| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-63 | - Bass are staging in pre-spawn areas, actively feeding while transitioning between winter and spawning locations. Fish are utilizing both deeper points (25-30ft) and secondary transition areas (10-12ft)
- Fish showing increased feeding activity with warming trends, particularly around docks and points that provide quick access to multiple depth ranges
| - Primary and secondary points near the main channel, especially in 25-30 foot depths
- Docks with deep water access, particularly those near spawning pockets
- Ledges at the mouth of coves in 10-12 foot depths
| - Drop Shot - particularly effective in deeper water (25-30ft) for suspended fish
- Carolina Rigs - producing well around docks and transition areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') - effective for covering water and targeting active fish
| - Crawfish - becoming more active in warming water
- Shad - present around docks and points
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn crappie are transitioning from deeper winter haunts to shallower staging areas, becoming more active with warming water
- Fish are congregating near spawning areas but still feeding actively, moving up during warm sunny days and dropping back during cold fronts
| - Secondary points and creek channels leading to spawning coves
- Brush piles in 12-15 foot depth range near spawning flats
- Dock posts and pilings in 8-15 foot depths
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Dock Shooting
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Shad schools in creek channels and around points
- Small minnows gathering in pre-spawn areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, with females staging near spawning areas and moving into tributaries. Early morning and evening activity is heightened as noted in recent reports.
- Fish are utilizing river channels as migration routes to spawning grounds, with some already beginning the spawning process in warmer areas
| - River channels and tributary areas where fish are staging for spawn
- Docks providing cover and staging areas near spawning flats
- Shallow spawning pockets with stable bottom composition
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations around cover
- Structure Jigs worked around docks and staging areas
- Football Jigs for working channel edges where pre-spawn fish are holding
| - Crawfish - primary forage as evidenced by multiple recent catches
- Bluegill - becoming more active in shallow areas
- Shad - present but not primary forage during spawn
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie moving into shallow spawning areas (2-8 feet) near shoreline cover, especially in protected coves and around docks
- Males arriving first to prepare nests, followed by females staging slightly deeper before moving shallow to spawn
- Actively feeding during pre-spawn and post-spawn phases, with reduced feeding during actual spawning
| - Protected shallow coves with docks and brush
- Shoreline areas with complex structure in 2-8 foot depth range
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Small shad
- Minnows
- Small invertebrates near spawning areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-78 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding along grass line edges and around bluegill spawning areas to recover energy
- Fish are establishing summer feeding patterns, transitioning from spawning areas to deeper structure while maintaining access to shallow feeding zones
| - Grass line edges near bluegill spawning areas in 2-5 foot depths
- Submerged vegetation adjacent to deeper water
- Docks and laydowns near spawning pockets
| - Shakey Heads worked slowly along grass edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around submerged vegetation
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish chasing bluegill
| - Bluegill (primary forage during spawn)
- Shad (secondary forage in open water)
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 65-72 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are suspending near vertical structure and along depth breaks, moving between 8-15 feet during feeding periods
| - Brush piles positioned along creek channels in 15-20 foot depth range
- Dock edges with deep water access, especially those near spawning flats
- Main lake points with submerged timber or brush
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Crappie Dock Shooting
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Shad (primarily young of the year)
- Small minnows gathering around brush and dock structure
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
