| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are actively transitioning from winter areas to staging areas near spawning flats, showing increased feeding activity
- Fish are relating heavily to boulder areas as indicated by fishing reports, using these structures as warming locations and ambush points
| - Boulder fields adjacent to spawning flats
- Deep water transition areas near points and creek channels
- Secondary points with rock or brush cover
| - Swim Jigs worked slowly around boulders and transition areas
- Bladed Jigs for covering water and triggering reaction strikes
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for mimicking pre-spawn forage
| - Shad transitioning from deep winter areas
- Minnows active in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-55 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter depths to pre-spawn staging areas, following the warming trend. They are beginning to feed more actively to prepare for spawning.
- Fish are relating heavily to rocky structure and deeper transitions, making deliberate movements up to shallower areas as water temperatures increase.
| - Rocky points and transitions near deeper water, especially near the dam area
- Main lake rock piles in 15-25 foot depth range
- Deep water transitions where bass stage before moving shallow
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Drop Shot with small profile baits near rock structure
- Tubes dragged slowly across rocky areas
| - Shad schools suspending near structure
- Crawfish becoming more active on rocky bottom areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass actively moving from pre-spawn staging areas to spawning flats, with males preparing and guarding nests while females move in and out during spawning
- Fish become increasingly aggressive defending territory, with feeding becoming secondary to reproductive behavior
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with hard bottom composition, particularly near emerging vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays, especially those with gradual slopes
- Areas near lily pad roots and brush piles in 2-6 feet of water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and spawning areas
- Spinnerbaits worked parallel to spawning flats and through transition areas
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around spawning areas and cover
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Young of year baitfish beginning to appear
- Small bluegill near spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly around rocky points and protected bays with gravel or small rock substrate
- Males are actively guarding nesting sites while females stage in slightly deeper water nearby
- Feeding activity is intermittent, focused on protecting territory rather than active feeding
| - Protected rocky bays and coves with gravel or small rock bottom composition
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Tubes worked slowly around potential nest sites
- Ned Rigs dragged near spawning areas
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for sight fishing
| - Shad suspending near spawning areas
- Crawfish emerging from winter patterns
- Small sunfish and perch in spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning between shallow spawning areas and deeper summer locations
- Fish are utilizing both shallow cover and open water areas, showing increased feeding activity throughout the water column
| - Open water basin areas near transitional structure
- Brush piles and laydowns in post-spawn transition zones
- Dam areas with access to deeper water
| - Spinnerbaits around brush piles and laydowns
- Wacky Rigs in open water areas and near the dam
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) along transitional areas
| - Minnows in open water areas
- Small baitfish transitioning to summer patterns
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth actively feeding in open water and around rock piles, showing aggressive pursuit of shad and other baitfish
- Fish transitioning between spawning areas and summer haunts, utilizing deeper structure as rest areas between feeding periods
| - Rock piles in open water/basin areas, particularly those adjacent to deeper water
- Deep water areas near the dam providing current breaks
- Main lake points with good access to deep water
| - Spinnerbaits worked through the water column, particularly effective based on recent success reports
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) to match the shad forage
- Drop Shot for when fish move deeper or become less aggressive
| - Shad - primary forage based on fishing reports
- Yellow Perch - common secondary forage in northern smallmouth lakes
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
