| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn smallmouth staging on transition areas between deep wintering holes and spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are showing following behavior and responding to stop-and-go presentations, indicating an aggressive but calculated feeding pattern
| - Long sandy/gravel points adjacent to deep water ledges in 10-12 feet
- Secondary points with mixed rock and gravel in 8-15 feet
- Shallow spawning flats with hard bottom near deep water access
| - Hard Jerkbaits worked with long pauses
- Ned Rigs for follow-up presentations
- Drop Shot with small profile baits
| - Yellow Perch moving shallow with warming trends
- Juvenile Bluegill in protected areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Bass are staging in pre-spawn locations, making gradual movements from winter deep water to spawning flats, particularly active during warming trends
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with fish becoming more aggressive in preparation for spawning
| - Main lake points and first contour drops adjacent to spawning flats
- Hard bottom areas near creek inflows
- Shallow water transitions where pencil reeds meet deeper water
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along transition areas between deep and shallow water
- Shakey Heads worked slowly on hard bottom areas and points
- Bladed Jigs around emerging vegetation and creek mouths
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Crawfish becoming more active on hard bottom areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Actively staging near spawning flats in 10-12 feet, making frequent moves between pre-spawn staging areas and spawning locations
- Males beginning to establish and guard nesting sites in protected areas with hard bottom composition
- Aggressive feeding patterns during pre-spawn, followed by defensive territorial behavior during actual spawn
| - Points near deep ledges in 10-12 feet of water adjacent to spawning flats
- Protected bays with gravel or sandy bottom in 2-5 feet of water
- Rock piles near transitional areas between deep water and spawning flats
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with erratic pauses around staging areas
- Tubes dragged and hopped along rocky transition areas
- Ned Rigs worked slowly through spawning flats
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegills near spawning areas
- Young of year baitfish in shallow warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Bass are transitioning from pre-spawn staging areas to spawning locations, actively moving between deeper first contour drops and shallow spawning areas in 2-3 feet of water
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior near creek inflows and hard bottom areas, particularly during warmer parts of the day when water temperatures rise
| - Creek inflows with hard bottom in 2-3 feet of water
- First contour drops near main lake points
- Shallow reed beds adjacent to harder bottom
| - Football Jigs worked slowly along hard bottom areas
- Ned Rigs for pressured fish and clear water conditions
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow reed edges
| - Bluegill in shallow spawning areas
- Crawfish on hard bottom areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding to recover energy, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, with fish moving between depths of 10-20 feet throughout the day
- Fish are aggressively feeding on both baitfish and crawfish, showing increased activity during morning and evening periods
| - Points near deep ledges in 10-12 feet of water, especially those with gravel or rock composition
- Sand flats adjacent to deeper water, particularly those with scattered rock piles
- Transition areas between spawning flats and summer deep-water haunts
| - Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly along bottom structure
- Tubes dragged and hopped across rock and gravel areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with aggressive twitches followed by long pauses
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy and actively moving on hard bottom areas
- Small bluegills in shallow to mid-depth areas
- Juvenile cisco preparing to move to deeper water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 72-82 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, utilizing shallow vegetation areas (2-5 feet) as primary feeding zones
- Fish are showing aggressive surface-oriented behavior, particularly around vegetation edges as water temperatures reach 80°F
| - Lily pad edges in 2-5 feet of water, especially near pencil reeds
- Main lake points with vegetation
- First contour drops adjacent to spawning flats
| - Frogs/Toads worked with a wake-producing retrieve along pad edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked through gaps in vegetation
- Swim Jigs paralleling weed edges
| - Bluegill concentrating around shallow vegetation
- Young of year baitfish emerging in warming shallows
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
