| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 50-58 | - Bass are actively feeding on shad, exhibiting aggressive behavior including surface activity and suspended patterns, transitioning between shallow and deep water
- Fish are showing pre-spawn staging behavior, relating to both shallow areas and deeper transition zones while following baitfish schools
| - Main lake points and transition areas where bass are staging near deep water access
- Areas with concentrated baitfish schools, particularly near structure
- Secondary points and creek channels leading to spawning coves
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with varying cadence to target suspended fish
- Umbrella Rigs to match schooling baitfish patterns
- Bladed Jigs for covering water and targeting active fish
| - Shad (primary forage base showing heavy activity)
- Sand Bass (bass are relating to similar areas)
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are actively transitioning to shallow pre-spawn areas, moving frequently and showing increased feeding activity
- Fish are actively chasing shad in 5-15 foot depth range, often suspending and relating to bait schools rather than staying tight to bottom structure
| - Rocky points with quick access to deeper water
- Large boulder areas in 5-15 foot depth range
- Bluff walls near spawning flats
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses to mimic suspending shad
- Tubes dragged along rocky structure
- Drop Shot with small baitfish imitations for suspended fish
| - Shad schools in pre-spawn transition areas
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy in rocky areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are transitioning into spawning phase, moving up to shallow protected areas and beginning to stage on or near beds, though cold fronts are causing periodic movement back to slightly deeper water
- Fish are actively engaging in spawning behavior around laydowns and other cover, with increased aggression toward intrusive baits near beds
| - Protected spawning flats near laydowns and other cover
- Secondary points leading into spawning pockets
- Shallow brush piles and rock piles adjacent to spawning areas
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) with speed craws around visible beds and laydowns
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along spawning flats and transition areas
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with longer pauses for pre-spawn fish or during cold fronts
| - Bluegill moving into shallow areas
- Perch in spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are moving into spawning areas, focusing on rocky flats and protected coves with hard bottom composition
- Males actively guarding nests while females stage on nearby deeper structure between spawning waves
- Feeding activity increases during pre-spawn, becoming more territorial during actual spawn
| - Rocky flats in 2-6 foot depth range with nearby deeper water access
- Protected coves with gravel or rock bottom composition
- Transition areas where bluff walls meet spawning flats
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky spawning flats
- Ned Rigs for pressured fish and clear water situations
- Soft Jerkbaits for covering water and targeting pre-spawn fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools in transition areas
- Small bluegill in spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively recovering and feeding, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to nearby deeper structure
- Fish are following shad schools and utilizing various structure types (rock piles, points, laydowns) as ambush points
| - Secondary points with access to deeper water, especially those near spawning flats
- Laydowns and brush piles in 8-15 foot depth range
- Rock piles and structure adjacent to spawning areas
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly along structure transitions
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to points and shoreline structure
- Spinnerbaits around laydowns and brush, especially in low light conditions
| - Shad schools moving along points and structure
- Bluegill in and around shallow cover
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, targeting shad schools and crawfish in moderate depths
- Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, often suspending near structure and actively chasing bait
| - Rocky points and transition areas adjacent to spawning flats
- Bluff walls with access to deep water
- Rock piles and boulder fields in 8-15 foot depth range
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock transitions
- Hard Jerkbaits with longer pauses for suspended fish
- Tubes dragged through rocky areas mimicking crawfish
| - Shad schools beginning to group up in post-spawn areas
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy and actively moving on rocky substrate
- Small sunfish in shallow transition areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
