| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 50-65 | - Bass are transitioning into pre-spawn patterns, moving from winter areas to shallow staging areas near spawning flats
- Fish are actively feeding but still somewhat scattered, targeting shad and beginning to show interest in crawfish patterns in the 0-6' range
| - Secondary points on flats in 0-6' range
- Rip rap banks with good sun exposure
- Submerged vegetation in protected pockets
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')
- Bladed Jigs
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
| - Shad
- Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Smallmouth are transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, following a gradual warming trend
- Fish are becoming more active and aggressive as they prepare for spawning, feeding heavily to build energy reserves
- Movement patterns are strongly influenced by daily temperature fluctuations, with fish being most active during warmer afternoon periods
| - Main lake points with transition from rock to deeper water
- Secondary points in major creek arms with rock or boulder structure
- Wind-blown rocky banks with deeper water access
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along depth transitions
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky structure
- Ned Rigs worked methodically on points and rocky areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter habitat
- Suspended shad schools in creek arms
- Small baitfish relating to rock structure
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | White Bass | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn white bass are staging near tributary mouths and creek channels, preparing for their annual spawning run
- Fish are actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased activity during warming trends
- Schools are transitioning from deeper winter areas to shallow staging areas, particularly around channel bends and current breaks
| - Creek channel mouths and tributary intersections
- Rocky points adjacent to spawning tributaries
- Staging areas in 8-15 feet of water near deep-to-shallow transitions
| - Blade Baits worked vertically along channel edges
- Lipless Crankbaits retrieved with yo-yo action near staging areas
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked steadily through transition zones
| - Shad schools congregating near tributary mouths
- Small baitfish in staging areas
- Juvenile crawfish emerging in rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are in spawning mode, moving from pre-spawn staging areas to shallow nesting sites, typically in protected coves and pockets
- Males are guarding nests aggressively while females move between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning flats
- Fish are most active during warmer parts of the day when water temperatures rise
| - Protected coves and pockets with flooded brush and laydowns in 2-4 feet of water
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats
- Rock piles and boulders in shallow water that provide warmth and spawning substrate
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover and spawning areas
- Shakey Heads worked slowly near staging areas
- Spinnerbaits along transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Crawfish emerging in warming waters
- Shad moving into spawning areas
- Small bluegill in shallow cover
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are in spawning mode, establishing and protecting nests in rocky areas, typically in 3-8 feet of water
- Males become highly territorial and aggressive, defending nests against any perceived threats
- Pre-spawn females stage on nearby deeper structure, moving shallow during optimal temperature periods
| - Rocky points and boulder fields in 3-8 feet of water, especially those adjacent to deeper water
- Protected coves with gravel or rock bottom substrate
- Transition areas between rock piles and brush structure in spawning bays
| - Tubes worked slowly around visible beds and rocky areas
- Ned Rigs dragged slowly near spawning areas
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for finicky spawning fish
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly for staging pre-spawn fish
| - Crayfish emerging from winter locations
- Suspended shad schools in pre-spawn areas
- Small panfish that threaten nests
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | White Bass | 58-65 | - White bass are making spawning runs up creek channels and tributaries, congregating in large schools
- Fish are aggressive and territorial during spawning, with males arriving first to staging areas followed by females
| - Creek channel mouths and tributary entrances where spawning runs begin
- Shallow gravel or rocky flats near creek channels (2-6 feet deep)
- Staging areas along main lake points adjacent to spawning tributaries
| - Inline Spinners cast upstream and retrieved with the current in tributaries
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked through staging areas
- Lipless Crankbaits retrieved steadily through schools of spawning fish
| - Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small baitfish in tributary systems
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 50-62 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are showing preference for rocky structure and boulders, likely due to crawfish activity and stable water temperatures
| - Boulder fields and rock piles in 7-12 foot depth range
- Protected coves and pockets with woody cover
- Secondary points with mixed rock and brush structure
| - Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12')
- Carolina Rigs
- Football Jigs
| - Crawfish emerging around rocky structures
- Crappie in brushy areas
- Shad schools beginning to form
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 62-72 | - Transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Most active during early morning and evening, especially on wind-blown points and rocky areas
- Frequently suspending near structure to ambush shad schools
| - Main lake points with rock and boulder structure
- Secondary points near spawning bays
- Wind-blown rocky shorelines with access to deeper water
| - Drop Shot along rock transitions
- Tubes worked through boulder fields
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for suspended fish
- Ned Rigs for pressured fish on rocky points
| - Shad schools beginning to gather in post-spawn areas
- Smaller baitfish in shallow rocky areas
- Crawfish emerging in rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | White Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn white bass are transitioning from tributaries back to main lake areas, becoming increasingly active as they recover and begin aggressive feeding
- Fish are schooling in medium depths, targeting shad and moving frequently between feeding areas
| - Secondary points and channel swings near tributary mouths where fish stage during post-spawn migration
- Brush piles and rock piles in 8-15 foot depth range along migration routes
- Protected coves with bait schools, especially during morning and evening periods
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked at various depths to match shad movement
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily through schools of actively feeding fish
- Lipless Crankbaits worked along channel edges and through bait schools
| - Shad (primary forage, particularly younger/smaller sizes in spring)
- Small Baitfish (secondary forage in tributary areas)
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
