| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 48-58 | - Crappie are transitioning from deeper winter locations to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming water
- Most active during dawn and dusk periods due to poor water clarity (0.7m Secchi), following crepuscular feeding patterns
- Moving in schools, relating to available structure like scattered weed clumps and docks as they stage for spawning
| - Scattered weed clumps in 8-12 foot transitions between winter and spawning areas
- Dock areas providing cover and shade in 6-10 feet of water
- Protected shoreline areas with slightly deeper water adjacent to potential spawning flats
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Small minnows moving into warming shallows
- Emerging aquatic insects in warming water
- Young-of-year baitfish schools
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Bass transitioning from winter depths to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming trends
- Fish actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, particularly during warmer parts of the day
| - Hard bottom areas near weed edges in 4-8 foot depth range
- Protected areas between docks offering quick access to deeper water
- Scattered weed clumps adjacent to deeper staging areas
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through scattered grass
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around dock posts and weed edges
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges and between docks
| - Bluegill gathering in warming shallows
- Crawfish becoming active on hard bottom areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie moving into shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) near shoreline cover, most active during dawn and dusk due to poor water clarity
- Males establishing and guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper, creating two distinct fishing opportunities
| - Scattered weed clumps in 2-8 foot depths near shoreline areas
- Dock areas providing spawning structure in protected areas
- Slightly deeper staging areas (8-12 feet) adjacent to spawning flats
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Small minnows in shallow spawning areas
- Young-of-year panfish near weed edges
- Micro invertebrates around shallow cover
| - Pink Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Largemouth bass transitioning through pre-spawn to spawn phases, actively moving between staging areas and shallow spawning flats
- Males aggressively guarding nests in shallow areas, while females move between deeper staging areas and spawning zones
| - Hard bottom areas near weed clumps in 2-4 feet of water for spawning
- Deeper weed edges in 6-10 feet for staging areas
- Protected areas between docks offering spawning habitat
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible beds and shallow cover
- Swim Jigs worked along weed edges for pre-spawn fish
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly near spawning areas
| - Bluegill concentrating in shallow spawning areas
- Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappies are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, becoming more active as they recover and feed heavily
- Fish are most active during early morning and evening hours due to poor water clarity (0.7m Secchi depth), following crepuscular feeding patterns
| - Scattered weed clumps in 8-12 foot depth range adjacent to spawning areas
- Dock areas providing shade and cover in 6-10 foot depths
- Deeper basin edges in 14-16 foot range for midday refuge
| - Crappie Dock Shooting - effective for targeting fish holding under docks during daylight hours
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') - precise presentation in scattered weed clumps
- Crappie Spider Rigging - effective for covering water and finding active fish
| - Small minnows gathering around newly emerging weed growth
- Emerging insect larvae in warming shallows
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to school
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-75 | - Post-spawn bass actively feeding along weed edges, particularly where hard bottom meets vegetation
- Fish utilizing shade during daylight hours, transitioning between shallow and moderate depths as temperatures fluctuate
| - Weed lines adjacent to hard bottom areas
- Docks providing shade, especially those near weed edges
- Scattered weed clumps in 5-15 foot depth range
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly along weed edges
- Swim Jigs mimicking bluegill around vegetation
- Shakey Heads on hard bottom areas adjacent to weeds
| | - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
