| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-60 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas, gradually moving from winter depths to warming shallow zones
- Increased feeding activity as water warms, with focus on protein-rich forage to prepare for spawn
- Moving along migration routes between deep wintering areas and eventual spawning locations
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays in 8-12 feet of water
- Deep weedline edges where milfoil meets deeper water
- Transition areas between deep wintering holes and shallow spawning flats
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along emerging vegetation edges
- Blade Baits worked slowly through transition areas
- Soft Jerkbaits with long pauses for cold front conditions
| - Bluegill congregating near emerging vegetation
- Minnows in transition areas between deep and shallow water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
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| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass transitioning from pre-spawn staging areas to spawning flats, with males preparing and guarding nests while females move in and out of spawning areas
- Fish become more aggressive and territorial during nest defense, but may be less focused on active feeding
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with firm bottom near submerged milfoil edges in 2-4 feet of water
- Secondary points and flats adjacent to deeper water in 4-8 feet
- Areas near documented sunfish beds in 10-12 foot range, which indicate suitable spawning substrate
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly around shallow cover and visible beds
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with subtle twitches to trigger reaction strikes from guard males
- Wacky Rigs fished with dead-stick presentation near spawning areas
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along the edges of spawning flats
| - Bluegill gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Small minnows in shallow water
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 72-78 | - Post-spawn bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding on bluegills around their spawning beds in 10-12 feet of water
- Fish showing preference for structured areas with access to both shallow and deeper water, particularly around submerged vegetation
| - Submerged vegetation edges near bluegill spawning beds in 10-12 feet of water
- Deep weedlines with access to both shallow and deep water
- Secondary points with vegetation near spawning flats
| - Drop Shot with finesse presentations around bluegill beds
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation
- Ned Rigs for pressured fish in clearer water
| - Bluegill on spawning beds
- Small baitfish in and around vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
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