| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning from winter deep water patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding but temperature dependent
- Fish moving between deeper wintering areas and shallow spawning locations based on daily temperature fluctuations, as evidenced by the 50-56°F movement pattern in recent reports
| - Rock to clay transition areas along rip rap shorelines, particularly where they meet deeper water
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel near spawning flats
- Deep water access points adjacent to future spawning areas
| - Drop Shot with finesse presentations, especially effective on deeper transition areas
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock transitions
- Tubes dragged on rock to clay transition areas
| - Shad schools in transition areas
- Crawfish becoming active on rocky structures
- Small baitfish relating to warming shorelines
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Moving from winter deep water areas towards shallow spawning areas, staging at transition points near reed beds
- Actively feeding during dawn and dusk periods due to the turbid conditions (1.5m Secchi depth)
- Forming pre-spawn schools around structure near spawning areas
| - Secondary points and creek channels leading to reed beds
- Submerged vegetation edges in 6-12 foot depth range
- Rip rap areas adjacent to spawning flats
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
| - Shad (primary forage base shown in reports)
- Small panfish and juvenile fish
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Moving from winter deep-water areas to transitional staging areas near spawning flats, becoming more active with warming temperatures
- Feeding actively but selectively, with increased activity during warmer parts of the day
- Holding near structure that provides quick access to both deeper water and potential spawning areas
| - Secondary points with rock or riprap near spawning flats
- Areas where deep water meets shallow flats with emerging vegetation
- Protected shallow coves with submerged vegetation
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked with stop-and-go retrieves parallel to transitional areas
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled near submerged vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses around points
| - Shad schooling in pre-spawn staging areas
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 52-58 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning to spawning areas, actively feeding in pre-spawn pattern around hard structure
- Fish responding aggressively to stop-and-go retrieves, especially after contact with structure
| - Boulder fields and rock piles in 3-8 foot depth range
- Rocky points with wind-generated current
- Rip rap areas adjacent to spawning flats
| - Micro Crankbaits with stop-and-go retrieve bouncing off rocks
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses
- Tubes dragged through rocky areas
| - Minnows schooling around rocky areas
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-65 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow reed beds, becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise
- Moving into spawning areas in reeds and shallow cover during peak spawn, most active during dawn and dusk due to turbid conditions
| - Reed beds and emergent vegetation in 2-4 feet of water
- Protected coves with stable spawning temperatures
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 2-3 feet deep near reed edges
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around spawning areas
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) for pre-spawn fish moving toward shallow areas
| - Young-of-year shad congregating in spawning areas
- Small minnows in shallow zones
| - Pink Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn to spawning transition with bass moving from staging areas to nesting sites, actively feeding before the spawn at 57°F
- Aggressive reaction strikes on moving baits, especially around boulder structure as reported, with fish responding well to yo-yo retrieves
| - Boulder fields and rocky areas in 4-8 foot depth range where bass are staging pre-spawn
- Protected shallow bays with firm bottom for spawning
- Points and transitions near spawning flats where bass move between deep and shallow water
| - Lipless Crankbaits with yo-yo retrieve pattern as proven successful in recent reports
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around boulder structure and spawning areas
- Spinnerbaits worked along transition areas between staging and spawning zones
| - Shad (primary forage based on recent fishing reports)
- Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas as water warms
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth actively feeding to recover energy, targeting both crawfish and baitfish in moderate depths
- Fish transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, showing aggressive feeding behavior during stable weather
| - Rocky points and rip rap areas in 8-12 foot depth range
- Transition areas between spawning flats and summer structure in 12-15 foot range
- Current-swept points where wind creates feeding opportunities
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rocky structure
- Drop Shot with small profile baits near transition areas
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad and minnow schools in transition areas
- Small perch near rocky structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappies are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, with males still guarding nests in shallow areas as noted in recent reports
- Fish are actively feeding during this recovery period, especially during overcast conditions as indicated by fishing reports
| - Reed beds in shallow water, where males are still actively guarding nests
- Adjacent deeper water transitions near spawning areas
- Protected coves with complex shoreline structure
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') - proven effective in recent reports
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) - effective for targeting visible fish in reeds
- Bobbers - allows for precise depth control in shallow cover
| - Shad - identified as primary forage base in lake profile
- Small bluegill - common in shallow vegetation during this period
| - Pink Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing shallow to mid-depth zones (4-12 feet) near spawning flats, focusing on abundant forage to regain energy
| - Secondary points and flats adjacent to spawning areas with submerged vegetation
- Riprap banks and boulder structures in 4-8 foot depth range
- Reed lines and vegetation edges where shad and bluegill concentrate
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')
- Spinnerbaits
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
- Texas Rigs (Worming)
| - Shad schools beginning to form in post-spawn period
- Bluegill moving to shallow feeding areas
- Young of year baitfish becoming more abundant
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
