| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging locations, actively seeking warmer water temperatures in preparation for spawning
- Fish are becoming more active and aggressive as water temperatures rise, with feeding activity increasing particularly during warmer afternoons
| - Main lake points with boulder and rock structure that provide quick access to deeper water
- Shallow reed-lined flats on the south shore where water warms faster
- Rocky areas with scattered boulders in 5-15 foot depth range
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses between twitches, especially effective for cruising pre-spawn fish
- Bladed Jigs worked slowly around boulder fields and transition areas
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for more pressured or neutral fish
| - Yellow Perch gathering in similar pre-spawn areas
- Smaller baitfish moving shallow as water warms
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Largemouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as they prepare for spawning
- Fish are actively feeding on perch, utilizing reed edges as ambush points while staying close to spawning flats
| - Reed edges adjacent to spawning flats, particularly in 0-9 foot depth range
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow rock piles near spawning areas that warm up quickly
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near reed edges
- Spinnerbaits parallel to reed lines
- Lipless Crankbaits around emerging vegetation
| - Yellow Perch
- Various Baitfish
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass are in pre-spawn to spawning phases, actively moving between staging areas and spawning sites near rocky shorelines
- Fish are showing increased feeding activity in 8-10 foot break lines, taking advantage of perch forage
| - Rock piles and boulder fields in 8-10 foot depth range
- Main lake points with gradual transitions to spawning flats
- Shallow reed areas adjacent to deeper water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to break lines
- Hard Jerkbaits with longer pauses between twitches
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for concentrated fish
| - Perch
- Smaller baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Males staging on spawning flats and building nests, while females move between staging areas and spawning locations
- Increased activity during warmer parts of day, particularly in shallow protected areas
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, with males guarding nests
| - Protected spawning flats with firm bottom in 2-6 foot depth range
- Reed edges adjacent to spawning areas
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations around reed edges and spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly parallel to spawning flats
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing bedding bass
| - Yellow Perch congregating near spawning areas
- Small bluegills and sunfish becoming more active in the shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Actively feeding after spawn, recovering energy and transitioning to summer patterns
- Moving between shallow and mid-depth zones, focusing on structure-heavy areas
| - Main lake points with boulder fields in 8-15 foot range
- Submerged vegetation edges near rocky structure
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel composition
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly along structure
- Tubes dragged and hopped through rocky areas
- Ned Rigs worked methodically around vegetation edges
| - Perch, particularly juvenile specimens
- Crayfish emerging in rocky areas
- Small baitfish relating to vegetation edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from spawning flats to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy after spawning
- Fish are becoming more active in the shallows (0-9 ft), particularly around emerging vegetation and transition areas near spawning flats
| - Edges of reed beds adjacent to slightly deeper water
- Emerging submerged vegetation near spawning flats
- Rock piles and boulder fields in 5-9 foot depth range
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked erratically around vegetation edges
- Spinnerbaits parallel to reed edges and over emerging vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around dense cover and reed edges
| - Yellow Perch concentrating around vegetation edges
- Young of the year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
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