| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Bass are moving from winter depths to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are transitioning to feeding mode, targeting available forage in preparation for spawning
- Activity levels increase during warmer parts of the day, particularly in shallow protected areas
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 2-3 foot depth range
- Weed-to-rock transition areas near deeper water access
- Docks adjacent to spawning flats, especially those with southern exposure
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs around weed edges and dock posts
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations in cover
| - Bluegill moving shallow with warming trends
- Shad schools in slightly deeper transition areas
- Crappie sharing similar pre-spawn areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-62 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near channels and shallow flats, actively feeding at or above their holding depth
- Moving into warmer, shallow areas during daylight hours, particularly around emerging vegetation
| - Channel on south side, focusing on 2-4 foot depths
- Submerged vegetation edges, especially near depth transitions
- Shallow flats adjacent to the channel that warm quickly
| - Bobbers with small jigs set at 2 feet depth
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around vegetation edges
- Live Bait Rigs with small minnows or insects
| - Small insects, particularly emerging aquatic insects
- Small minnows in shallow areas
- Zooplankton in and around vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Largemouth bass moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly around emerging vegetation in 2-3 foot depths
- Males actively guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water near spawning flats
- Feeding activity increases during pre-spawn, becomes more territorial during actual spawn
| - Shallow weed flats in 2-3 foot range with firm bottom composition
- Protected areas between docks offering wind protection
- Weed-to-rock transition areas in spawning depth
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around visible beds
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for pre-spawn females
| - Bluegill establishing their own spawning colonies
- Small crappie in shallow vegetation
- Young shad schools beginning to form
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Actively moving into shallow spawning areas 1-4 feet deep, with males establishing and guarding nests
- Staging in pre-spawn areas near channels and emerging vegetation before moving to spawning flats
| - Protected shallow flats with firm bottom near emerging vegetation
- Channel edges on south side serving as pre-spawn staging areas
- Docks providing overhead cover adjacent to spawning areas
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 1-3 feet deep around spawning areas
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding tight to dock structures
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly through staging areas
| - Small insects and larvae emerging with spring warmup
- Tiny minnows and fry in shallow areas
- Zooplankton in areas of emerging vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-78 | - Post-spawn bass actively feeding but remaining relatively shallow, utilizing weed edges and dock areas as primary feeding zones
- Fish showing preference for both aggressive reaction strikes and slower presentations, indicating a transition period with varied feeding behavior
| - Weed-to-rock transition areas in 2-3 foot depth range
- Dock areas with adjacent vegetation
- Reed lines in shallow water
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around vegetation and docks
- Bladed Jigs worked between docks and weed clumps
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around reeds and thick vegetation
| - Crappie concentrating in shallow areas
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills are transitioning to deeper feeding areas, actively foraging near weed edges and dock structures as they recover from spawning
- Fish are establishing summer feeding patterns, becoming more active during morning and evening hours
| - Weed bed edges adjacent to slightly deeper water (6-8 feet)
- Dock posts and shaded areas, especially where docks intersect with vegetation
- Rock to weed transitions in 4-6 foot depth range
| - Crappie Dock Shooting with small plastics for bluegills holding tight to dock structures
- Bobbers with precise depth control for suspended fish near weed edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') working systematically through structure areas
| - Small aquatic insects emerging from vegetation
- Tiny crustaceans in weed beds
- Small minnows along weed edges
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
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