| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Bass are actively feeding under schools of crappie, using them as cover while targeting baitfish
- Fish are transitioning between winter and spawning areas, staging on structure near potential spawning flats
| - Windblown islands with suspended baitfish and crappie schools
- Rock reefs and boulder areas in pre-spawn transition zones
- Points and structure adjacent to potential spawning flats
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked below suspended baitfish schools
- Soft Jerkbaits around rock structure
- Spinnerbaits on windblown areas
| - Crappie schools in open water
- Shad suspended near structure
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 48-58 | - Staging in slightly deeper water (8-15 feet) adjacent to spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawn
- Moving between deep staging areas and shallow feeding zones, especially during warmer parts of the day
- Forming loose schools near structure that transitions from deeper water to spawning flats
| - Rip rap banks with access to deeper water, especially those receiving afternoon sun
- Protected coves with hard bottom composition near deeper water
- Points and structure adjacent to spawning flats in 3.5-4 ft depth
| - Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Crappie Spider Rigging
- Finesse Hair Jigs
| - Shad concentrating near warming structure
- Small minnows gathering in pre-spawn areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass actively moving into shallow spawning areas with hard bottom, particularly visible beds in clear water
- Males guarding nests while females stage on nearby deeper structure between spawning waves
- Increased aggression and territorial behavior around bedding areas
| - Protected shallow bays with hard bottom and visible beds
- Rock piles and points adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow grass edges emerging in warmer areas
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to visible beds
- Wacky Rigs for suspended fish and bed approaches
- Soft Jerkbaits for covering water between beds
| - Bluegill in shallow spawning areas
- Crappie around emerging vegetation
- Small bass and sunfish fry later in the spawn period
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Crappie actively moving into shallow spawning areas (3.5-4 ft) near rip rap and rocky banks, with fish clearly visible in gin-clear water
- Fish forming pre-spawn and spawning clusters around hard-bottom areas, showing aggressive feeding behavior during the spawn phase
| - Rip rap banks in 3-4 foot depth range with nearby gravel beds
- Protected shallow coves with hard bottom composition
- Rock structure areas that hold heat and attract baitfish
| - Bobbers with minnows suspended at 3.5-4 feet near spawning areas
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) for precise presentation to visible beds
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding tight to structure
| - Minnows congregating around spawning areas
- Shad moving into shallow water with warming temperatures
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-74 | - Bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively guarding fry near shallow cover and beginning to feed more aggressively
- Fish are splitting time between shallow areas (especially early/late) and nearby deeper structure as water temps rise
| - Grass mats and edges with nearby deeper water
- Hard rock banks and points
- Shallow cover near spawning flats
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around cover
- Hard Jerkbaits near points and rock structure
- Frogs/Toads worked with pauses over matted grass
| - Bluegill (primary forage, especially near spawning areas)
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper water, forming loose schools as they recover and resume active feeding
- Fish are suspending near structure and following baitfish schools, becoming more active during morning and evening periods
| - Deeper edges of riprap banks where spawning areas transition to deeper water
- Suspended areas near points and creek channels where baitfish schools gather
- Protected coves with deeper water access, especially those with submerged structure
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Shad schools starting to group up in open water
- Small minnows gathering around riprap and structure
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
