| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-55 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise above 50°F
- Fish are feeding opportunistically on shad around rock piles, with increased activity during warmer portions of the day
| - Rock piles and boulder fields in 8-12 foot depth range
- Transition areas between deep winter holes and shallow spawning flats
- Main lake points with good sun exposure
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly over rock piles
- Ned Rigs dragged along bottom near rocky structure
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations for inactive fish
| | - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from winter areas to spawning flats, staging on adjacent structure
- Fish are becoming more active with warming temperatures, feeding opportunistically on perch near boulder fields
| - Large boulder fields adjacent to spawning flats
- Secondary points with rock/boulder transition areas
- Protected coves with adequate depth and boulder structure
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked slowly near boulders
- Ned Rigs worked around boulder edges
- Shakey Heads targeting boulder fields
| | - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 37-45 | - Striped bass are transitioning from winter patterns, actively cruising flats near deep water access points while pursuing schools of alewife
- Fish are staging near structure (brush piles) but making feeding movements to adjacent flats as water temperatures slowly rise
| - Brush piles adjacent to flats in 15-25 foot depth range
- Secondary points with access to deeper water
- Shallow flats near channel swings or deep water access
| - Umbrella Rigs worked slowly through suspended fish near brush piles
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') when fish are holding tight to structure
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked along the edges of flats
| - Alewife - primary forage based on recent reports
- Blueback Herring - secondary forage mentioned in lake profile
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 46-58 | - Smallmouth bass are in their spawning phase, with males actively guarding nests in shallow rocky areas. Fish are aggressive in defending territory but may be easily spooked.
- Fish are making frequent movements between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones, especially during early morning and evening periods.
| - Boulder fields and rock piles in 3-8 foot depth range, especially those near deeper water access
- Brush piles adjacent to spawning flats, serving as staging areas
- Protected coves with hard bottom composition, particularly those with morning sun exposure
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled near bottom structure, as validated by recent success
- Damiki Rig suspended 1-2 feet above cover, matching recent productive patterns
- Drop Shot with light tackle for spooky fish on beds
| - Minnows, as confirmed by recent fishing reports
- Alewife, based on lake profile showing strong pelagic baitfish population
- Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Actively moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in protected coves and bays with suitable bottom composition
- Males preparing and guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water nearby
- Increased aggression and territorial behavior around nesting sites
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and cover (2-4 feet deep)
- Secondary points leading into spawning pockets
- Shallow areas near docks with good sun exposure
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) to sight fish spawning bass
- Shakey Heads worked slowly around staging areas
- Soft Jerkbaits for pre-spawn fish moving up
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Blueback Herring starting to move shallow
- Small panfish in spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Striped Bass | 37-58 | - Striped bass are transitioning from winter patterns to spawning behavior, actively moving to staging areas near spawning grounds
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water warms, forming pre-spawn feeding schools around baitfish concentrations
- Movement patterns follow daily temperature changes, with fish being more active during warmer parts of the day
| - Main lake points near spawning tributaries or flats
- Brush piles in 15-25 foot range adjacent to spawning areas
- Rocky shorelines and irregular features where pre-spawn fish stage
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through baitfish schools
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') around brush piles
- Hard Jerkbaits worked slowly along points and rocky banks
| - Alewife in pre-spawn staging areas
- Blueback herring schooling near points
- Young shad beginning to become active in warming water
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, targeting schools of alewife in transition areas between spawning flats and summer haunts
- Fish are becoming more aggressive and willing to chase moving baits, especially during prime feeding periods in morning and evening
| - Rocky points and boulder fields adjacent to spawning flats in 8-12 foot depth range
- Weed edges near deep water access where baitfish schools congregate
- Transition zones between shallow flats and deeper summer areas, especially areas with mixed rock and weed cover
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) worked along weed edges and through baitfish schools
- Drop Shot with finesse presentations near rocky structure
- Ned Rigs worked slowly around boulder fields and transition areas
| - Alewife schools moving along depth transitions
- Crayfish becoming more active in rocky areas
- Young of year baitfish beginning to appear in shallower areas
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are establishing patterns around secondary points and emerging weed growth, making short movements between shallow and slightly deeper water
| - Secondary points with access to deeper water, especially those near spawning bays
- Emerging weed edges in 5-10 feet of water
- Dock areas with brush or laydowns, particularly those near deeper water access
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic retrieves parallel to weed edges and points
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through emerging vegetation and around docks
- Spinnerbaits worked around points and through sparse vegetation
| - Blueback Herring schooling in post-spawn patterns
- Perch relating to emerging vegetation and structure
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 52-68 | - Post-spawn striped bass are actively feeding to recover energy, following large schools of alewife and herring in the water column
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper main lake structures, making frequent movements between depths to find optimal temperature zones
| - Main lake points near deep water access where baitfish schools congregate
- Brush piles in 15-25 foot depth range adjacent to flats
- Rocky structures and irregular shoreline features where current concentrates baitfish
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through baitfish schools at varying depths
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) presented along depth transitions
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') near brush piles and structure
| - Alewife in large schools
- Blueback Herring concentrating near structure
- Young of year shad beginning to appear
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
