Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow flats, moving from winter depths to spawning grounds
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warming trends
| - Vegetation edges adjacent to spawning flats in 3-6 feet of water
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
- Points and irregular shoreline features leading to spawning areas
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Spinnerbaits along vegetation edges and points
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly in staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish (shad and minnows) in staging areas
- Bluegill beginning to become more active in the shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 55-65 | - Spotted bass are transitioning into pre-spawn patterns, actively feeding while moving from winter areas to spawning locations near vegetation
- Fish are showing increased activity in shallow zones, particularly along bank areas with vegetation, as they prepare for spawning
| - Submerged vegetation edges near the bank
- Shallow flats with emerging grass
- Points and coves with vegetation transition areas
| - Spinnerbaits worked with slow retrieve along vegetation edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around emerging vegetation
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to shoreline structure
| - Minnows gathering in warming shallows
- Small shad schools near vegetation edges
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-65 | - Bluegill are beginning to move from deeper winter areas to warmer shallows, staging near spawning areas
- Actively feeding during warming trends, targeting emerging insects and small invertebrates in vegetation
| - Shallow coves with emerging vegetation in 3-6 feet of water
- Protected areas near future spawning flats, especially near submerged grass
- Transition areas between winter and spawning locations
| - Bobbers with small ice fishing jigs worked slowly through vegetation
- Micro Crankbaits retrieved steadily in slightly deeper water
- Inline Spinners worked near emerging vegetation
| - Emerging aquatic insects and larvae
- Small invertebrates in vegetation
- Tiny minnows and fry
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Crappie are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, moving progressively shallower as water temperatures rise
- Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warmer afternoon periods
- Congregating in schools near spawning areas, especially around submerged vegetation and shoreline structure
| - Shallow grass edges in 3-6 feet of water, especially near points and coves
- Submerged vegetation adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected areas with emerging vegetation, particularly in coves with stable temperatures
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Live Bait Rigs
- Finesse Hair Jigs
| - Small minnows gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Young-of-year bluegill beginning to emerge
- Small insects and larvae in vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass moving into shallow spawning areas (2-4 feet) near vegetation edges and protected coves
- Males preparing and guarding nests while females stage nearby, making multiple trips between deeper staging areas and spawning flats
| - Protected shallow coves with firm bottom near vegetation edges
- Shallow flats adjacent to lily pad fields
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) - precise presentations to visible beds and vegetation edges
- Wacky Rigs - slow falling presentation for staging fish and bed fishing
- Soft Jerkbaits - for covering water to locate spawning areas
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-68 | - Spotted bass are actively spawning and guarding nests in shallow areas, particularly around grass edges and vegetation in 2-4 feet of water
- Males are aggressive and territorial during nest defense, while females move between spawning areas and nearby deeper water for recovery
| - Grass edges and vegetation in 2-4 feet of water, especially in protected coves
- Secondary points with mixed vegetation and hard bottom
- Shallow flats near deeper water access
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around visible spawning areas
- Shakey Heads for sight fishing spawning bass
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly parallel to grass edges
| - Minnows gathering in spawning areas
- Small shad schools in nearby deeper water
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegill are actively moving into shallow spawning areas (3-6 feet), creating and guarding spawning beds in sandy or firm-bottom areas near vegetation
- Males become territorial and aggressive during spawning, making them more likely to strike at small lures and baits that enter their nesting area
| - Protected shallow coves with firm bottom composition, especially near emerging vegetation
- Areas between lily pad stems where spawning beds are being created
- Shallow areas adjacent to deeper water that provide quick escape routes
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep, worked slowly around bedding areas
- Micro Crankbaits retrieved steadily just above spawning beds
- Inline Spinners worked at slow to moderate speeds through spawning areas
| - Small insects and larvae near vegetative cover
- Tiny crustaceans in shallow spawning areas
- Small minnows around emerging vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie are moving into shallow spawning areas (3-6 ft) around vegetation and protected coves, actively feeding during pre-spawn and becoming more territorial during spawn
- Fish are most active during morning and evening hours, staging near spawning areas and responding aggressively to prey-mimicking presentations
| - Shallow vegetation edges in 3-6 feet of water, particularly in protected coves
- Areas near lily pads and grass edges where spawning beds are likely to be located
- Protected points and irregular shoreline features with submerged vegetation
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around vegetation
- Live Bait Rigs using minnows suspended under bobbers near spawning areas
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly along grass edges
| - Small minnows gathering in spawning areas
- Young-of-year baitfish around vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-75 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, relating heavily to submerged vegetation and utilizing shallow water zones
- Fish are showing aggressive surface feeding behavior, as evidenced by success with topwater lures
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 3-6 foot depth range
- Shallow vegetation near shoreline points and coves
- Areas where lily pads intersect with submerged vegetation
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through vegetation
- Hard Topwater (Popping) in open pockets
- Buzzbaits over and along vegetation edges
| - Crawfish actively moving in shallow vegetation
- Small baitfish gathering around vegetation edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 62-72 | - Spotted bass are actively feeding in shallow water near submerged vegetation, showing aggressive topwater feeding behavior
- Fish are utilizing grass edges as primary ambush points, moving between shallow and slightly deeper water throughout the day
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 3-6 feet of water
- Shallow banks with grass
- Points and coves with vegetation
| - Hard Topwater (Popping) worked around grass edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) with trick worms near bank vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits parallel to grass lines
| | - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Watermelon Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegill are actively feeding near bream beds and staging in adjacent areas post-spawn
- Fish are exhibiting aggressive feeding behavior in shallow water, particularly around vegetation and open water areas
| - Shallow flats with submerged vegetation near spawning areas (3-6 feet)
- Open water areas adjacent to bream beds
- Vegetated coves and points in 4-8 feet of water
| - Micro Crankbaits worked slowly near vegetation
- Spinnerbaits retrieved steadily through open water
- Bobbers with small jigs suspended near cover
| - Minnows in open water areas
- Aquatic insects around vegetation
- Small invertebrates near spawning areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappie are actively feeding while recovering, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to nearby vegetation edges
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, hitting moving baits like spinnerbaits in and around submerged vegetation
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 3-6 feet of water
- Shallow coves with grass and vegetation
- Points with vegetation near deeper water access
| - Spinnerbaits worked through and over vegetation
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Finesse Jigs around vegetation edges
| - Minnows
- Young of the year baitfish
- Small aquatic insects
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|