| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Bass are becoming more active and aggressive, moving from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas near spawning flats
- Fish are actively feeding around structure, particularly in areas with baitfish concentrations and near laydowns
| - Laydowns and woody structure in pre-spawn staging areas
- Areas with concentrated baitfish activity
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves
| - Football Jigs worked around larger structures
- Inline Spinners with faster retrieves in areas with active baitfish
- Bladed Jigs for covering water and targeting active fish
- Lipless Crankbaits for searching transitional areas
| - Baitfish schools in pre-spawn staging areas
- Crawfish becoming more active as water warms
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| 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 schooling near transition areas and beginning to feed more aggressively as they prepare for spawn
- Moving into shallow coves and protected areas during warm afternoons but retreating to deeper water during cold fronts
| - Protected coves with submerged vegetation in 8-15 foot depths
- Dock areas adjacent to deeper water
- Transition areas between deep winter holding areas and shallow spawning flats
| - Crappie Spider Rigging
- Crappie Dock Shooting
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
| - Small Bluegill
- Threadfin Shad
- Small Minnows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Largemouth bass are in spawning mode, moving into shallow protected areas to establish nests and guard eggs. Males become highly territorial and aggressive when protecting nests
- Fish are making frequent movements between slightly deeper staging areas and shallow spawning flats, especially during warm periods of the day
| - Protected shallow coves with firm bottom near grass edges
- Shallow areas adjacent to docks providing both cover and spawning habitat
- Secondary points with grass leading into spawning pockets
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and bedding areas
- Swim Jigs worked through grass edges and along dock lines
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for covering water between spawning areas
| - Bluegill gathering in similar spawning areas
- Shad moving into warmer shallow waters
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie moving into shallow spawning areas, staging in pre-spawn locations near vegetation and docks
- Males building and guarding nests in protected areas 2-6 feet deep, while females stage slightly deeper
- Aggressive feeding periods during early morning and evening hours as fish prepare for spawning
| - Protected shallow coves with vegetation and woody cover in 2-6 feet of water
- Dock areas providing shade and vertical cover in spawning depth ranges
- Secondary points leading into spawning coves with submerged vegetation
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Bobbers
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
| - Small bluegill fry
- Young shad
- Small insects and larvae around vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 75-82 | - Bass are in post-spawn feeding mode, actively chasing bait and relating to harder structures like docks and boulders for feeding
- Fish showing aggressive behavior as evidenced by success with reaction baits like crankbaits and bladed jigs
| - Docks with nearby deeper water access, particularly those with bluegill activity
- Boulder fields and rocky areas in 7-12 foot depth range
- Points with grass adjacent to deeper water
| - Bladed Jigs worked around docks and grass edges
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') around boulder fields and points
- Swim Jigs targeting bluegill beds near docks
| - Bluegill, especially around docks and spawning areas
- Shad in deeper water adjacent to feeding areas
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 68-78 | - Post-spawn crappie are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are suspending near vertical cover and vegetation edges, making frequent moves between depths as they follow baitfish
| - Dock edges and pilings in 8-15 feet of water
- Outer edges of submerged vegetation in 6-12 feet
- Protected coves with standing timber or brush
| - Crappie Dock Shooting
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling)
- Finesse Hair Jigs
| - Small Bluegill and juvenile sunfish
- Young-of-year Shad
- Small minnows gathering around dock structures
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
