| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 56-64 | - Actively moving from winter deep water patterns to staging areas near spawning flats, following warming trends
- Feeding heavily to build energy reserves for spawning, particularly active during stable weather periods
| - Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats, especially those with rock and wood cover in 8-12 feet
- Protected creek arms with gradual slopes and emerging reed growth
- Dock areas that provide shade and protection near spawning flats
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through transitional areas between deep water and spawning flats
- Bladed Jigs slow-rolled near cover and vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses around staging points
| - Shad schools moving into warmer, shallower water
- Bluegill beginning to become more active in emerging vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Crappie are transitioning from deeper winter haunts to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are beginning to group up and feed more aggressively, especially during warmer afternoon periods
| - Brush piles and timber in 8-12 foot depths adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points and creek channel swings near spawning coves
- Dock pilings in protected coves where water warms first
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Dock Shooting
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Small shad moving into warmer, shallower water
- Small bluegill in and around brush and timber
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 56-64 | - Bass are actively engaged in spawning activities with water temperatures between 58-63°F, moving between staging areas and shallow spawning flats
- Fish are showing aggressive territorial behavior around hard cover like rock piles and pilings, striking reaction baits
| - Rock piles and pilings in shallow water (0-6 feet), especially those adjacent to spawning flats
- Flooded brush in protected areas, providing cover for staging and spawning bass
- Main lake points with hard bottom composition, serving as pre-spawn staging areas
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked around hard cover and spawning areas
- Swim Jigs retrieved steadily through flooded brush and around cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations to visible cover
| - Shad schooling in shallow water near spawning areas
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow with warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie moving into shallow coves and protected areas for spawning, typically staging in pre-spawn areas before moving to nesting sites
- Males actively guarding nests in shallow water while females stage slightly deeper, creating multiple depth opportunities
- Aggressive feeding periods during pre-spawn, becoming more territorial during actual spawn
| - Shallow protected coves with brush and timber in 2-6 feet of water
- Dock areas with stable bottoms in 4-8 feet of water
- Staging areas near deeper brush piles in 8-12 feet adjacent to spawning flats
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
| - Shad (primary forage base confirmed in reports)
- Small Bluegill
- Various minnow species
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 56-64 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding in shallow to mid-depth areas, focusing on bluegill and shad near reed beds and rock piles
- Fish are utilizing shallow cover during early morning and overcast conditions, moving to adjacent deeper structure during bright periods
| - Reed beds in 2-6 feet of water, particularly those adjacent to deeper water
- Rock piles near spawning flats
- Docks providing shade and ambush points
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly through reeds and around dock posts
- Bladed Jigs parallel to reed edges and over rock piles
- Buzzbaits and Frogs/Toads in early morning around shallow cover
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow areas around vegetation
- Shad schools moving along reed edges and rock piles
- Crappie in transition areas between shallow and deep water
| - June Bug
- Green Pumpkin
- Watermelon
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 68-75 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer haunts, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are suspending near vertical cover and exploring brush piles, forming loose schools during daylight hours
| - Brush piles in 12-15 foot depth range near spawning flats
- Dock structures with vertical posts, especially those near deep water
- Standing timber edges where they intersect with creek channels
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Crappie Spider Rigging
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Shad (primary forage base)
- Young-of-year baitfish
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
