| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-64 | - Pre-spawn bass are actively moving from deeper wintering areas to shallow staging areas, particularly focusing on transition zones between 10-20 feet deep adjacent to shallow spawning flats
- Fish are feeding aggressively but location-specific, utilizing grass edges and isolated cover as ambush points while preparing for the spawn
- Most active during warmer parts of the day, with increased shallow water activity as water temperatures rise above 55°F
| - Grass edges that transition from shallow to deep water, especially those near potential spawning flats
- Points and ledges in 10-20 foot depth range, particularly those with submerged vegetation
- Docks and laydowns in protected areas, especially those near deeper water access
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly along grass edges and around isolated cover
- Swim Jigs targeting grass edges and transition zones
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentation around vegetation and cover
- Hard Jerkbaits worked along points and deeper transitions
| - Shad schooling along grass edges and transition zones
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow near vegetation
- Minnows around points and deeper structure
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 66-72 | - Bass actively spawning and defending beds in shallow protected areas with water temperatures between 66-72°F
- Transitioning between pre-spawn feeding and spawning phases, with some fish still staging on nearby drops
| - Matted grass beds in shallow protected areas
- Laydowns near spawning flats
- Protected coves with complex shoreline features
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly around spawning areas
- Spinnerbaits parallel to grass edges
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing bedding bass
| - Bluegill concentrated around spawning areas
- Shad moving into shallow areas
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 64-72 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, relating heavily to vegetation and moving between shallow and mid-depth zones
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior around grass edges and lily pads, utilizing these areas as ambush points
| - Lily pads and matted grass in shallow zones
- Grass edges near deeper water
- Protected coves with vegetation
| - Frogs/Toads worked over matted vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked along grass edges
- Wacky Rigs worked in openings
| - Bluegill in shallow vegetation
- Smaller baitfish around grass edges
| - Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
