| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-58 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding and moving into warmer, shallower areas, particularly seeking wind-protected bays and reed edges as staging areas
- Fish are responding well to moving baits in the 4-8 foot depth range, showing aggressive feeding behavior despite cooler water temperatures
| - Protected bays with emerging reed beds in 4-8 feet of water
- Weed edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow structure in wind-protected areas
| - Spinnerbaits worked along reed edges and weed lines
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked around structure
- Bladed Jigs in wind-protected areas
| - Bluegill congregating in shallow areas
- Minnows relating to emerging vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are beginning to move shallow and orient to transition areas between deep winter areas and spawning flats, especially around rock and gravel
| - Rock piles and hard bottom areas adjacent to deeper wintering areas
- Transition areas where sand meets weed edges in 8-12 foot range
- Main lake points with direct access to deeper water
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses between twitches
- Tubes dragged and hopped on rocky areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish schools in transition areas
- Young of year perch near weed edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are actively moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly focusing on wood structure and protected areas in 2-4 feet of water
- Fish are staging near spawning areas and becoming more aggressive as they prepare for the spawn
- Males are establishing and guarding spawning areas while females move in and out during the spawning phase
| - Shallow wood and structure in 2-4 feet of water, especially in protected bays
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow weed edges forming inside the 2-3 foot contour
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around shallow cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for targeting specific pieces of cover
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses near spawning areas
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Small minnows in spawning areas
- Juvenile crawfish becoming active in warming waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly those with hard bottom composition like rock and gravel, typically in 2-6 foot depths
- Males are actively guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water near spawning flats
- Aggressive territorial behavior makes them susceptible to sight fishing in the clear water conditions
| - Protected shallow bays with hard bottom composition
- Transition areas where sand meets rock or sparse weeds
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Tubes worked slowly along bottom in spawning areas
- Ned Rigs with subtle presentations for pressured fish
- Soft Jerkbaits for covering water to locate spawning areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish in shallow water
- Young of year panfish
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish moving between shallow and mid-depth areas, relating to newly established weed growth and abundant bluegill populations
| - Weed edges in 8-10 foot depth range where clear water allows significant growth
- Secondary points near spawning bays with emerging weed growth
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water, especially those with bluegill beds
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly along weed edges and through gaps
- Ned Rigs dragged along bottom near points and transitions
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to weed edges
| - Bluegill preparing to spawn in shallow areas
- Small minnows gathering around new weed growth
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to school
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-70 | - Post-spawn smallmouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are utilizing sand to weed transitions as primary feeding zones, taking advantage of abundant crawfish and baitfish
| - Sand to weed/grass transition areas in 8-12 foot range
- Rocky reefs and points with nearby deeper water access
- Secondary points with mixed bottom composition
| - Drop Shot with finesse presentations
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along transitions
- Tubes dragged on sand/grass edges
| - Crawfish emerging in transitional areas
- Small baitfish relating to emerging weed growth
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
