| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Fish are gradually moving from winter depths to transitional staging areas, particularly around emerging reed beds and points leading to spawning bays
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with fish becoming more aggressive during stable weather patterns
| - Protected reed edges on north-facing shorelines that warm first
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Gradual slopes with emerging vegetation in 4-8 foot depth range
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly along reed edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around reed clumps
| - Bluegills moving shallow with warming trends
- Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Largemouth bass moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in protected coves and reed-lined bays where water warms first
- Males preparing and guarding nests in 2-6 foot depths, while females stage in slightly deeper adjacent areas
- Fish becoming increasingly aggressive as they protect spawning areas and respond to sight-based threats
| - Protected shallow bays with reed beds, especially those with gradual slopes
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Hard bottom areas in 2-6 foot depths near deeper water access
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around visible beds and reed edges
- Soft Jerkbaits fished with subtle twitches near staging areas
- Wacky Rigs deadsticked in spawning pockets
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
- Juvenile crawfish becoming active in warmer shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are utilizing the extensive reed edges and shallow flats as recovery areas, gradually moving toward deeper edges
| - Reed bed edges in 4-8 feet of water, especially where they meet deeper water
- Secondary points with emerging weed growth
- Protected coves with developing vegetation
| - Swim Jigs worked parallel to reed edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around vegetation
- Spinnerbaits along emerging weed edges
| - Bluegill gathering in newly emerging vegetation
- Young of the year baitfish starting to appear
- Crawfish active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
