| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are actively transitioning from winter patterns to spawning areas, staging in staging areas adjacent to future spawning flats
- Fish are becoming increasingly aggressive and feeding heavily to prepare for spawning, particularly during warming trends
| - Secondary points and channel swings near spawning pockets with good sun exposure
- Deeper grass edges in 8-12 feet transitioning to spawning flats
- Docks and laydowns adjacent to spawning areas providing staging cover
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through emerging grass
- Bladed Jigs with steady retrieves along transitional areas
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around dock posts and laydowns
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Bluegill beginning to become more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 62-72 | - Actively schooling and chasing shad in baitballs, with surface feeding activity indicated by bird activity
- Transitioning through pre-spawn movement patterns, utilizing suspended timber and moderate depths around 68°F
| - Suspended timber areas where baitfish are congregating
- Points and irregular shoreline features where bait gets concentrated
- Areas with visible bird activity indicating surface feeding
| - Lipless Crankbaits cast through and around baitfish schools
- Umbrella Rigs mimicking shad schools in suspended timber
- Hard Topwater (Walking) for surface feeding activity
| - Shad (primary forage based on multiple reports)
- Various baitfish in baitballs
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 58-65 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Moving from deeper winter holdover areas to shallower transition zones, following warming trends
- Congregating around structure in 8-15 foot depths, particularly near areas that will warm first
| - Protected coves with brush piles in 8-15 foot range near spawning flats
- Secondary points with laydowns leading into spawning bays
- Dock areas adjacent to deeper water with good sun exposure
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Shad schools congregating in pre-spawn staging areas
- Small bluegill and juvenile sunfish near brush piles
- Minnows relating to emerging vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-72 | - Bass actively moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly around vegetation edges and protected coves. Males preparing and guarding nests while females stage nearby.
- Feeding activity increases during pre-spawn, becomes territorial during spawn, with fish responding aggressively to threats near nest sites.
| - Protected shallow coves with firm bottom near grass edges and lily pad stems
- Secondary points leading into spawning pockets
- Shallow dock areas adjacent to spawning flats
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around vegetation edges and visible bed areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for pre-spawn fish and sight fishing beds
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly around bedding areas and staging points
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Shad schools moving into tributary arms and spawning pockets
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Striped Bass | 62-72 | - Striped bass are actively staging for spawn in tributary areas and shallow flats, making frequent feeding runs to nearby deeper water
- Fish are schooling aggressively, chasing shad baitballs near the surface, especially during dawn and dusk periods
| - Main tributary mouths and adjacent flats in 8-15 foot depth range
- Points and ledges near spawning flats in 12-20 foot range
- Areas with suspended timber where baitfish congregate
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through bait schools and along ledges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) presented parallel to points and spawning flats
- Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') along transitional areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Shad schools concentrated near spawning areas
- Smaller baitfish utilizing suspended timber as cover
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Crappie moving into shallow areas (2-8 feet) near shoreline structure for spawning, particularly around brush piles and vegetation
- Males establishing and guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper, making multiple trips to spawning areas
- Aggressive feeding periods during pre-spawn, becoming more territorial during actual spawn
| - Shallow coves with brush piles and matted vegetation in 2-6 foot range
- Protected areas between docks with nearby deeper water access
- Lily pad fields and grass edges adjacent to spawning flats
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Small shad concentrating in spawning areas
- Small bluegill and juvenile sunfish
- Smaller minnows gathering in shallow vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning between shallow spawning areas and early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing both shallow cover (docks) and deeper structure (ledges) as reported, showing a typical post-spawn dispersal pattern
- With water temperatures around 67°F, bass are becoming more aggressive and willing to chase moving baits
| - Docks, especially those near spawning flats, as confirmed by recent fishing reports
- Ledges in 7-12 foot range, particularly those adjacent to spawning areas
- Grass edges and vegetation in the 5-8 foot range, indicated by lake's vegetation presence
| - Wacky Rigs, proven effective in recent reports for dock fishing
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12'), successful on ledges as reported
- Soft Jerkbaits, effective for post-spawn bass transitioning between depths
| - Shad, confirmed by recent fishing reports
- Bluegill, typical post-spawn forage around docks and vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn stripers actively schooling and pursuing shad in the upper water column, especially during morning and evening hours
- Fish transitioning between shallow feeding zones and deeper holding areas as temperatures fluctuate throughout the day
| - Main lake points and ledges in 12-20 foot range adjacent to spawning areas
- Areas with suspended timber where baitfish congregate
- Wind-blown points and current seams where bait gets concentrated
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked through suspended timber and along ledges
- Umbrella Rigs for actively feeding schools
- Hard Topwater (Walking) during low-light surface feeding periods
| - Shad schools in upper water column
- Smaller baitfish relating to suspended timber
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Metallic Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 65-75 | - Crappie are transitioning to post-spawn patterns, moving from shallow spawning areas to slightly deeper water near cover
- Fish are actively feeding to recover energy after spawn, targeting shad and other baitfish around structure
| - Brush piles and laydowns in 8-15 foot depth range adjacent to spawning flats
- Dock posts and pilings with nearby deep water access
- Edges of lily pad fields where they meet deeper water
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Crappie Dock Shooting
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Shad schools beginning to congregate in post-spawn areas
- Small bluegill and juvenile panfish around vegetation
- Various minnow species relating to brush and cover
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
