Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 54-62 | - Bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding but weather-sensitive due to cold fronts and rain
- Fish are scattered but generally moving shallower, with some females beginning to stage near potential spawning areas
| - Points connecting deep water to shallow spawning flats
- Rock piles and rip rap in 2-9 foot depth range
- Docks and brush piles near spawning areas
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in cooler water
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') around rock and points
- Shakey Heads worked slowly near structure
- Bladed Jigs around cover and transition areas
| - Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports
- Crawfish - becoming more active in rocky areas
- Minnows - present around points and shallow areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 52-62 | - Spotted bass are transitioning to spawning areas, holding near shallow spawning coves but maintaining access to deeper water as a retreat
- Fish are becoming more aggressive and active as water temperatures rise, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
| - Shallow spawning coves with nearby deep water access, focusing on 5' or less depth
- Docks providing cover and shade in pre-spawn staging areas
- Rock piles and points leading into spawning pockets
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked around transition areas and dock posts
- Spinnerbaits parallel to shoreline cover in spawning pockets
- Bladed Jigs worked through shallow areas with cover
| - Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | White Bass | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn white bass staging near tributary mouths and main lake points, making upstream movements during warming trends
- Aggressive feeding behavior in shallower water during early morning hours (0630-1000), especially on cloudy days
| - Main lake points and creek channel intersections near Belle Starr State Park
- Rocky structures and boulders adjacent to spawning tributaries
- Staging areas in 8-15 foot depths near creek mouths
| - Blade Baits worked vertically along channel edges and points
- Lipless Crankbaits retrieved with sporadic bursts near structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to points and shorelines
| - Shad schools concentrating near creek mouths and points
- Small baitfish moving into tributary areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 55-65 | - Pre-spawn crappie are transitioning from winter haunts to shallow staging areas, becoming more active with warming water
- Fish are moving along ditches and channels toward spawning areas, congregating near brush piles and stumps in pre-spawn staging zones
| - Ditches and channels leading to spawning flats (8-12 feet)
- Brush piles and stump fields near spawning areas (6-10 feet)
- Secondary points with access to shallow coves
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small baitfish in transition zones
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Fish are in various spawning phases, with some actively spawning in shallow areas while others are cruising between spawning areas and staging points
- Active feeding periods occur during pre- and post-spawn phases, with fish relating to transition areas between deep and shallow water
| - Main lake points leading into spawning coves and secondary points
- Shallow protected areas near boulders and docks in 8-10 foot depth range
- Small protected coves with clean water, especially those sheltered from north winds
| - Bladed Jigs worked around points and transition areas
- Wacky Rigs worked around docks and shallow cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and boulder areas
| - Shad moving into spawning areas and along points
- Perch in dock areas and shallow cover
- Crawfish active around rocky areas and boulders
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-68 | - Spotted bass transitioning to spawning areas in 2-8 feet of water, particularly around hard bottom areas near points and coves
- Males actively guarding nests while females stage on nearby drop-offs, creating multiple fishing opportunities
- Aggressive defensive behavior around nesting sites, with feeding activity occurring during warm fronts
| - Rocky points and gravel pockets near spawning coves
- Shallow brush piles adjacent to deeper water
- Dock areas with hard bottom composition
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to visible beds and cover
- Shakey Heads worked slowly around staging areas
- Spinnerbaits for covering water between spawning pockets
| - Crawfish emerging in shallow rocky areas
- Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small bluegill around shallow cover
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | White Bass | 58-65 | - During spring spawn, white bass make strong upstream movements into feeder creeks and river arms, congregating in large schools near current breaks and gravel areas
- Most active during early morning hours (0630-1000) as noted in reports, with aggressive feeding behavior in shallower water
- Fish stage in pre-spawn areas near points and creek channel intersections before moving to spawning grounds
| - Creek channel mouths and river arms with current, particularly near Belle Starr State Park
- Rocky points and gravel banks in 5-10 foot depth range
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water, especially near structure and baitfish concentrations
| - Blade Baits worked along channel edges and current breaks
- Inline Spinners cast parallel to banks and rocky points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily through schooling fish
| - Shad (primary forage base as indicated in reports)
- Small minnows congregating in spawning areas
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie are moving into shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) near shoreline structure, particularly around stumps and brush piles
- Males arrive first to prepare nests, followed by females. Fish become increasingly aggressive as water temperatures rise
- Due to the stained water conditions, spawning activity will likely occur shallower than in clear water lakes
| - Protected coves with stumps and brush piles in 2-8 foot depths
- Shallow areas adjacent to ditches that provide quick access to deeper water
- Areas where creek channels intersect with shallow flats
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Shad (primary forage base as indicated in reports)
- Small juvenile fish
- Aquatic insects
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Bass actively engaging in post-spawn feeding, particularly around shad spawn areas in early morning
- Fish transitioning between shallow and deeper water throughout the day, with most activity in 3-8 foot range
- Showing aggressive feeding behavior around baitfish schools, especially near cover and structure
| - Areas where shad are spawning, particularly around wood and buckbrush
- Points of buckbrush in flooded areas
- Shallow wood cover and submerged vegetation in 2-6 feet
| - Spinnerbaits worked around shad spawn areas early morning
- Texas Rigs pitched to buckbrush and wood cover
- Frogs/Toads worked over flooded vegetation
| - Shad (primary forage during spawn)
- Bluegill moving shallow
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn spotted bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, primarily targeting shad in the 5-15 foot range
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, relating strongly to points and drop-offs near spawning pockets
| - Main lake points with rock or brush adjacent to spawning pockets
- Secondary points with drop-offs in 8-15 foot range
- Dock areas with deep water access and brush piles
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to points and transition areas
- Spinnerbaits around brush and dock posts in stained water
- Shakey Heads worked slowly along drop-offs and rock transitions
| - Shad schools beginning to group up in post-spawn patterns
- Crawfish active in rocky areas during warming trends
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | White Bass | 62-72 | - Actively schooling and feeding in post-spawn recovery, following shad schools along points and creek channels
- Most aggressive during early morning hours (0630-1000), utilizing structure edges and points as ambush locations
- Transitioning between shallow spawning areas and deeper summer haunts, making frequent depth changes throughout the day
| - Main lake points and creek channel intersections near Belle Starr State Park
- Rocky structure and boulder fields in 8-15 foot depth range
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water, especially near Hunters Cove
| - Blade Baits worked vertically along structure edges where shad are present
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily through bait schools
- Lipless Crankbaits burned through schools when fish are actively feeding
| - Shad schools concentrated near structure
- Small baitfish gathering in creek channels
- Young-of-year baitfish emerging in shallow areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 65-75 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer haunts, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are dispersed but concentrated around woody cover and brush piles in 8-15 foot depths
- Feeding activity is highest during early morning and late evening, with fish suspending near cover during midday
| - Brush piles and stumps near spawning flats in 8-15 foot depths
- Secondary points with woody cover adjacent to spawning areas
- Ditches and channels leading from spawning flats to deeper water
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
| - Small Shad (primary forage)
- Small Sunfish
- Juvenile Baitfish
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|