| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 57-65 | - Pre-spawn bass are actively transitioning from winter areas to spawning flats, staging near shallow cover and actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are showing increased aggression and feeding activity, with reports indicating they're actively chasing bait balls in 5-7 ft and responding to moving baits around structure
| - Standing timber and brush piles in 3-6 feet of water, especially near spawning flats
- Areas with submerged vegetation and emerging lily pads in shallow water
- Areas behind identified bait balls in 5-7 feet of water
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly through bait balls and around cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting timber and thick cover
- Bladed Jigs over submerged vegetation
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with longer pauses around timber
| - Shad (primary forage based on multiple reports)
- Minnows (mentioned in shallow water areas)
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-68 | - Transitioning from winter patterns to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving into warmer, protected areas during sunny periods, particularly in coves and along irregular shorelines
| - Protected coves with emerging vegetation in 4-8 foot depth range
- Secondary points near spawning flats with submerged vegetation
- Standing timber areas in 6-12 foot depth adjacent to spawning areas
| - Bobbers with small finesse jigs worked slowly around emerging vegetation
- Micro Crankbaits worked parallel to secondary points
- Live Bait Rigs near standing timber
| - Small insects and larvae emerging with warming water
- Young-of-year shad and minnows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 63-68 | - Fish are in various stages of spawn, with some pre-spawn, actively spawning, and post-spawn fish present. They are actively moving between shallow spawning areas and slightly deeper staging areas
- Feeding activity increases during movement periods, with fish responding well to both fast-moving search baits and slower presentations around cover
| - Shallow vegetation and grass beds in 3-6 feet of water, particularly near eel grass clumps
- Docks and standing timber providing spawning cover
- Lily pad fields and saw grass areas in protected zones
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around cover and spawning areas
- Bladed Jigs for covering water and targeting active fish
- Finesse Jigs for precise presentations around timber and docks
| - Shad moving into spawning areas
- Bluegill becoming more active in shallow cover
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Actively spawning in shallow protected areas, particularly around shell beds and lily pads in 2-6 foot depths
- Males guarding nests while females stage nearby, moving between spawning areas and slightly deeper water
- Aggressive territorial behavior from males protecting nests, making them more likely to strike at intrusive baits
| - Protected shallow bays with shell beds and lily pads in 2-6 foot depths
- Shallow areas near standing timber and stumps
- Secondary points with mixed vegetation leading into spawning bays
| - Bobbers with small jigs worked slowly around visible beds
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked methodically through spawning areas
- Micro Crankbaits cast parallel to spawning areas for staging fish
| - Small insects and larvae around vegetation
- Small minnows in shallow water
- Emerging aquatic insects
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, holding on edges of vegetation and responding to slowly presented baits
- Fish are showing preference for bottom-oriented presentations during high pressure periods but will opportunistically feed on shad near surface during optimal conditions
| - Edges of emerging lily pad fields in 4-8 foot depth range
- Protected areas with submerged vegetation near spawning flats
- Timber and cypress trees in 3-6 foot range
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) with slow bottom contact and occasional hops
- Hard Topwater (Walking) with short pauses
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around vegetation edges
| - Shad concentrating around vegetation edges
- Emerging bluegill in shallow vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 68-78 | - Bluegill and panfish are actively feeding in shallow to mid-depth zones (4-12 feet) as water temperatures stabilize post-spawn
- Fish are relating heavily to vegetation edges and shell beds, making frequent feeding movements between cover and open water
- Most active during morning and evening hours, with congregations around structure during midday
| - Shell beds in 8-12 foot range adjacent to vegetation
- Edges of lily pads and submerged vegetation in 4-8 foot depth
- Standing timber areas with nearby hard bottom
| - Live Bait Rigs with light line and small hooks for natural presentation
- Bobbers with suspended baits near vegetation edges
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly around shell beds
| - Small minnows and shad fry
- Aquatic insects emerging from vegetation
- Small crustaceans around shell beds
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
