Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Bass are actively staging in pre-spawn locations, making deliberate movements through transition areas and feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish showing cautious behavior, requiring multiple casts to trigger strikes, particularly around shallow cover and structure
| - Shallow ditches and channels in 3-5 foot depth range serving as migration routes
- Riprap banks with access to deeper water
- Stumps and shallow cover adjacent to spawning flats
| - Bladed Jigs worked slowly along transition areas and through shallow cover
- Spinnerbaits parallel to riprap with long casts to avoid spooking fish
- Drop Shot for more finicky fish around deeper structure
| - Shad concentrating in shallow transition areas
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow near spawning areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 52-65 | - Spotted bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are making upward movements from deep winter haunts to staging areas near spawning flats, particularly active during warming trends
| - Bluff walls and transition areas adjacent to spawning flats
- Main lake points and creek channel bends in 7-12 foot range
- Brush piles and stumps near deeper water access
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses around transition areas
- Bladed Jigs worked along channel edges and through brush
- Shakey Heads worked slowly on bluff walls and around structure
| - Shad schools concentrated in creek channels and transition areas
- Bluegill beginning to move shallower near spawning flats
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas, transitioning from winter deep water patterns to shallower spawning zones
- Actively feeding during warming trends, following shad schools and relating to structure in 8-15 foot range
- Movement patterns influenced by current generation, concentrating in areas with moderate current flow
| - Shallow creek arms and coves with brush piles in 10-12 foot range
- Docks in 8-15 foot depths near channel swings
- Main lake points with access to deeper water
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Dock Shooting
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Shad schools concentrated in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small baitfish relating to brush piles and dock structures
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-68 | - Pre-spawn striped bass actively moving into tributary arms and creek channels, following baitfish migrations and staging for spawning
- Fish are schooling aggressively, making feeding pushes in the mornings and evenings due to the turbid water conditions
- Stripers relating strongly to current breaks and channel swing banks during water generation periods
| - Creek channel intersections with the main river, particularly near deeper bends
- Secondary points leading into major creek arms
- Current-swept areas near dam during generation periods
| - Umbrella Rigs worked along channel edges and through bait schools
- Large Hair Jigs (Preacher) worked vertically in 15-25 foot zones
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow rolled near primary points
| - Gizzard and Threadfin Shad schooling in creek arms
- Blueback Herring moving into tributary areas
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are moving shallow (0-6 feet) to spawn in protected areas with firm bottom, actively guarding nests and showing territorial behavior
- Males stage on pre-spawn areas near spawning flats, while females move in and out during the spawning period
- Aggressive reaction strikes common when protecting nests, but may be less focused on feeding
| - Protected pockets with matted grass in 2-4 feet of water
- Shallow dock areas with firm bottom in protected coves
- Grass bed edges adjacent to spawning flats
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
- Wacky Rigs
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
| - Bluegill becoming more active in the shallows
- Shad moving into spawning areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-68 | - Spotted bass are transitioning into spawning behavior, utilizing shallow rock and riprap areas for bedding while making frequent movements between staging and spawning areas
- Fish are aggressive and territorial during pre-spawn and spawn phases, with feeding occurring during periodic breaks from spawning activity
| - Riprap banks and rocky shorelines in 3-8 foot depth range
- Secondary points leading into spawning pockets
- Bluff walls adjacent to spawning flats for staging areas
| - Shakey Heads worked slowly along rocky bottom structure
- Texas Rigs (Worming) with finesse worms for bed fishing
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to riprap
| - Crawfish emerging in shallow rocky areas
- Small bluegill in spawning pockets
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Moving into shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) around brush, wood, and dock structures as water temperatures rise
- Males staging and preparing nests while females stage slightly deeper until ready to spawn
- Most active during dawn and dusk, with increased daytime activity during the spawn
| - Protected shallow coves with brush or wood cover in 2-8 foot range
- Docks in 8-15 foot range near spawning areas
- Shallow brush piles in 10-12 foot range adjacent to spawning flats
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Shad concentrations in spawning areas
- Small sunfish and minnows around shallow cover
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-68 | - Striped bass are actively moving into creek arms and tributary areas for spawning, following temperature-driven instincts
- Fish are staging in pre-spawn areas near creek channel intersections and points, making feeding passes in shallower water
| - Creek mouth intersections with the main river channel where spawning runs begin
- Secondary points and channel bends leading into major creek arms
- Current-swept areas near dam generation flows where pre-spawn fish stage
| - Umbrella Rigs worked along channel edges where pre-spawn fish stage
- Large Hair Jigs (Preacher) slow-rolled through suspended fish
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) presented parallel to points and channel edges
| - Large schools of pre-spawn shad moving into tributary areas
- Concentrated baitfish groups in current areas from dam generation
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 63-68 | - Bass are actively feeding in shallow grass areas post-spawn, showing aggressive behavior toward moving baits
- Fish are relating heavily to vegetation edges and matted grass, using these areas as primary feeding zones
| - Shallow grass off main river areas (0-6 feet)
- Matted grass areas providing overhead cover
- Vegetation edges adjacent to slightly deeper water
| - Swim Jigs worked through grass with steady retrieve
- Frogs/Toads worked over matted grass
- Bladed Jigs around vegetation edges
| - Shad moving through grass edges
- Bluegill relating to vegetation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 64-68 | - Spotted bass are actively feeding post-spawn, utilizing current-influenced areas and transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are showing a preference for both bottom-oriented feeding (shakey heads) and mid-water column presentations (jigs), especially around vertical structure
| - Bluff walls with current exposure
- Main lake points transitioning to ledges
- Secondary points in major creek arms
| - Shakey Heads worked along bluff walls and ledges with current
- Football Jigs dragged on points and ledges
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') worked along transitional structure
| - Shad moving along bluff walls and points
- Crawfish active on hard bottom areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 68-78 | - Post-spawn crappie transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are relating heavily to brush piles and dock structures in 8-15 foot range, especially during bright conditions
- Showing increased response to current generation events, concentrating near areas where bait is being pushed
| - Brush piles in 10-12 foot range near creek channel swings
- Shaded dock areas in 8-15 foot depths
- Main lake points with current influence near deeper water access
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Shad schools suspending near structure
- Small baitfish relating to brush piles
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn striped bass actively feeding in current-influenced areas as they recover energy, targeting shad schools in creek mouths and channel edges
- Fish transitioning between shallow feeding zones and deeper resting areas, with most active periods during dawn and dusk due to turbid conditions
| - Main river channel bends where current concentrates baitfish
- Creek mouth intersections with the main river channel
- Points and shallow flats adjacent to deep water access
| - Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') along channel edges and creek mouths
- Umbrella Rigs worked through bait schools
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) presented on channel edges
| - Shad schools congregating in creek mouths
- Baitfish concentrated by current generation
| - Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|