| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-58 | - Pre-spawn largemouth are staging in shallow water near spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are relating heavily to bottom structure and moving between deeper staging areas and shallow feeding zones
| - Boulder fields in shallow north end areas that warm first
- Protected coves with hard bottom and emerging vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly along bottom structure
- Ned Rigs for finesse presentation in clearer water
- Bladed Jigs around shallow cover during active periods
| - Alewife moving shallow with warming trends
- Bluegill beginning to stage in pre-spawn areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
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| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding while staging near spawning areas, with reports showing aggressive feeding on rock piles and around boulders in 13-20 foot depths
- Fish are responding well to bottom presentations with short movements and pauses, indicating a methodical feeding pattern typical of cool water conditions
| - Rock piles and boulder fields in 13-20 foot depths, particularly those adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Laydowns and woody cover near shoreline transitional areas
- Deep water points with rocky structure serving as staging areas
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) with small hops and extended pauses, proven effective in recent reports
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with 1-2-1 cadence and long pauses, especially effective around laydowns
- Damiki Rig with minimal action, particularly effective on isolated rock piles
| - Minnows - primary forage based on multiple recent fishing reports
- Alewife - mentioned in successful fishing reports targeting rock piles
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 50-65 | - Fish are transitioning into spawning behavior, moving from pre-spawn staging areas to shallow spawning flats, particularly active during early morning and evening hours
- Actively feeding in 1-3 foot depths around emerging vegetation and shallow cover, with increased aggression when water temperatures are between 55-65°F
| - Shallow pockets with emerging grass and cattails in 1-3 feet of water
- Rocky areas and boulders adjacent to spawning flats
- Laydowns and submerged log fields with interspersed weed pockets
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked weightless like a topwater in ultra-shallow water
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around rocky areas and vegetation
- Hard Jerkbaits worked across tops of emerging weeds from shallow to deep
| - Crawfish actively moving in rocky areas
- Bluegill in shallow vegetation
- Alewife along weed edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Fish are transitioning through pre-spawn and spawn phases, moving from deeper staging areas to shallow spawning flats
- Active feeding during dawn/dusk periods, with fish suspending near vegetation edges and points
- Showing preference for suspended presentations with moderate pauses, particularly during lower light conditions
| - Weed beds adjacent to points in 8-15 foot depth range
- Rocky points and boulder-strewn flats near spawning areas
- Transition areas between shallow spawning flats and deeper staging locations
| - Soft Jerkbaits with 2-3 twitches and 1-2 second pauses
- Drop Shot with subtle movements near structure
- Tubes worked slowly along bottom structure
| - Minnows suspended in the water column
- Alewives moving shallow with warming trends
- Early season crawfish becoming active on rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-77 | - Bass are actively feeding but showing some temperature sensitivity, requiring slower presentations as water warms into upper 70s
- Fish are establishing post-spawn feeding stations near submerged vegetation and hard cover, using these areas as ambush points
- Showing both shallow ambush behavior and deeper structure relating patterns, suggesting a transitional period
| - Submerged vegetation edges in 1-3 feet of water, especially where it creates shade
- Rock piles in 8-12 feet of water
- Secondary points with mixed vegetation and hard cover
| - Hard Body Swimbaits worked slowly along weed edges
- Ned Rigs dragged along rock piles
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked through vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses
| - Bluegill concentrated around shallow vegetation
- Crawfish active around rock structures
- Alewife in open water adjacent to structure
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are relating to bottom structure but beginning to suspend more as they follow baitfish schools
- Feeding periods are becoming more regular with fish actively hunting during prime daylight hours
| - Boulder fields and rock piles in 15-25 foot depth range
- Deep points adjacent to spawning flats
- Isolated weed patches developing in 14-17 foot range
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly along bottom structure
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for suspended fish
- Tubes dragged and hopped through boulder fields
| - Minnows suspended near structure
- Crawfish emerging from winter haunts
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to school
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
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