| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Bass are actively pairing up for spawning, with females full of eggs, indicating increased movement toward spawning areas
- Fish are transitioning between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones, becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise
| - Reed beds in shallow water, particularly where they provide spawning habitat
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow vegetation edges in 8-12 foot range where pre-spawn staging occurs
| - Bladed Jigs worked along reed edges and through sparse vegetation
- Swim Jigs targeting transition areas between deeper water and spawning zones
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around staging areas
| - Bluegill concentrated in shallow areas near spawning zones
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-65 | - Bluegills are transitioning from deeper winter areas to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are becoming more active with warming temperatures, congregating near emerging weed growth and utilizing the 6-12 foot depth range during midday
| - Emerging weed edges in 8-12 foot depths, especially near mid-lake humps
- Protected shallow bays with early weed growth, particularly on the north side of the lake
- Transition areas between hard bottom and emerging vegetation in 6-10 foot range
| - Ice Fishing Jigs worked slowly with a subtle lift-drop motion in deeper staging areas
- Bobbers with suspended baits positioned just above emerging weed growth
- Finesse Hair Jigs cast to shallow feeding areas during warm afternoon periods
| - Emerging aquatic insects and larvae
- Small invertebrates and zooplankton
- Newly hatching insects near developing weed growth
| - Dark Neutrals
- Pink Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-68 | - Bass transitioning from pre-spawn staging areas to spawning flats, particularly focused around bullrush areas identified as primary spawning habitat
- Males establishing and guarding nests in protected areas while females move between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones
- Activity levels highly dependent on daily temperature fluctuations, with peak movement during warm afternoons
| - Bullrush beds in 1-4 foot depths, especially where adjacent to slightly deeper water
- Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation
- Secondary points and staging areas in 6-8 foot depth adjacent to spawning flats
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible spawning areas and emerging vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly around staging areas
- Swim Jigs through sparse vegetation and along edges of spawning areas
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow and establish their own spawning areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Actively moving into shallow areas (1-4 feet) to establish spawning beds, particularly in areas with firm bottom near vegetation
- Males becoming territorial and aggressive while guarding nests, making them more likely to strike at small intruders
- Larger females staging slightly deeper (4-8 feet) near spawning areas, moving in periodically
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and scattered bullrushes
- Shallow flats adjacent to weed edges in 1-4 feet of water
- Transition areas between shallow spawning flats and deeper weed edges
| - Bobbers with small jigs worked slowly near bedding areas
- Ice Fishing Jigs worked horizontally just above beds
- Finesse Hair Jigs cast past beds and slowly retrieved
| - Small insects and larvae
- Zooplankton
- Small aquatic invertebrates
| - Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are relating to emerging vegetation edges and utilizing both shallow and mid-depth zones
| - Weed edges in 8-12 foot range where coontail and vallisneria are establishing
- Bullrush edges adjacent to slightly deeper water
- Docks providing shade, especially those near vegetation or drop-offs
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly along weed edges and through sparse vegetation
- Swim Jigs parallel to weed edges and through scattered vegetation
- Spinnerbaits along bulrush edges, especially in wind
| - Bluegill beginning to establish summer patterns in vegetation
- Young of year perch in emerging weed growth
- Crawfish active in warmer shallows
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills are actively feeding to recover energy, establishing in deeper weed edges and transitioning between spawning areas and summer patterns
- Fish are moving between shallow feeding zones and deeper rest areas throughout the day, with peak activity during morning and evening periods
| - Weed edges at 12-15 feet, particularly near the mid-lake hump where larger bluegills congregate
- Bullrush edges in 4-8 feet of water, especially where they meet deeper weed growth
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper summer holding areas
| - Bobbers with light wire hooks suspended at varying depths to match fish location
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') with small ice fishing style jigs worked slowly
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around weed edges
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae emerging in warming waters
- Zooplankton concentrations in and around weed edges
- Small crustaceans benefiting from zebra mussel presence
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Pink Colors
|
