| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Pre-spawn staging behavior with bass transitioning between winter and spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish moving into shallower creek arms and staging near spawning flats, particularly active during warming trends
| - Docks in creek arms, especially in the Big Monon area
- Submerged vegetation adjacent to spawning flats
- Laydowns and wood cover in protected areas
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly around docks and staging areas
- Tubes dragged through submerged vegetation
- Bladed Jigs worked near laydowns and along transition areas
| - Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
- Shad schools in creek arms
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 55-68 | - Striped bass are actively schooling and chasing shad in open water areas during pre-spawn, with increased activity in creek arms and near dam structure
- Fish are making pre-spawn movements from deeper winter areas toward shallower feeding zones, primarily following shad schools
| - Open water/basin areas where shad schools are present
- Big Monon creek arm with deeper channels
- Dam area providing deeper water access
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through open water where shad schools are present
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) cast to active fish chasing bait
- Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') along creek channel edges
| - Shad schools in open water
- Smaller baitfish relating to vegetation edges
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Bass are in various spawning stages, with some actively spawning in protected areas while others are staging nearby. Fish are aggressive in defending nesting areas and feeding opportunistically on bluegill and crawfish around dock areas
- Movement patterns show preference for sheltered areas away from main lake traffic, particularly in creek arms and coves with adequate cover
| - Docks with thick adjacent vegetation in protected coves and the Monon creek arm
- Shallow flats near docks with mixed vegetation and hard bottom for spawning
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves with vegetation
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting dock posts and nearby vegetation
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around spawning areas and dock edges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water between likely spawning areas
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow areas around docks and vegetation
- Crawfish active in shallow areas with hard bottom and around dock structures
- Small baitfish relating to dock areas and vegetation edges
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-68 | - Striped bass are actively moving into pre-spawn staging areas near creek channels and dam structure, following shad schools in preparation for spawning
- Fish are making frequent transitions between deeper holding areas and shallow feeding zones, particularly during dawn and dusk periods
| - Big Monon creek arm channel edges where pre-spawn staging occurs
- Dam area deeper water adjacent to shallow flats
- Rip rap banks near deeper water access
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through schools of suspended bait
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow rolled along channel edges
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') when fish are holding deeper
| - Shad schools concentrated in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding in shallow water, particularly around docks and rip rap banks, with heightened activity during morning hours
- Fish are showing preference for bottom-contact presentations and reaction strikes off hard cover, indicating recovery feeding behavior after spawn
| - Docks in shallow coves off the Big Monon creek arm
- Rip rap banks with adjacent deep water access
- Shallow flats (6' or less) with scattered vegetation near docks
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around docks and vegetation
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked along rip rap and through shallow areas
- Swim Jigs near dock posts and through scattered vegetation
| - Crawfish - primary forage evidenced by successful presentations and colors
- Shad - active in open water areas and around dock edges
- Bluegill - beginning to gather around dock areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 65-75 | - Post-spawn striped bass are actively feeding to recover energy, following large schools of shad in open water and along creek channel edges
- Fish are making transitions between shallow feeding areas and deeper sanctuary areas near the dam as temperatures fluctuate
- Schools are breaking up into smaller groups, with fish establishing patterns around structure and bait concentrations
| - Main lake points and channel edges where Big Monon Creek arm meets the main lake
- Dam area deeper water, especially during midday hours
- Riprap banks with nearby access to deeper water
- Areas where vegetation meets deeper water channels
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through open water areas where shad schools are present
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked along channel edges and points
- Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') parallel to creek channels and near the dam
- Spinnerbaits worked along riprap banks during cloudy conditions
| - Gizzard and Threadfin Shad schooling in open water
- Secondary baitfish relating to vegetation edges
- Small sunfish around riprap and structure
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Shad Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
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