| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter depths to warming shallow areas, making frequent movements between deep wintering holes and shallow spawning flats
- Fish are becoming more active and aggressive as water temperatures rise, with feeding increasing to prepare for spawning
| - Rocky points and transition areas adjacent to deeper wintering holes (8-15 feet)
- Secondary points with gravel or rock in 4-8 foot depth range
- Protected shallow bays with rock or gravel bottom warming faster than main lake
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly along transition areas
- Hard Jerkbaits with extended pauses in slightly deeper water
- Tubes dragged slowly across rocky areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish congregating in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Transitioning from winter deep water areas to shallow spawning flats, staging at intermediate depths near spawning areas
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warming trends
- Moving along deeper edges of emerging vegetation, utilizing points and channels as travel routes to spawning areas
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays with emerging vegetation
- Deep weed edges in 12-15 foot range near shallow flats
- Channel swings and breaks leading into spawning coves
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along emerging vegetation edges
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled through transition areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in staging areas
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow near emerging vegetation
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
- Small baitfish schools transitioning along depth changes
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-65 | - Moving from winter depths to shallow warming bays and protected areas, staging for spawn
- Actively feeding during warming trends, particularly during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
- Gathering in pre-spawn groups near spawning areas, often relating to emerging vegetation
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation (2-6 feet)
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays (6-12 feet)
- Areas where shallow flats meet deeper water access (8-15 feet)
| - Bobbers with light jigs worked slowly around emerging vegetation
- Ice Fishing Jigs worked vertically near structure transitions
- Finesse Hair Jigs cast to staging areas
| - Small insects and larvae emerging with warming water
- Small minnows in warming shallows
- Zooplankton concentrations in warming bays
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Moving shallow to spawn, focusing on areas with hard bottom and warmer water temperatures
- Males guarding nests while females stage on nearby deep structure
- Pre/post spawn feeding activity increases with focus on crawfish and small baitfish
| - Rocky points and shorelines in 2-6 foot depths with nearby deeper water
- Protected bays with gravel or rock bottom
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper structure
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly around spawning areas
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky points
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for staged fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Largemouth bass are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in protected coves and bays where the irregular shoreline (SDI 2.80) provides ideal spawning habitat
- Males are actively guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water nearby, moving between spawning flats and transition areas
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with firm bottom, especially near emerging vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water, particularly near the deep weed edges at 12-15 feet
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting shallow cover and visible beds
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and working shallow zones
- Shakey Heads for pre-spawn staging areas
| - Bluegill in shallow spawning areas
- Small baitfish gathering in warming shallows
- Crawfish becoming more active in warmer water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Male bluegills moving shallow to establish spawning beds in protected bays and coves with firm bottom
- Females staging on the outer edges of spawning areas, moving in periodically to spawn
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and scattered vegetation
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water, especially near reed beds
- Transition areas between lily pads and deeper water
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 2-4 feet deep
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly through spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms
| - Small insects and larvae
- Small minnows
- Aquatic invertebrates
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Smallmouth bass are actively feeding and patrolling transitional areas between spawning flats and early summer haunts
- Fish are aggressive and territorial, defending areas near their recent spawning sites while beginning to group up for summer patterns
| - Rocky points and reef edges in 8-15 foot depth range adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow rock piles near deeper water access
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in 5-12 feet
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to structure
- Drop Shot with subtle presentations near rock transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped through rocky areas
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure
| - Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
- Small baitfish relating to newly established weed growth
- Young of the year perch in shallow rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, making frequent moves between shallow recovery areas and deeper structure
- Fish are establishing early summer patterns, relating strongly to the deep weed edges and points while making feeding forays to shallow areas
| - Deep weed edges at 12-15 feet where submerged vegetation creates prime ambush points
- Secondary points with access to both shallow and deep water
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation, especially during morning and evening periods
| - Shakey Heads worked along deep weed edges and points
- Swim Jigs through scattered vegetation and over emerging weed beds
- Texas Rigs (Worming) for methodically working transitional areas
| - Bluegill concentrating around emerging weed growth
- Young of the year baitfish beginning to school in the shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-72 | - Bluegills transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding in slightly deeper water near spawning flats
- Fish becoming more structure-oriented, moving between shallow feeding areas and deeper weed edges for security
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays with emerging weed growth
- Deep weed edges in 12-15 foot range near spawning flats
- Protected pockets with developing vegetation in 8-12 foot range
| - Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly along weed transitions
- Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms near vegetation
- Bobbers with suspended baits over emerging weed beds
| - Small invertebrates and insects around new vegetation growth
- Small minnows relating to weed edges
- Emerging aquatic insects
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
