| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn bass actively moving from winter areas to staging areas near spawning flats, becoming more aggressive in feeding behavior
- Fish transitioning to shallower water as temperatures rise, particularly on sunny days
| - Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats
- Laydowns and stumps in 4-8 foot depth range
- Edges of lily pad fields where early growth is occurring
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Spinnerbaits along laydowns and channel swing banks
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover
| - Bluegill beginning to become more active in the shallows
- Baitfish schools staging near channel swings
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Males actively searching for and creating spawning beds in protected areas near cover, while females stage in slightly deeper pre-spawn areas
- Fish are becoming increasingly aggressive and territorial as they prepare for and engage in spawning activities
- Feeding activity increases during pre-spawn, followed by protective behavior during actual spawning
| - Protected shallow bays with lily pads and stumps for spawning
- Channel swings adjacent to spawning flats for staging areas
- Laydowns and woody cover in 2-6 feet of water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
- Wacky Rigs
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
- Spinnerbaits
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Bluegill concentrating in spawning areas
- Minnows in shallow feeding zones
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish relating heavily to cover, particularly laydowns and woody structure in the stained water conditions
| - Laydowns and fallen trees in 3-8 feet of water
- Secondary points with woody cover near spawning flats
- Channel swings with adjacent wood cover
| - Shakey Heads worked slowly around wood cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible cover
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to laydowns
| | - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
