| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Bass moving from winter deep water areas to transitional staging areas, actively seeking warmer water in preparation for spawning
- Feeding activity increasing with warming trends, particularly during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
- Fish relating heavily to structure adjacent to potential spawning flats
| - Secondary points and channel swings near spawning flats
- Brush piles in 8-15 foot depth range adjacent to shallow areas
- Submerged vegetation edges where early growth is starting
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs around brush piles and point transitions
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly over structure
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') along channel edges
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Bluegill beginning to move shallower with warming trends
- Crawfish becoming more active with warming water
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-68 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas, moving from winter depths to shallower warming areas
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warm afternoons
- Congregating near emerging vegetation and brushy cover in preparation for spawning
| - Protected shallow coves with emerging vegetation
- Brush piles in 6-12 feet of water near spawning flats
- Dock areas with good sun exposure
| - Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or worms suspended near cover
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly around brush and vegetation
- Micro Crankbaits retrieved slowly along dock edges
| - Small insects and larvae emerging with warming water
- Small minnows congregating in warming shallows
- Zooplankton becoming more active in the water column
| - Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in protected coves and around shallow cover like submerged vegetation
- Males are actively guarding nests while females move between staging areas and spawning flats
- Feeding activity is opportunistic, with defensive strikes common around nesting areas
| - Protected shallow coves with firm bottom and adjacent deeper water
- Shallow areas near docks with submerged vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and visible beds
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and working shallow vegetation
| - Bluegill in shallow spawning areas
- Shad moving into warmer shallow water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Actively spawning in shallow areas, particularly around docks and brush piles in 2-4 feet of water
- Males guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper, moving between spawning areas and adjacent deeper water
| - Protected coves with firm bottom near docks and submerged vegetation
- Shallow brush piles adjacent to spawning flats
- Shoreline areas with complex structure offering protection from wind
| - Bobbers with small live bait or soft plastics suspended 2-4 feet deep
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding tight to dock structure
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly along spawning areas
| - Small insects and larvae in spawning areas
- Tiny baitfish and fry
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 64-76 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, with larger fish suspending in tree tops 15-20ft deep while smaller fish remain shallower
- Fish are showing a preference for ambush points near deeper water, striking baits on the fall
| - Flooded brush and tree tops in 15-20ft depth range
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
- Submerged vegetation edges with access to deeper water
| - Structure Jigs worked slowly through suspended cover
- Carolina Rigs dragged along depth transitions
- Shakey Heads worked near brush piles
| - Shad schools moving into post-spawn areas
- Crawfish active in and around brush piles
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning between shallow spawning areas and slightly deeper feeding zones
- Fish are showing increased aggression and territorial behavior around prime cover areas, especially near submerged vegetation and brush piles
| - Edges of submerged vegetation in 4-8 feet of water adjacent to spawning flats
- Brush piles near dock areas in 6-12 feet of water
- Secondary points with mixed vegetation and woody cover
| - Bobbers with small live bait or soft plastics suspended at specific depths near cover
- Crappie Dock Shooting with light jigs around residential dock areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with micro jigs around brush piles
| - Small insects and larvae near vegetation
- Tiny baitfish and fry in shallow to mid-depth zones
- Zooplankton in and around vegetation edges
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Purple Colors
|
