| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Largemouth bass transitioning to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves with increased activity during warming trends
- Fish showing preference for suspended presentations with reaction strikes, responding well to stop-and-go retrieves as evidenced by success with pauses after twitches
| - Submerged vegetation in 5-6 foot depth range, particularly edges and openings
- Secondary points and transitions near spawning flats in 4-8 foot range
- Protected shallow coves with emerging vegetation
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with two twitches followed by extended pauses
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled through vegetation edges
- Finesse Jigs worked methodically around cover
| - Perch (primary forage based on recent fishing success)
- Minnows (consistent with lake profile and pre-spawn period)
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 55-65 | - Bluegill transitioning from deeper wintering areas to shallow pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Feeding activity increasing with warming trends, particularly during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 3-5 foot depth range
- Edges of lily pad stems from previous season in 4-6 foot depths
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays with scattered vegetation
| - Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or worms suspended 1-2 feet off bottom
- Bobbers with micro jigs worked slowly through vegetation edges
- Micro Crankbaits worked parallel to emerging weed edges
| - Small aquatic insects emerging with warming water
- Tiny minnows congregating in warming shallows
- Blood worms and larvae in shallow mud flats
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are actively moving into spawning areas, utilizing shallow vegetation and lily pads for both spawning and pre-spawn staging
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as they prepare for and engage in spawning activities, showing willingness to strike surface baits during warm periods
| - Emerging lily pad fields in 2-4 foot depths
- Protected shallow coves with vegetation
- Weed edges adjacent to potential spawning flats
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly through vegetation
- Frogs/Toads worked over emerging vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations around cover
| - Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
- Small panfish in and around vegetation
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegill moving into shallow spawning areas (2-6 feet) and beginning to establish nesting colonies near vegetation and lily pad edges
- Males becoming increasingly aggressive and territorial as they guard nesting sites
- Feeding activity heightened during dawn and dusk, with insects being primary forage
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom near lily pads (2-4 feet)
- Edges of submerged vegetation in 4-6 foot depth
- Shallow coves with emerging vegetation
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 1-2 feet below surface
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae
- Small crustaceans
- Tiny minnows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Largemouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy after spawn
- Fish are relating heavily to shallow cover, particularly lily pads, as evidenced by recent fishing reports
- Bass are showing aggressive surface-oriented feeding behavior, willing to strike topwater presentations
| - Lily pad fields in 2-4 foot depths, especially those adjacent to spawning flats
- Outside weed edges in 5-6 foot range where vegetation meets deeper water
- Shallow coves and points with emerging vegetation
| - Frogs/Toads worked over lily pads and surface vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked through gaps in vegetation
- Swim Jigs on edges of vegetation
| - Panfish moving shallow with warming temperatures
- Crawfish becoming more active in shallow areas
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to appear
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegill transitioning to deeper feeding areas, actively foraging on insects near weed edges and lily pad zones
- Fish showing increased aggression and feeding activity as water warms, particularly during morning and evening periods
| - Weed edges and pockets in 5-6 foot depth range
- Lily pad edges where they transition to deeper water
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation
| - Live Bait Rigs with light wire hooks for natural presentation
- Bobbers suspended 3-4 feet deep near vegetation edges
- Micro Crankbaits worked slowly through transition areas
| - Small aquatic insects around vegetation
- Tiny minnows in shallow areas
- Emerging larvae and nymphs
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
