| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 45-55 | - Bass are staging on transition areas between winter and spawning locations, actively feeding but remaining near deep water access
- Fish are moving in waves from deeper winter areas to pre-spawn staging points, becoming more active as water temperatures climb
| - Main lake rocky points in 3-10 foot depth range
- Brush piles in 8-16 foot depth range
- Secondary points with deep water access
| - Structure Jigs worked slowly along bottom contours
- Football Jigs around brush piles
- Spoons worked vertically through suspended fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish holding near structure
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-68 | - Pre-spawn crappie are staging in flooded brush and around docks, transitioning between winter and spawning areas at depths of 12-24 feet
- Actively feeding during warming trends, with increased activity around structure as water temperatures reach mid-60s
| - Flooded brush in 12-24 feet of water, especially tree tops
- Boat docks with good depth nearby, particularly those close to spawning areas
- Secondary points with brush or timber leading into spawning coves
| - Bobbers with live bait suspended at key depths around brush and docks
- Live Bait Rigs worked slowly around structure
- Crappie Dock Shooting for skittish fish under docks
| - Live minnows, particularly smaller sizes matching pre-spawn forage
- Small baitfish concentrating around brush and dock areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 52-65 | - Spotted bass transitioning from winter depths to pre-spawn staging areas, following baitfish movements and responding to warming trends
- Fish become increasingly active as water temperatures rise, moving to transitional areas between deep wintering holes and spawning flats
| - Secondary points and channel swings near spawning pockets, especially those with flooded timber
- Steep rocky banks and bluff walls adjacent to spawning flats
- Deeper dock areas near creek channels with access to shallow water
| - Jerkbaits worked slowly along transition areas, particularly on sunny days
- Bladed Jigs around timber and along rocky banks when water is stained
- Medium Diving Crankbaits parallel to points and channel swings
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Crawfish becoming more active with warming water temperatures
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 45-65 | - Bass moving onto spawning flats and staging areas in 45-47°F water, preparing for spawn. Males will begin creating beds in protected areas while females stage nearby.
- Fish becoming increasingly aggressive and territorial as they protect spawning areas, with feeding becoming secondary to reproductive behavior.
| - Protected coves and bays with firm bottom composition, particularly near flooded timber and brush piles
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays, especially those with gradual slopes
- Shallow areas adjacent to deeper water, particularly near docks and laydowns
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around visible beds and shallow cover
- Soft Jerkbaits fished with twitches and pauses near staging areas
- Shakey Heads worked methodically through spawning flats
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegill and sunfish
- Young shad beginning to spawn
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Crappie are transitioning into spawning behavior, moving from deeper pre-spawn staging areas into shallower spawning zones (2-8 feet) near flooded brush and docks
- Fish are highly active during this period, with males guarding nests and females moving in waves to spawning areas
- Peak feeding occurs during early morning and evening hours, with fish being more structure-oriented during bright conditions
| - Flooded brush and shallow cover in 2-8 feet of water, especially in protected coves
- Dock areas with adequate depth and shade
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Bobbers
| - Small minnows
- Young of the year baitfish
- Small insects and larvae
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-68 | - Spotted bass moving into shallower spawning areas, particularly around flooded timber and secondary points, staging in pre-spawn areas between 5-15 feet
- Males actively guarding nests while females move between spawning flats and deeper staging areas, making them susceptible to sight fishing approaches
| - Protected spawning pockets near flooded timber with firm bottom composition
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves
- Dock areas in spawning pockets, especially those with deeper water access
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around visible beds and staging areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations around timber and dock posts
- Shakey Heads for working transition areas between staging and spawning zones
| - Shad schools in spawning pockets and around points
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters around timber and rocky areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are utilizing various depth ranges (3-16 feet) and relating strongly to cover, particularly during bright conditions
| - Secondary points and adjacent flats with brush piles or laydowns
- Docks with deep water access, especially those near spawning bays
- Flooded timber edges where they intersect with depth changes
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and timber
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along points and timber edges
- Spinnerbaits near cover during cloudy conditions or early/late day
| - Shad beginning to school in post-spawn patterns
- Bluegill in shallow areas around cover
- Crawfish active in rocky areas and around timber
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 64-72 | - Post-spawn crappie transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish staging near deeper cover adjacent to spawning flats, moving between depths based on time of day and weather
| - Brush piles and flooded timber in 8-15 feet of water adjacent to spawning flats
- Dock areas with good depth transitions in 6-12 feet
- Secondary points with submerged cover in 10-20 feet
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling) along depth transitions to locate active fish
- Crappie Spider Rigging for precise presentation in brush piles
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding tight to dock structure
| - Small minnows and shad in 1-2 inch range
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to appear
- Small insects and larvae near brush piles
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn spotted bass are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer haunts, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are suspending near vertical structure and actively chasing shad in the mid-water column
| - Main lake points with access to deeper water, especially those with flooded timber
- Dock edges adjacent to deeper water
- Brushy areas in 10-15 feet of water near channel swings
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic retrieves around suspended fish
- Shakey Heads worked slowly along dock edges and timber
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') parallel to points and channel edges
| - Shad schools moving to main lake areas
- Bluegill in shallow brush and around docks
- Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
