily
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through transitional areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Young-of-year perch gathering in emerging weed growth
- Small baitfish schools moving to post-spawn feeding areas
- Juvenile panfish in shallow to mid-depth ranges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, gradually moving to deeper water but still making frequent feeding moves to shallow zones
- Actively feeding during early morning and evening periods, utilizing weedline edges and dock areas as primary ambush points
| - Weedlines at 10-16 foot depths where crappies stage during post-spawn
- Dock areas providing shade and structure
- Secondary points near spawning reed beds
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along weedline edges
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding under docks
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') for suspended fish
| - Small insects and larvae near weed edges
- Young-of-year bluegill in shallow areas
- Small perch around dock areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Pink Colors
|