| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 57-63 | - Bass are actively transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, showing increased aggression and feeding activity as evidenced by reaction bite success
- Fish are relating heavily to submerged vegetation in 3-7 foot depth range, particularly grass clumps and edges of hydrilla/eelgrass beds
- Pressure sensitivity noted in reports, with fish becoming more selective under heavy boat traffic and requiring downsized presentations
| - Submerged grass clumps in 5-7 foot of water that top out 3-4 feet below surface
- Edges of hydrilla and eelgrass beds, particularly those adjacent to slightly deeper water
- Shallow vegetation near lily pads, especially in protected areas
| - Bladed Jigs worked slowly around vegetation edges and through grass clumps
- Hard Jerkbaits worked along contours and over weed tops
- Carolina Rigs with downsized soft plastics when fish become pressured
- Swim Jigs slow-rolled through vegetation tops
| - Shad schooling around vegetation edges
- Crappie utilizing similar grass bed areas
- Bluegill in and around shallow vegetation
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 57-65 | - Bass actively moving into spawning areas near reeds, submerged vegetation, and shallow structures with water temperatures in low-to-mid 60s
- Fish staging on grass edges and transitional areas between deeper water and spawning flats
- Pressured fish requiring slower, more natural presentations in clear water conditions
| - Reed lines and thick vegetation in spawning pockets
- Submerged vegetation edges, particularly hydrilla and eel grass
- Hard structure near spawning areas (pilings, docks)
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations in thick cover
- Soft Jerkbaits worked extremely slow in clear water
- Grass Jigs around vegetation and hard structure
| - Bluegill in shallow spawning areas
- Shad around submerged vegetation edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 57-65 | - Bass are transitioning from spawning areas, actively feeding on shad in the morning with decreased activity during midday
- Fish are relating to shallow cover but beginning to suspend near deeper structure as they recover from spawn
| - Docks with deep water access, particularly those that can be skipped under
- Submerged vegetation near spawning flats
- Bridge pilings and associated current breaks
| - Wacky Rigs skipped under docks
- Umbrella Rigs around bait schools
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) around structure
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through vegetation
| - Shad (primary forage during morning shad spawn)
- Bluegill (secondary forage around docks and vegetation)
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
