Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn largemouth are actively transitioning from winter areas to spawning grounds, staging on transition areas and actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are moving shallower as water temperatures warm, particularly active in the 55-65°F range, with increased feeding activity
| - Points leading into spawning pockets, particularly those with rock or wood cover
- Shallow creek areas less than 5 feet deep with stumps and laydowns
- Bluff walls adjacent to spawning flats
- Brush piles in transition areas between deep water and spawning flats
| - Spinnerbaits worked along points and laydowns
- Football Jigs worked around stumps and rocky areas
- Shallow to Medium diving crankbaits (0-12 feet) targeting transitional areas
- Bladed Jigs worked through pre-spawn staging areas
| - Shad concentrating around points and transition areas
- Bluegill in shallow spawning pockets near cover
- Crawfish becoming active on rocky areas and points
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 52-62 | - Spotted bass are transitioning from winter patterns to spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are moving from deeper winter haunts to staging areas near spawning flats, particularly relating to transition zones
| - Rock transitions and points in 8-15 foot range adjacent to spawning flats
- Brush piles and standing timber in 15-25 foot range near spawning pockets
- Secondary points with hard bottom composition leading into spawning coves
| - Shakey Heads worked slowly along rock transitions
- Bladed Jigs around timber and transition areas
- Football Jigs dragged on hard bottom areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools suspended near staging areas
- Small bluegill near shallow cover
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning from winter deep water patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish becoming more aggressive as water temperatures warm, moving up to shallower rocky areas during sunny periods
| - Rocky transition areas between deep winter haunts and spawning flats (8-15 feet)
- Main lake points with good rock structure and access to deeper water
- Secondary points in major creek arms with boulder or rock structure
| - Blade Baits worked with vertical presentations along rocky transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rock structure
- Ned Rigs worked slowly on points and transition areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish schools in transition areas
- Bottom-dwelling prey near rocky structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Crappie are staging in pre-spawn areas, suspending near deep timber and brush piles in 10-25+ feet of water, making vertical movements throughout the day
- Fish are actively feeding on shad, showing preference for silver/white baitfish imitators, indicating increased feeding activity as they prepare for spawn
| - Deep standing timber in 10-25 foot depth range, particularly where it intersects with creek channels
- Brush piles positioned near pre-spawn staging areas and migration routes
- Creek mouth areas with vertical structure, especially those leading to spawning coves
| - Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') - primary technique showing success in recent reports
- Lipless Crankbaits - effective for actively feeding fish as noted in reports
- Crappie Spider Rigging - effective for covering water and finding suspended fish
| - Shad - primary forage based on multiple reports and lake profile
- Small baitfish - secondary forage during pre-spawn period
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 54-68 | - Fish are in various spawning phases - some actively spawning on beds (62-68°F), others still pre-spawn and staging (54-64°F), showing typical spring transitional behavior
- Pre-spawn fish are relating to staging areas near spawning flats, while spawning fish are establishing beds in protected pockets and coves
| - Secondary points in spawning pockets - holding pre-spawn fish
- Protected areas in backs of coves with suitable spawning substrate
- Steeper rocky banks and bluff walls - staging areas for pre-spawn fish
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) - especially effective for bed fishing and working shallow cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) - successful for suspended pre-spawn fish
- Finesse Jigs - productive around rocky areas and staging points
| - Crawfish - primary forage during pre-spawn period
- Shad - becoming more active in creek mouths and on points
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Shad Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-68 | - Spotted bass transitioning through pre-spawn to spawn phases, moving from deeper staging areas to spawning flats
- Males actively guarding nests in protected areas while females move between spawning areas and nearby feeding zones
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, particularly responsive to intrusive baits
| - Protected rocky pockets and coves with gravel or small rock bottom composition
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats in 5-15 foot range
