| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-60 | - Pre-spawn bass are moving from winter depths to transitional staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are following daily temperature changes, moving shallower in afternoons when water warms
| - Secondary points and channel swings adjacent to spawning flats
- Deep water access points near emerging vegetation in 4-8 foot depth
- Northern shorelines that warm first due to maximum sun exposure
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked slowly over transitional areas
- Blade Baits with moderate retrieve along channel edges
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in staging areas
| - Baitfish schools concentrated in pre-spawn staging areas
- Early season crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly around lily pads and other vegetation in protected areas
- Males will be creating and guarding nests in 2-6 feet of water, while females stage slightly deeper before moving up to spawn
| - Protected shallow bays with lily pads and soft bottom
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover and spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly near potential spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and working shallow areas
| - Crayfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small bluegill in shallow spawning areas
- Young of year baitfish in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 72-80 | - Post-spawn bass are actively feeding and transitioning between shallow spawning areas and early summer patterns, utilizing lily pads and other shallow vegetation as primary cover
- Fish are showing increased feeding activity with warming water temperatures (78°F), making frequent movements between shallow cover and nearby deeper water
| - Lily pad fields, especially those adjacent to deeper water access
- Secondary points with emerging vegetation
- Shallow flats with mixed vegetation in 4-8 foot depth range
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through vegetation
- Frogs/Toads worked over lily pads
- Swim Jigs around the edges of vegetation
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
- Young of the year baitfish in emerging vegetation
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
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