| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-65 | - Pre-spawn bass are transitioning from winter depths to spawning areas, staging on the first major structure adjacent to spawning flats
- Actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning, with increased aggression during warming trends
- Moving shallower during sunny afternoons when water temperatures rise, retreating to deeper adjacent areas during cold fronts
| - Secondary points with cabbage bed remnants leading into spawning bays
- Shallow protected coves with emerging vegetation, especially near deeper water access
- Dock areas in 4-8 feet of water adjacent to spawning flats
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging vegetation and over flats
- Bladed Jigs around sparse cabbage and dock areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly along transition areas
| - Bluegills moving shallow with warming water
- Minnows congregating near emerging vegetation
- Small crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Largemouth bass are in their spawning phase, moving into shallow protected areas to establish nests in 2-6 feet of water
- Males are guarding nests while females move between spawning areas and nearby deeper water staging areas
- Fish are highly territorial and aggressive towards threats to their nests
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom near cabbage beds
- Shallow areas adjacent to docks providing both cover and spawning habitat
- Shallow flats near deeper water access points
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible beds and shallow cover
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly through spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for cruising females between spots
| - Bluegills gathering in similar shallow spawning areas
- Small minnows in emerging vegetation
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, becoming more active feeders as they recover
- Fish are utilizing shallow to mid-depth areas, particularly around vegetation edges and dock structures, moving deeper as the day progresses
| - Cabbage weed edges in 4-8 feet of water, especially near points or breaks
- Docks with adjacent vegetation, particularly those near deeper water access
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation where spawning areas transition to deeper water
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around vegetation edges and dock posts
- Bladed Jigs burned through sparse vegetation and along weed edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked methodically through thicker vegetation patches
| - Bluegills staging near vegetation edges
- Small minnows in emerging weed growth
- Young of year panfish beginning to appear in shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
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