- Deeper staging areas near spawning flats with brush piles and stumps in 15-25 foot range
| - Shakey Heads worked slowly around spawning areas and transition zones
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to visible beds and structure
- Finesse Jigs worked methodically through spawning pockets
- Soft Jerkbaits for targeting pre-spawn fish moving up to spawning areas
| - Crawfish emerging in warming waters
- Small bluegill and sunfish in spawning areas
- Shad schools in adjacent deeper water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Pre-spawn to spawning smallmouth bass staging on transition areas between winter deep water and spawning flats
- Males aggressively defending nests in protected rocky areas, while females move between spawning areas and deeper recovery zones
| - Protected rocky pockets and small coves with gravel/rock mix in 2-8 foot depth
- Secondary points with boulder/rock structure adjacent to deeper water
- Shallow rock/bluff transitions near spawning flats
| - Tubes worked slowly around rocky areas and potential nest sites
- Soft Jerkbaits with long pauses to trigger defensive strikes
- Ned Rigs dragged along transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Crawfish emerging from winter patterns and becoming more active
- Small baitfish gathering in pre-spawn areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow flats and moving into spawning areas as water temperatures stabilize
- Males creating and guarding nests in protected areas while females stage slightly deeper
- Aggressive feeding periods during pre-spawn, becoming more territorial during actual spawn
| - Protected coves and creek arms with depths of 2-6 feet
- Shallow brush piles near spawning flats
- Creek mouth transitions leading to spawning areas
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Shad (primary forage base)
- Small bluegill and young-of-year panfish
- Various minnow species
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are utilizing laydowns and brush piles as primary ambush points, particularly in the 15-foot depth range
- Bass are staging around points and pockets, with some fish still completing spawning activities
| - Laydowns and brush piles on bluff walls in 15-foot depth range
- Points and secondary points near spawning pockets
- Shallow protected areas with natural wood cover
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) with creature baits around laydowns
- Drop Shot targeting brush piles and bluff walls
- Shakey Heads worked along points and transitions
| - Crawfish in rocky areas and around wood cover
- Small bluegill moving shallow
- Shad starting to school in creek channels
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 62-72 | - In post-spawn, spotted bass are recovering from spawning and beginning to feed actively again, focusing on rocky points and deeper structure transitions
- Fish are gradually moving from spawning areas to summer haunts, staging at intermediary points with good access to both shallow and deep water
| - Rocky points with access to deep water, especially those near spawning pockets
- Brush piles and standing timber in 15-25 foot range
- Ledges and drop-offs in 20-30 foot depth range with nearby shallow flats
| - Football Jigs worked slowly along rocky transitions
- Shakey Heads on points and near brush
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for actively feeding fish
- Drop Shot when fish are suspended near structure
| - Crawfish on rocky areas and points
- Shad schools starting to group up in deeper water
- Small bluegill and perch near brush and timber
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Active feeding behavior in post-spawn recovery phase, targeting both crawfish and shad in transition areas
- Moving between shallow and mid-depth rocky areas (5-15 feet) throughout the day, using boulder fields and bluff walls as primary holding areas
| - Rocky points and transitions adjacent to spawning flats
- Bluff walls with boulder fields in 8-15 foot range
- Secondary points with mixed rock and brush structure
| - Tubes worked along rocky transitions
- Ned Rigs dragged through boulder fields
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for actively feeding fish
| - Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
- Small shad schools in transition areas
- Young of year bluegill beginning to appear
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 65-75 | - During post-spawn, crappie are transitioning back to deeper water, typically suspending near vertical structure. They remain actively feeding to recover energy from spawning.
- Fish are showing suspended feeding patterns, relating strongly to shad schools and utilizing the extensive standing timber and brush piles as ambush points
| - Deep standing timber in 10-25 feet of water, especially near creek channel intersections
- Brush piles positioned on main lake points and creek mouths
- Suspended cover near primary creek channels where shad are present
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
| - Shad schools suspending near structure
- Small sunfish around brush piles
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|