Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 38-65 | - Bass are transitioning between winter and spawning areas, staging in pre-spawn locations with water temperatures ranging from 38-65°F. Fish are more active in warmer afternoon periods and in back of coves where water temperatures can be 5+ degrees warmer.
- Fish are relating heavily to structure, particularly laydowns and submerged trees, with larger bass holding deeper (15-30ft) and smaller fish moving shallow (4-8ft) as temperatures warm
| - Back of coves with warmer water and heavy cover, particularly in 4-6 feet
- Submerged trees and laydowns in 15-30 foot depth range
- Dam areas with deeper water access
| - Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses in colder water, faster cadence as water warms
- Structure Jigs worked through heavy cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) dragged through deeper trees
- Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') around dam areas
| - Crawfish becoming active in warming water
- Bluegill in shallow cover areas
- Shad in deeper water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Shad Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 45-58 | - Panfish transitioning from deep winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, showing increased activity as water warms
- Fish maintaining deep winter patterns in main lake areas but beginning to explore intermediate depths near spawning coves
| - Deep laydowns and timber in 20+ feet of water
- Protected coves with warming water
- Transitional areas between deep winter sanctuaries and spawning flats
| - Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+)
- Live Bait Rigs
- Finesse Hair Jigs
| - Small invertebrates near deep structure
- Emerging aquatic insects in warming areas
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 45-58 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from winter deep water patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are beginning to feed more aggressively to build energy reserves for spawning, particularly targeting crawfish in rocky areas
| - Rip rap areas near the dam where rocks warm quickly and hold crawfish
- Transition areas between deep winter haunts and shallow spawning flats, especially where timber is present
- Secondary points with submerged timber and brush piles in 8-15 foot range
| - Jerkbaits worked slowly with long pauses, especially on sunny days near timber
- Ned Rigs worked slowly along rocky transitions and rip rap
- Tubes dragged and hopped along bottom structure mimicking crawfish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish relating to timber and brush piles
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
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Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-48 | - Pike are staging near spawning areas in shallow bays and creek arms, becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are starting to feed more aggressively to prepare for spawning, particularly during warmer afternoons
- Moving between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones, using weed edges and timber as travel corridors
| - Shallow bays with emerging vegetation near spawning areas
- Weed edges and timber in 8-12 foot transitions
- Protected coves with laydowns and brush piles
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly along weed edges and timber
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near staging areas
- Live Bait Rigs with large minnows in transition areas
| - Bluegill congregating in pre-spawn areas
- Small bass in shallow warming areas
- Baitfish schools in transition zones
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-72 | - Bass are actively moving between spawning areas and staging points, utilizing vegetation edges and brush pile transitions
- Fish showing mixed patterns - some holding on cover in 12-15ft, others relating to shallow vegetation edges, indicating spawning phase transition
| - Edges of curly leaf pondweed beds, especially in cove areas
- Brush piles in 12-15 foot depth range
- Matted grass areas in shallow water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) worked slowly through brush and vegetation
- Frogs/Toads worked over matted grass areas
- Texas Rigs (Worming) along weed edges
| - Crawfish - primary forage based on multiple reports
- Bluegill - secondary forage starting to become active
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-72 | - Bluegill moving into shallow, protected coves and bays for spawning, with males creating and guarding nests
- Fish staging in pre-spawn areas near spawning flats, actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Most active during warmer parts of day, particularly around established weed edges and brush
| - Protected shallow coves with firm bottom for spawning
- Weed edges adjacent to spawning flats
- Laydowns and brush piles in 5-10 feet of water
| - Bobbers with light jigs worked slowly around spawning areas
- Crappie Dock Shooting for fish holding under docks near spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs with small worms or crickets
| - Small insects and larvae
- Small crustaceans
- Aquatic worms
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-65 | - Smallmouth bass are moving into spawning areas, typically in 2-8 foot depths near hard bottom areas, especially around the dam's rip rap and rocky points
- Males are actively guarding nests while females stage in slightly deeper water, moving between spawning flats and adjacent deeper structures
- Feeding activity increases during pre-spawn, with aggressive strikes during warmer parts of the day
| - Rocky areas and rip rap near the dam in 2-8 foot depths
- Hard bottom areas adjacent to weed edges in protected coves
- Secondary points with gravel or rock substrate near deeper water
| - Tubes worked slowly along rocky areas and potential spawning sites
- Ned Rigs fished with subtle movements near bedding areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses for pre-spawn fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish gathering in spawning areas
- Young of the year panfish in shallow areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Spawn) | Northern Pike | 38-52 | - Northern Pike moving into shallow bays and backwater areas with vegetation for spawning, typically most active during early morning and late afternoon
- Post-spawn fish remaining shallow but transitioning to active feeding behavior, targeting abundant bluegill populations near cover
| - Shallow bays and coves with emerging vegetation in 2-6 feet of water
- Laydowns and brush piles near spawning areas in 4-8 feet
- Weed edges adjacent to slightly deeper water for staging areas
| - Spinnerbaits worked slowly along emerging weed edges and through sparse cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs using large minnows for post-spawn feeding periods
| - Bluegill congregating in shallow spawning areas
- Small Bass utilizing similar shallow cover
- Various Minnow species moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-78 | - Post-spawn males guarding fry in shallow areas near weed edges, actively defending territory
- Fish are actively feeding but staying close to cover, with increased activity during morning and evening periods
| - Weed edges in 4-8 feet of water, especially near spawning areas
- Submerged vegetation adjacent to deeper water
- Woody cover (laydowns and brush piles) near spawning coves
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly along weed edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) around vegetation and wood cover
- Frogs/Toads over vegetation mats in warmer periods
| - Bluegill concentrating around weed edges
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper feeding zones, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish moving between cover types, utilizing both vegetation and woody structure as feeding stations
| - Weed edges adjacent to spawning flats in 8-12 feet of water
- Laydowns and brush piles near deeper water
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation
| - Bobbers with precise depth control for suspended fish
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around cover
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) for active fish
| - Small insects and larvae
- Tiny minnows
- Zooplankton
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 55-68 | - Smallmouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, becoming more active and aggressive in feeding
- Fish are utilizing multiple depth ranges throughout the day, moving between shallow areas early/late and deeper structure during bright conditions
| - Rocky points and rip-rap areas near spawning flats
- Weed edges in 8-15 foot range
- Submerged timber and brush piles adjacent to spawning areas
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly along rock transitions
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for active fish
- Drop Shot when fish are holding tight to structure
- Tubes dragged along bottom structure
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish relating to newly growing vegetation
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
Spring (Post-Spawn) | Northern Pike | 52-65 | - Northern Pike are actively feeding post-spawn, recovering energy and moving from spawning areas to early summer feeding locations
- Fish are relating to emerging weed growth and utilizing woody cover as ambush points
- Most active during morning and evening, moving shallow to feed on abundant bluegill populations
| - Emerging weed edges in 5-10 foot depth range
- Laydowns and brush piles near spawning bays
- Points and coves with submerged vegetation
| - Spinnerbaits worked parallel to weed edges and through scattered wood cover
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) with steady retrieve near structure
- Inline Spinners cast to visible cover and retrieved at moderate speed
| - Bluegill concentrating near emerging vegetation
- Young of year baitfish beginning to appear
- Small bass utilizing similar shallow cover
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
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