| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Fish transitioning from winter patterns to spawning areas, moving from deeper wintering holes to staging areas near spawning flats
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawn, with increased activity during warming trends
| - Points adjacent to spawning flats, especially those with rock piles
- Deeper brush piles near shallow spawning areas
- Laydowns and docks in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Lipless Crankbaits around transition areas
- Bladed Jigs near cover and through staging areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around laydowns and docks
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools in pre-spawn patterns
- Bluegill in early spring patterns
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning from winter deep water patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, following warming trends and becoming more active with increasing metabolism
- Fish beginning to feed more aggressively on shad schools, with feeding windows extending as water temperatures rise
| - Main lake points with rock composition, particularly those adjacent to deeper water
- Rock piles and isolated wood cover in transition areas between winter and spawning locations
- Secondary points with mixed rock and wood structure in 8-15 foot depth range
| - Jerkbaits worked slowly with long pauses, particularly effective during cold fronts
- Blade Baits worked vertically along structure edges when fish are actively feeding
- Tubes dragged slowly across rock structure during warming trends
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Crawfish becoming more active as water temperatures rise
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near shallow spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving from deeper winter areas to transitional depths, following primary shad forage
- Congregating around key structure like brush piles and laydowns in preparation for spawning
| - Brush piles and laydowns in 8-15 foot depths adjacent to spawning flats
- Points with gradual slopes leading into spawning areas
- Dock areas providing shade and structure in pre-spawn staging zones
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Crappie Spider Rigging
| - Shad schools in transitional depths
- Small bluegills near structure
- Various minnow species relating to cover
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are in various spawning stages, with males beginning to guard beds and females staging nearby. Recent reports confirm active spawning behavior with buck bass observed on beds.
- Fish are relating heavily to shallow cover, particularly laydowns on lead-in banks, with increased feeding activity due to multiple spawns (bass, bluegill, and shad) occurring simultaneously.
| - Laydowns on lead-in banks where recent reports show bigger bites
- Protected shallow flats with hard bottom suitable for spawning
- Secondary points near spawning areas where pre/post spawn fish stage
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to bedding fish and laydowns
- Structure Jigs around laydowns and spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for covering water and targeting pre-spawn fish
| - Bluegill actively spawning as confirmed by recent reports
- Shad beginning their spawn as mentioned in reports
- Crawfish active in warming shallow waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass transitioning to spawning behavior, moving from winter areas to shallower spawning locations, particularly around hard bottom areas and rock piles
- Males actively patrolling and preparing spawning beds, becoming increasingly territorial and aggressive
| - Rock piles and hard bottom areas in 2-6 feet of water near points
- Isolated wood cover adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Transition areas between winter deep water and spawning flats
| - Tubes worked slowly around potential bed sites and rock structure
- Ned Rigs fished with subtle movements near spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for targeting pre-spawn fish moving up from deeper water
| - Shad schools beginning to move shallow
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie are moving into shallow spawning areas near laydowns and other woody cover
- Fish are becoming more aggressive and visible as they prepare spawning beds
- Actively feeding on shad while staging in pre-spawn areas
| - Shallow laydowns and fallen trees in spawning flats
- Brush piles adjacent to spawning areas
- Points leading into spawning bays
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Bobbers
- Crappie Dock Shooting
| | - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 72-78 | - Bass are actively feeding on spawning shad and bluegill in shallow water, exhibiting aggressive chase behavior in 1-3 feet of water
- Fish are transitioning between spawning areas and early summer patterns, utilizing laydowns and brush as ambush points
| - Laydowns and brush piles in shallow water (1-3 feet)
- Points with access to deeper water
- Shallow flats where shad are spawning
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around laydowns and brush
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations on points
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) to match spawning shad
| - Spawning Shad
- Spawning Bluegill
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting shad in moderate depths
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, often relating to points and isolated cover
| - Main lake points with rock or mixed hard bottom
- Scattered rock piles adjacent to spawning flats
- Isolated wood cover near deeper water access
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked parallel to points
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations around rock piles
- Ned Rigs worked slowly near isolated cover
| - Shad schools beginning to form in post-spawn period
- Smaller baitfish relating to points and rock structure
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 65-75 | - Post-spawn crappie beginning to transition from spawning flats to deeper summer locations, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish staging near brush piles and laydowns at intermediate depths, moving between shallow and deep water throughout the day
| - Brush piles and laydowns in 8-15 feet of water adjacent to spawning flats
- Points with natural wood cover that provide quick access to both shallow and deep water
- Docks positioned near depth changes, especially those with brush or cover
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Hover/Mid-Strolling
| - Young-of-year shad beginning to school
- Small bluegill in shallow cover
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
