| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are actively transitioning from winter areas to spawning zones, staging on transition areas near spawning flats
- Fish becoming more aggressive as water warms, with feeding increasing to build energy reserves for spawning
- Most active during warmer parts of day, particularly on overcast days in the stained water conditions
| - Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow vegetation edges in 3-6 feet of water, especially near deeper water access
- Dock areas providing both cover and warmer water micro-habitats
| - Lipless Crankbaits - ideal for covering water and triggering reaction strikes in stained conditions
- Bladed Jigs - excellent for working through emerging vegetation with high vibration
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) - effective for targeting isolated cover and dock areas
| - Shad schools beginning to move shallower
- Bluegill starting to become more active in warming shallows
- Various minnow species relating to emerging vegetation
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active with warming trends
- Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, particularly keying on larger prey items in current areas
| - Current-swept rocky areas and pilings adjacent to deeper water
- Hard bottom transition areas near submerged vegetation edges
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in 8-15 foot depth range
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped near structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved steadily through current areas
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Bottom-oriented crayfish becoming more active with warming water
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are in spawn/pre-spawn mode, actively moving into shallow areas with vegetation and seeking spawning locations
- Fish showing aggressive reaction strikes on fast-moving baits, particularly around dead grass edges as noted in recent reports
| - Dead grass areas on south side of Bayou section, particularly in Silver Lake zone
- Shallow vegetation edges near spawning flats
- Protected dock areas with adjacent vegetation
| - Wacky Rigs worked quickly through vegetation as validated by recent success
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for targeting thick cover areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for covering water between likely spawning areas
| - Bluegill in shallow vegetation
- Shad along vegetation edges
- Minnows in shallow flats
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning to spawning areas, focusing on protected shallow flats and coves with hard bottom composition
- Males actively guarding nests while females stage on nearby deeper structure between spawning activities
| - Protected rocky flats and coves with hard bottom, especially near pilings
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
- Current-protected areas near submerged vegetation edges
| - Tubes worked slowly around potential spawning areas
- Ned Rigs fished with subtle movements near staging areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses for pre-spawn fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools in nearby deeper water
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-75 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass actively feeding but staying relatively shallow, moving between cover types and showing preference for shaded areas during daylight
- Fish responding well to reaction strikes in stained water, particularly around vegetation edges and dock structures
| - Shaded dock areas, particularly those adjacent to vegetation
- Grass and vegetation edges in 1-3 feet of water
- Protected backwater areas with matted vegetation
| - Frogs/Toads worked over matted vegetation and slime mats
- Wacky Rigs worked in pockets and edges of grass
- Lipless Crankbaits burned through sparse vegetation
| - Shad moving along vegetation edges
- Minnows in shallow water areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, targeting shad and other forage around current-swept structure
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, relating heavily to hard structure and weed edges in 5-15 foot depths
| - Current-swept rocky areas and pilings where shad congregate
- Edges of submerged vegetation adjacent to deeper water
- Hard bottom areas near post-spawn transition routes
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked along weed edges and structure
- Tubes dragged and hopped near pilings and rocky areas
- Ned Rigs worked slowly on hard bottom areas
| - Shad congregating around current areas and structure
- Crawfish becoming active on hard bottom areas
- Small panfish along weed edges
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Chartreuse Colors
|
