Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 52-62 | - Transitioning from winter depths to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving along steep banks and points, utilizing multiple depth zones from 5-15 feet as they follow daily temperature changes
- Showing increased aggression and feeding activity, especially during warmer afternoons
| - Main lake points with transition from rock to clay banks
- Steep banks with boulder and brush pile structure
- Secondary points in major creek arms with access to deeper water
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along depth transitions
- Bladed Jigs around brush piles and boulder structure
- Soft Jerkbaits for suspended fish following bait schools
| - Shad schools moving into pre-spawn staging areas
- Crawfish becoming more active on rocky structures
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn largemouth are staging and transitioning from winter areas to spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are making daily movements between deeper staging areas (20-30ft) and shallow feeding zones (2-4ft), especially during warming trends
| - Protected coves and pockets with 2-4 foot flats that warm quickly
- Main lake points adjacent to spawning bays in 20-30 foot range
- Transition areas with access to both deep water and shallow flats
| - Bladed Jigs worked slowly through shallow warming areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses on point transitions
- Lipless Crankbaits burned across emerging vegetation
- Shakey Heads worked slowly on deeper staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Shad schools suspending near points
- Small bluegill in shallow warming pockets
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-68 | - Actively moving from winter deep water areas to shallow spawning locations, staging in pre-spawn areas near shoreline structure
- Feeding aggressively to build energy reserves for upcoming spawn, particularly during warmer parts of the day
| - Shallow coves with brush piles in 4-8 feet of water
- Protected areas near developing vegetation in 3-6 feet of water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Micro Crankbaits worked slowly around brush piles and emerging vegetation
- Live Bait Rigs with small minnows suspended under bobbers
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily through shallow staging areas
| - Small minnows congregating in warming shallow waters
- Emerging aquatic insects near vegetation
- Small crawfish becoming active in brush pile areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving progressively shallower as water temperatures warm, following baitfish movements and seeking optimal spawning locations
| - Rocky points and drop-offs in 15-25 foot range adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Boulder fields and rock structure in 10-20 foot depths
- Transition areas between deep wintering holes and shallow spawning areas
| - Drop Shot worked slowly along deep structure and points
- Ned Rigs worked methodically through rocky areas
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses for suspended fish
| - Minnows congregating near structure and transition areas
- Crawfish becoming more active as water warms
- Small baitfish schools in pre-spawn staging areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-68 | - Spotted bass are actively moving into spawning areas, staging on pre-spawn locations before transitioning to nesting sites. Males are becoming territorial and aggressive.
- Fish are making frequent moves between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones, particularly active during morning and evening hours.
| - Protected clay banks and shallow coves with boulder or brush cover for spawning
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning coves for staging areas
- Steep banks with rock transitions near spawning flats
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and spawning areas
- Spinnerbaits worked along transition banks between staging and spawning areas
- Shakey Heads for finesse presentation to spotted bass on staging points
| - Shad schools moving into spawning pockets
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Staging and moving into shallow spawning areas in 2-4 ft zones, particularly in protected coves
- Males preparing and guarding nests while females move between staging areas and bedding sites
- Increased activity and aggression during pre-spawn, followed by protective behavior during spawn
| - Protected shallow coves and pockets with firm bottom for spawning
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow brush piles and floating debris in 2-4 ft zones
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and beds
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and bed fishing
- Swim Jigs for covering water between spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for targeting pre-spawn staging fish
| - Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
- Shad moving into spawning areas
- Small bluegill in shallow cover
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-79 | - Actively moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in coves and near brush piles, with males preparing and guarding nests
- Feeding opportunistically during nest preparation and spawning, with increased aggression towards small prey near nesting sites
| - Protected shallow coves with brush piles and woody cover
- Shoreline areas with firm bottom composition near aquatic vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Bobbers with small jigs worked slowly around spawning areas
- Micro Crankbaits worked parallel to shoreline structure
- Inline Spinners retrieved steadily through shallow spawning zones
| - Small minnows and juvenile baitfish
- Aquatic insects and larvae
- Zooplankton
| - Purple Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are moving into spawning areas, typically in depths of 5-15 feet, focusing on rocky or gravel bottom areas protected from strong winds
- Males are actively guarding nesting sites while females stage nearby, making both aggressive defensive strikes and feeding opportunities possible
- Fish become more active during warming trends and are particularly aggressive during pre-spawn periods
| - Protected rocky coves with gravel or small boulder bottom composition
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow rock piles adjacent to deeper water
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky bottom areas
- Ned Rigs dragged through potential spawning areas
- Drop Shot with small finesse presentations for sight fishing
| - Minnows gathering in spawning areas
- Crawfish emerging from winter habitat
- Small perch in shallow areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 65-75 | - Spotted bass are transitioning to post-spawn feeding patterns, actively pursuing bait in both shallow and mid-depth zones (5-15 feet)
- Fish showing aggressive feeding behavior, particularly during early morning and evening hours, with a mix of surface and bottom-oriented feeding
| - Points with access to deeper water, especially those near spawning flats
- Flooded brush and timber in 10-15 foot depth range
- Coves with floating debris providing overhead cover
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along bottom structure in 15-foot depth range
- Hard Topwater (Popping) during early morning and evening hours
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for actively feeding fish
| - Minnows - primary forage based on recent reports
- Crawfish - evidenced by success of crawdad-colored baits
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 72-78 | - Post-spawn largemouth are actively feeding to recover energy, targeting shallow to mid-depth structure in 2-4 ft range, with strong feeding periods during low light
- Fish are showing aggressive strike behavior when prey is presented properly, as evidenced by the strong, detectable bites reported
| - Rocky structure points in 2-4 foot depth range
- Shallow protected coves
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Tubes slow-rolled along bottom structure
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through shallow cover
- Soft Jerkbaits for actively feeding fish
| - Crawfish in rocky areas
- Small baitfish in shallow zones
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 68-79 | - Panfish transitioning from spawning areas to nearby feeding zones, actively searching for food to recover energy
- Fish moving between shallow brush piles and deeper structure throughout the day, relating heavily to cover
| - Brush piles in 8-15 feet adjacent to spawning flats
- Shallow coves with floating debris and woody structure
- Points and transitions where shallow water meets deeper zones
| - Micro Crankbaits worked slowly around brush piles and woody cover
- Live Bait Rigs with small minnows suspended near structure
- Bobbers with suspended baits positioned just above brush tops
| - Small minnows and juvenile baitfish schools
- Aquatic insects emerging in shallow zones
- Small crawfish in brush pile areas
| - Purple Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-72 | - Smallmouth bass are actively feeding post-spawn, recovering energy and transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer haunts
- Fish are aggressively targeting baitfish and crawfish near transition areas, making frequent movements between depths as they follow forage
| - Rocky points and boulder fields in 10-20 foot depth range
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper summer locations
- Hard bottom areas adjacent to deeper water
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly along bottom structure
- Tubes dragged and hopped through rocky areas
- Ned Rigs worked methodically around points and transitions
| - Minnows/Baitfish schools moving along depth transitions
- Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy on rocky structures
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|