| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-60 | - Pre-spawn bass moving from winter depths to warming shallows, staging near spawning areas
- Feeding actively but sporadically as they prepare for spawn, particularly during warmer periods of the day
| - Secondary points leading into spawning bays, focusing on 5-10 foot transitions
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation in 3-8 feet of water
- Rock or gravel banks that warm quickly on sunny days
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses to imitate sluggish baitfish
- Lipless Crankbaits along emerging vegetation edges
- Ned Rigs worked slowly on staging areas
| - Sluggish baitfish in staging areas
- Early season bluegills moving shallow
- Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Moving into shallow spawning areas (2-6 feet) as water temperatures rise, with males preparing nests and females staging nearby
- Pre-spawn feeding actively in transition areas between wintering and spawning grounds
- Becoming increasingly territorial and aggressive around nesting sites
| - Protected shallow bays and coves with firm bottom
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow areas adjacent to deeper water with emerging vegetation
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and potential spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly through staging areas
- Spinnerbaits along transition routes between deep and shallow water
| - Bluegill gathering in shallow spawning areas
- Small baitfish moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
- Purple 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 relating to emergent vegetation and secondary points, making frequent moves between shallow and moderate depths
| - Secondary points with access to deeper water, especially those with emerging weed growth
- Shallow flats adjacent to spawning bays with new weed growth
- Protected coves with developing weed lines in 5-12 feet of water
| - Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along weed edges
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing and working shallow cover
| - Bluegills beginning to establish summer patterns
- Young of the year baitfish becoming more prevalent
- Crawfish active in warmer shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
|
