Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 54-60 | - Pre-spawn females actively staging on transition areas between winter and spawning grounds, making feeding movements toward shallower water during warming trends
- Fish showing aggressive feeding behavior during prime weather windows, with notable activity during 10am-1pm as water warms
| - Secondary points and transition areas in creek arms at 2-5 feet depth
- Docks adjacent to deeper water, especially where wind is pushing against them
- Rock piles and hard bottom areas in major creeks
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses around staging areas
- Lipless Crankbaits around rock piles and shallow transition areas
- Bladed Jigs worked around docks and laydowns
| - Shad schooling in 10-12 feet of water
- Crawfish becoming active on rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Crappie are staging near spawning areas, moving from winter depths to pre-spawn staging locations in 8-15 feet of water
- Fish are becoming more active and feeding aggressively as they prepare for spawn, particularly during warming trends
- Schools are starting to break up from tight winter groups into smaller pods, relating heavily to structure
| - Secondary points and creek channel bends in 8-15 feet of water
- Brush piles and laydowns near spawning pockets
- Dock posts and pilings adjacent to deeper water
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Dock Shooting
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Shad moving into creeks and staging areas
- Small bluegill in brush piles
- Various minnow species around dock areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Catfish | 58-68 | - Pre-spawn catfish actively feeding and moving to shallower creek arms and coves as water warms, following baitfish migrations
- Fish become more active during low-light periods and after rain events that increase turbidity
- Catfish staging near channel swings and transitional areas between winter and spawning locations
| - Creek arm channels and adjacent flats where water is beginning to warm
- Rock piles and laydowns near deeper water access
- Protected coves with brush piles near channel swings
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut shad or herring near structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around brush piles and laydowns
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly along channel edges
| - Shad schools moving into creeks and shallow areas
- Blueback herring beginning their spring movements
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 52-65 | - Transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving from deep main lake points into creek arms and secondary points, following warming water trends
- Becoming increasingly aggressive as water temperatures rise, with peak feeding during stable weather patterns
| - Secondary points in creek arms with rocky structure
- Shallow docks in 5-15 foot range near spawning pockets
- Main lake points with transition areas to deeper water
| - Bladed Jigs worked around shallow structure and through stained water
- Shakey Heads worked methodically around docks and rock piles
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') along points and channel swings
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools moving into creek arms
- Small bluegill in shallow warming pockets
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Bass are actively spawning and protecting beds in shallow coves and protected areas, with some fish still staging on pre-spawn areas like riprap
- Early morning shad spawn activity along riprap and rocky banks, transitioning to bed-related behavior as the sun gets higher
| - Shallow coves in the backs of creeks with docks and seawalls
- Main lake riprap and rocky banks for early morning shad spawn
- Protected areas with laydowns in 2-6 feet of water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly around docks and seawalls
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around laydowns and shallow cover
- Spinnerbaits parallel to riprap during early morning shad spawn
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around visible beds and shoreline cover
| - Shad spawning on riprap and hard surfaces early in the morning
- Crawfish active in shallow areas around rocks and wood
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Actively staging and spawning in shallow coves and protected areas, particularly around woody cover and brush piles
- Males guarding nests in 2-6 foot depths while females stage slightly deeper on adjacent structure
- Highly aggressive feeding periods during pre-spawn, becoming more territorial during actual spawn
| - Protected creek arms with woody cover in 2-6 foot depths
- Secondary points with brush piles near spawning pockets
- Shallow dock areas with adjacent deeper water access
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Small Shad
- Young of Year Baitfish
- Small Insects and Larvae
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Catfish | 62-75 | - Catfish are actively seeking warm, shallow flats and creek arms for spawning, with males guarding nesting sites in cavities near structure
- Feeding activity increases in pre-spawn period, especially during warming trends and after rain events that increase turbidity
- Fish are more active during dawn and dusk, but the stained water conditions (1.9m Secchi) allow for good daytime feeding opportunities
| - Protected creek arms with rocky or woody structure in 4-8 feet of water
- Shallow flats adjacent to river channel edges
- Areas near brush piles and laydowns in coves with muddy/clay bottom
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut shad or whole crawfish near structure
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around laydowns and brush
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') in creek arms
| - Shad moving into spawning areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
- Blueback herring in main lake areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-68 | - Spotted bass actively moving into spawning areas, particularly in protected coves and pockets with hard bottom composition
- Males establishing and guarding nests in 2-8 foot depths, while females stage slightly deeper on nearby points and breaks
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, with increased feeding activity during pre-spawn
| - Protected pockets with gravel or rocky bottom near creek arms
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves
- Shallow docks in spawning pockets
- Rocky banks with transition areas to spawning flats
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and beds
- Shakey Heads worked slowly on secondary points
- Spinnerbaits along rocky banks in windy conditions
- Soft Jerkbaits for suspended pre-spawn fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small shad schools in creek arms
- Bluegill in shallow spawning pockets
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 70-78 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding and establishing summer patterns, focusing on shad around docks and shallow cover
- Fish are showing increased surface activity during low light conditions, evidenced by success with topwater baits
| - Docks in creek arms, particularly in 2nd creek as mentioned in recent reports
- Secondary points with access to deeper water near dock-lined banks
- Shallow brush piles adjacent to docks in 2-10 feet of water
| - Hard Topwater (Walking) around docks during low light periods
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around dock posts and shade lines
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) to match the shad forage
| - Shad - primary forage based on recent fishing reports
- Crawfish - secondary forage option given the lake's hard bottom areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 65-75 | - Transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding but gradually moving to slightly deeper water
- Forming loose schools around vertical cover, particularly near spawning areas and channel swings
- Most active during early morning and late evening, seeking shade during bright conditions
| - Brush piles and laydowns in 8-15 feet of water adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points with vertical cover near creek channels
- Shaded dock areas with depths of 6-12 feet
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Crappie Dock Shooting
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
| - Small to medium-sized shad
- Young-of-year baitfish
- Small bluegill
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Catfish | 65-75 | - Post-spawn catfish are actively feeding to recover energy, taking advantage of the stained water conditions (1.9m Secchi) to feed throughout daylight hours
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to summer patterns, following baitfish schools and utilizing current breaks near deeper water
| - Creek arm intersections with the main river channel, especially areas with rock piles
- Shallow mud flats adjacent to deeper water, particularly in areas with brush or laydowns
- Areas where wind-driven currents concentrate baitfish near points or channel swings
| - Live Bait Rigs with cut shad or herring positioned near structure
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') along channel edges during active feeding periods
- Carolina Rigs worked slowly through rocky areas where crawfish are present
| - Shad and blueback herring schooling in creek arms and channel edges
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas as water warms
- Small baitfish gathering around brush piles and laydowns
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn spotted bass are actively recovering and feeding, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are moving between shallow feeding zones and nearby deeper structure, particularly active during morning and evening hours
| - Secondary points and rocky banks adjacent to spawning pockets
- Docks in 5-15 foot range, especially those near creek channel swings
- Rock piles and hard structure transitions in 8-12 foot depth
| - Shakey Heads worked slowly around docks and rock piles
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') along rocky banks and points
- Spinnerbaits around shallow cover during lowlight periods
| - Shad schools beginning to group up in creek arms
- Crawfish active on rocky structure
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|