| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Bass moving from winter depths to transitional staging areas near spawning flats, becoming more active with warming trends
- Feeding increases as water warms, with fish actively seeking protein-rich meals to prepare for spawning
| - Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats in 5-12 foot depths
- Deep weed edges from previous season near spawning areas
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation in 3-8 foot depths
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked slowly through transitional areas
- Bladed Jigs with slow, steady retrieves near emerging vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in staging areas
| - Bluegills congregating near emerging weed growth
- Small baitfish schools in pre-spawn staging areas
- Crawfish becoming more active with warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Bass moving into shallow spawning areas (2-6 feet) near shore, particularly in protected coves and around vegetation
- Males actively guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water (6-10 feet) near spawning flats
- Increased aggression and territorial behavior around nesting sites
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and sparse vegetation
- Areas adjacent to lily pad fields in 4-6 feet
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around potential bed sites
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and working spawning flats
- Soft Jerkbaits for targeting pre-spawn females
| - Bluegill and sunfish gathering in similar spawning areas
- Small baitfish moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Actively feeding in shallower water (2-8 feet) around emerging vegetation and remaining spawning areas
- Fish are transitioning from spawning sites to early summer patterns, becoming more aggressive as metabolism increases
- Most active during morning and evening periods, moving between shallow cover and slightly deeper staging areas
| - Emerging weed edges in 5-8 foot depths with access to deeper water
- Secondary points and pocket areas near spawning flats
- Submerged vegetation transitions near lily pad fields
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges during cloudy conditions or low light
- Wacky Rigs in pockets and around sparse cover
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
- Young of year baitfish around emerging vegetation
- Crawfish active in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
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