| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 53-62 | - Bass are staging near spawning areas, with males moving shallower and becoming more aggressive while females hold slightly deeper
- Fish are actively transitioning between winter and spawning areas, using points and drop-offs as staging locations
- Cold fronts can temporarily push fish deeper and reduce activity, requiring slower presentations
| - Points and drop-offs adjacent to spawning areas, especially those with submerged benches
- Backs of creeks with flooded brush lines
- Boulder fields and bluff walls near deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around brush and cover
- Drop Shot on points and bluff walls
- Ned Rigs on submerged benches and transition areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') for covering water in warmer periods
| - Bluegill holding tight to cover and brush
- Shad suspended near points and drop-offs
| - Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Transitioning from winter deep water haunts to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Following daily temperature fluctuations, moving shallower on sunny afternoons and retreating to adjacent deeper water during cold fronts
| - Main lake points with rock-to-deep water transitions, especially those with boulder fields
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in 8-15 foot depth range
- Deep water access areas adjacent to future spawning flats
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock transitions
- Blade Baits for actively feeding fish near deep water
- Tubes dragged and hopped through boulder fields
| - Crawfish emerging from winter hibernation
- Small bluegill in transitional areas
- Suspended shad schools near points
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass moving into shallow spawning areas in backs of creeks and protected coves, establishing and guarding nests
- Males staging near spawning areas while females move between deeper transition areas and spawning flats
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nests, with increased reaction strikes
| - Protected backs of creeks with brush lines in 2-6 feet of water
- Secondary points leading into spawning pockets
- Shallow brush and matted grass areas adjacent to deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover and bedding areas
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly through spawning flats
- Soft Jerkbaits for cruising pre-spawners
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Shad moving into creek arms and spawning pockets
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Actively seeking shallow spawning areas near rock and boulder structure in 3-8 foot depths
- Males guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water near spawning flats
- Feeding opportunistically between spawning activities, particularly active during early morning and evening
| - Rocky points with gradual slopes leading to spawning flats
- Boulder fields in 4-8 foot depths near deeper water access
- Protected coves with rock and gravel bottom composition
| - Tubes worked slowly around rocky areas and potential nest sites
- Ned Rigs fished with subtle movements near spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses for staging fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegill in shallow areas
- Young shad schools beginning to form
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bass are actively recovering and beginning to feed aggressively, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing multiple depth zones, moving between shallow cover and nearby deeper structure as they follow shad and bluegill
| - Secondary points and brush lines adjacent to spawning areas in 8-15 feet
- Rock piles and boulder areas near deep water access in 12-20 feet
- Matted grass edges in 15-20 feet where they intersect with other structure
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through brush lines and grass edges
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') along rock transitions and points
- Shakey Heads on offshore structure and around boulders
| - Shad schools beginning to group up in post-spawn patterns
- Bluegill becoming more active around shallow and mid-depth cover
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Fish are actively feeding and recovering from spawn, transitioning between shallow spawning areas and summer deep-water haunts
- Aggressive feeding periods during early morning and evening, targeting bluegill and shad in transition areas
| - Main lake points with boulder structure transitioning to deeper water
- Rock piles and ledges in 8-15 foot depth range
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in post-spawn transition zones
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock transitions
- Tubes dragged through boulder fields
- Spinnerbaits around points during active feeding periods
| - Bluegill gathering near rocky areas
- Shad schools moving along points and transition areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
