| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn bass are actively feeding while transitioning from winter to spawning areas, showing increased aggression despite cold fronts
- Fish are moving between shallow warming areas and slightly deeper staging areas, particularly active in creek arms protected from wind
| - Old lily pad stems in creek arms protected from wind
- Rocky jetties with varying depths
- Deeper staging areas adjacent to shallow spawning flats
| - Bladed Jigs worked through vegetation stems
- Buzzbaits despite cooler temperatures for aggressive fish
- Shallow and Lipless Crankbaits around rocky structures
| - Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas
- Small baitfish in staging areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Fish transitioning from pre-spawn staging areas to spawning flats, becoming increasingly territorial and aggressive as water warms
- Males actively creating and guarding nests in shallow protected areas, while females move between deeper staging areas and spawning flats
| - Protected shallow bays with mix of lily pad stems and hard bottom for spawning
- Areas near standing timber in 6-8 ft range serving as staging points
- Rock and riprap banks that warm quickly and provide spawning substrate
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and beds
- Soft Jerkbaits for staging fish and sight fishing
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along transitions to spawning flats
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-76 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, utilizing both shallow and mid-depth zones with frequent movements between feeding areas
- Fish are showing aggressive reaction strikes in grass (6-8ft) and around rock structure, with better size fish relating to rocky areas
| - Rock structures and boulder fields in 8-12 feet of water
- Matted grass areas in 6-8 feet of water
- Standing timber and stumps adjacent to deeper water
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly around rock structure
- Bladed Jigs ripped through grass
- Hard Topwater (Walking) over rocky points
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around timber and stumps
| - Crawfish actively moving around rocky areas
- Bluegill establishing in grass and shallow cover
- Small baitfish moving into shallow feeding areas
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
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