| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Moving from winter deep water haunts to transitional staging areas, actively feeding to prepare for spawn
- Becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, with periods of intense feeding activity during stable weather
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays with emerging vegetation
- Deep grass edges intersecting with ledges in 8-12 foot range
- Protected coves with emerging milfoil and coontail growth
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs along grass edges and points
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly over transitional areas
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallower near emerging vegetation
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas and around vegetation
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Fish are transitioning from winter deep water areas to spawning flats, staging on transition areas and gradually moving shallower as water warms
- Feeding activity increases as fish prepare for spawn, with aggressive responses to prey during warming trends
| - Rock piles and boulders adjacent to spawning flats in 6-12 feet of water
- Transition zones where scattered rocks meet vegetation in 8-15 feet
- Steep drops near potential spawning areas serving as staging points
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses over rock piles
- Tubes dragged slowly on bottom near staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish schools in transition areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Actively seeking shallow spawning areas in protected coves and bays, with males preparing and guarding nests while females stage nearby
- Gradually moving from pre-spawn staging areas on deeper points to spawning flats as water temperatures rise
- Showing increased aggression and territorial behavior around nesting sites
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and scattered vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow vegetation edges in 2-6 foot depth range
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
- Soft Jerkbaits
- Spinnerbaits
| - Crawfish emerging in warming shallows
- Bluegill moving shallow with spawning bass
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 57-65 | - Smallmouth bass are actively moving into spawning areas, utilizing transitional zones where rocks meet vegetation in 6-8 feet of water
- Fish are exhibiting aggressive feeding behavior, striking reaction baits like jerkbaits while also foraging on crawfish near rocky structure
| - Rock piles and boulder areas in 6-8 feet of water where vegetation meets hard structure
- Rip rap banks and shoreline rock structure
- Protected shallow bays with reed beds adjacent to deeper water
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with aggressive twitches and longer pauses
- Ned Rigs worked slowly around rocky structure
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to rocky banks
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy and actively moving on rocky substrate
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation and rock transitions
| - Purple Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Vibrant Assorted Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting bluegill and other forage around vegetation and docks
- Fish are showing a mixed pattern of shallow and mid-depth activity, with movement between 6-12 feet of water depending on time of day and weather conditions
| - Docks with adjacent sparse weeds and rock in 6-10 feet
- Clumps of green grass in 6-10 feet, especially on outer edges
- Protected areas with lily pads, particularly during windy conditions
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly around docks and sparse vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting grass clumps with controlled presentations
- Wacky Rigs worked near dock posts and vegetation edges
- Frogs/Toads in pad fields during calm conditions
| - Bluegill - primary forage especially around vegetation and docks
- Crawfish - active in rocky areas and around dock posts
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, targeting perch around rip rap and transitional areas
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, moving between shallow feeding areas and slightly deeper recovery zones
- Aggressive feeding behavior during prime periods, especially around structure-based ambush points
| - Rip rap banks with adjacent deeper water
- Rocky points and scattered rock/weed transition areas
- Offshore humps and deep structure near spawning flats
| - Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') worked parallel to rip rap
- Drop Shot along deep weed edges and rock transitions
- Tubes dragged through rocky areas
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
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