| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-70 | - Bass are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning. Fish are showing increased aggression and moving shallower as water temperatures rise from 50s to 60s.
- Fish are orienting to transition areas between deep water and spawning flats, utilizing points and riprap as primary movement corridors. Activity levels peak during warmer afternoons.
| - Riprap banks, particularly those near deeper water access - multiple recent reports show consistent success here
- Points and gravel flats near the entrance of coves - proven productive for larger bass up to 5.5lbs
- Shallow laydowns in 4 feet or less of water, especially during warming trends
| - Medium diving crankbaits (7'-12') - multiple recent success reports especially around riprap and points
- Structure jigs worked around riprap and wood - produced several trophy bass over 5lbs
- Bladed jigs in shallow water - effective in varying depths from 1-12 feet
- Buzzbaits in very shallow water - particularly during cloudy conditions
| - Crawfish - becoming more active on rocky structure as water warms
- Shad - mentioned in multiple reports, particularly around riprap areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie are staging in pre-spawn areas, moving from deeper wintering areas toward shallow spawning zones, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are suspending near structure in the 6-10 foot range, particularly around brush piles and laydowns, and becoming more active with warming water
| - Brush piles and laydowns in 6-10 foot depth range near spawning flats
- Secondary points and creek channel intersections leading to spawning coves
- Protected areas between docks where pre-spawn staging occurs
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Dock Shooting
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
| - Shad schools suspending near structure
- Small minnows in transitional areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn striped bass are actively feeding to build energy reserves, following schools of shad in transitional areas between winter and spawning grounds
- Fish are making gradual movements from deeper winter haunts to shallower spawning areas, often staging at points and channel swings
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning tributaries and creek arms
- Channel swings near rip rap banks
- Secondary points in major creek arms with moderate depth
- Transitional areas where depth changes from 15-25 feet to shallower flats
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through suspended fish schools
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled along depth transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses over points
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') around bait schools
| - Gizzard and Threadfin Shad schooling in pre-spawn patterns
- Bluegill beginning to become more active in warming shallows
- Small Yellow Bass in transitional areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Bass are actively engaging in spawning behavior, with fish moving between staging areas and shallow spawning flats. Recent reports showing catches in 7-12 foot range suggest pre-spawn to spawn transition.
- Fish showing aggressive feeding patterns around rip rap and laydowns, with water temperatures (65-70°F) indicating peak spring activity
| - Rip rap banks and shorelines, particularly those adjacent to spawning flats (validated by multiple recent catches)
- Laydowns in shallow water, especially those near spawning areas (supported by recent fishing report)
- Secondary points with mixed rock and grass leading into spawning bays
| - Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') - proven effective in recent reports for actively feeding fish around rip rap
- Bladed Jigs - confirmed successful in recent reports around laydowns
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) - effective for targeting spawning fish around shallow cover
| - Shad - primary forage based on multiple recent catch reports
- Bluegill - secondary forage confirmed in recent reports around laydowns
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-70 | - Crappie moving into shallow coves and protected areas for spawning, staging in 4-8 foot depths near brush piles and laydowns
- Fish becoming increasingly aggressive as they guard nesting areas, with peak activity during warmer parts of the day
| - Protected shallow coves with brush piles in 6-10 foot range
- Shallow areas adjacent to creek channels with woody cover
- Staging areas near points leading into spawning bays
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Shad
- Small minnows
- Young of the year baitfish
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-68 | - Striped bass are staging near spawning areas in tributary arms and moving into shallower water (8-15 feet) as water temperatures rise
- Fish are becoming more active and aggressive, feeding heavily to prepare for spawning activities
- Males arrive first at spawning areas, with larger females following as temperatures approach optimal range
| - Main tributary arms and creek channels leading to potential spawning areas
- Rocky points and riprap areas near deeper water
- Secondary points with gravel or rocky substrate
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through suspended fish near channel edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled along depth transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with aggressive cadence in shallow water
| - Pre-spawn shad schools gathering in tributary arms
- Small bluegill near shallow structure
- Young bass in shallow areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 67-80 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily relating to laydowns and grass in 4-8 ft depths
- Fish are responding well to moving baits, especially when wind creates favorable feeding conditions
| - Flooded laydowns, especially those near deeper water
- Rocky points with mixed grass
- Stump fields in 4-8 foot depth range
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with large soft plastics worked with active retrieves
- Football Jigs dragged across rocky points
- Carolina Rigs around stump fields
| - Shad becoming primary forage as indicated by multiple reports
- Bluegill in shallow cover areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 65-72 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning to summer patterns, actively feeding near brush piles and suspended cover in 6-10ft depths
- Fish are showing both schooling behavior in open water and structure-oriented patterns, suggesting a transition period with multiple viable patterns
| - Brush piles in 6-10ft of water, particularly those near deeper water access
- Open water areas with suspended schools, especially in 10-15ft depth range
- Secondary points with woody cover in the 8-12ft range
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with precise casts to brush piles
- Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') for suspended schools
- Spider Rigging around brush piles and suspended cover
| - Minnows - primary forage during post-spawn period
- Small shad - becoming more active in warming waters
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn striped bass are actively feeding to recover energy, following large schools of shad in the water column
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper main lake structure, often suspending near points and channel edges
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning pockets, especially those with rip rap
- Channel swing banks with access to deeper water
- Secondary points with brush piles in 8-15 feet of water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked parallel to points and transition areas
- Umbrella Rigs for actively feeding fish chasing shad schools
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') along rip rap and point transitions
| - Shad schools recovering from their own spawn
- Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
- Small Bass in transitional areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Chartreuse Colors
|
