| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn staging near submerged vegetation in shallow areas, actively feeding during warming trends
- Moving between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning locations as water temperatures fluctuate
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 4-8 foot depths
- Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation
- Transition areas between vegetation and slightly deeper water
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended near vegetation
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) along vegetation edges
- Hover/Mid-Strolling through staging areas
| - Small minnows gathering in warming shallows
- Emerging aquatic insects near vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn bass are actively moving from winter depths to warming shallow areas, especially near emerging vegetation and hard bottom areas
- Feeding activity increases as water temperatures rise, with bass targeting both baitfish and early-season crawfish
| - Shallow flats with emerging vegetation adjacent to slightly deeper water
- Protected shoreline areas with submerged vegetation in 4-7 feet of water
- Hard bottom transitions where the bottom composition changes
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Swim Jigs with moderate retrieve near submerged vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly along bottom transitions
| - Small baitfish congregating in warming shallows
- Crawfish becoming active in hard-bottom areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Staging near shallow spawning areas in 3-6 feet, moving into protected areas with vegetation for spawning as water temperatures stabilize
- Males guarding nests in shallow areas while females suspend nearby, making frequent feeding movements
| - Shallow flats with emerging vegetation in 2-4 feet of water
- Protected bays with lily pad stems and submerged vegetation
- Transition areas between spawning flats and slightly deeper water
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Bobbers
- Live Bait Rigs
| - Small minnows and juvenile baitfish
- Zooplankton
- Aquatic insects
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - During spring spawn, Largemouth Bass are moving into shallow areas (2-6 feet) to establish nesting sites, with males guarding nests and females staging in slightly deeper adjacent areas
- Fish are becoming increasingly aggressive and territorial as water temperatures rise, particularly around prime spawning areas with firm bottom and overhead cover
| - Protected shallow bays with submerged vegetation, especially areas with firm bottom composition
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays with mixed vegetation
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water access points
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around vegetation and potential spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs dead-sticked near visible beds or staging areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses for pre-spawn fish
| - Bluegill moving shallow around vegetation
- Young of year panfish in emerging vegetation
- Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappies transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, suspending near vegetation edges and moving between depths based on light conditions and temperature
- Actively feeding during morning and evening periods, with scattered schooling behavior throughout the day near structural transitions
| - Outside edges of vegetation in 6-8 feet of water, particularly where it meets slightly deeper water
- Suspended areas near lily pad fields in 4-6 feet of water
- Deeper pockets adjacent to spawning flats where fish stage during bright conditions
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along vegetation edges to locate active schools
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs when fish are more scattered
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') when fish are holding tight to cover
| - Small minnows and juvenile baitfish concentrating near vegetation edges
- Emerging aquatic insects around vegetation
- Zooplankton in suspended water column
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Pink Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing submerged vegetation edges as primary feeding zones, with frequent movements between deep and shallow water
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 4-6 feet of water
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
- Shallow flats with mixed vegetation near deeper water access
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation edges
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to weed edges
- Spinnerbaits in areas between vegetation patches
| - Young of year bluegill in vegetation
- Small crawfish emerging in vegetation
- Various minnow species relating to vegetation edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
