| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-58 | - Pre-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from winter depths to warmer, shallow staging areas, particularly on north-facing shorelines that warm first
- Fish are becoming more active and aggressive as they prepare for spawning, with feeding periods increasing during stable weather
| - Protected shallow bays and pockets with emerging vegetation, especially on north-facing shorelines
- Secondary points and transitions near deeper wintering areas
- Submerged vegetation edges in 6-12 feet of water that provide staging areas
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs with slower retrieves near staging areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses in clearer water
| - Bluegills moving shallow with warming water
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-65 | - Bass moving into shallow staging areas near spawning flats, actively searching for ideal nest sites in protected areas
- Females making periodic feeding moves to deeper weedlines (8-15 FOW) between spawning activities
- Males becoming territorial and aggressive once nesting begins, defending areas against bluegill and other nest predators
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and sparse vegetation
- Shallow flats adjacent to deeper weedlines
- Transition areas between spawning flats and deeper water
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting shallow cover and spawning areas
- Soft Jerkbaits worked slowly in staging areas
- Shakey Heads worked methodically around spawning flats
| - Bluegill
- Small baitfish in staging areas
- Crawfish becoming active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth are actively recovering and beginning to feed heavily, transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns
- Fish are utilizing weed edges and emerging vegetation as primary holding areas, especially during morning and evening feeding periods
| - Emerging weed edges in 8-12 feet of water, particularly near spawning flats
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation
- Shallow flats with newly growing vegetation patches
| - Soft Jerkbaits worked erratically along weed edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) through scattered vegetation
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges during low light conditions
| - Bluegills gathering in newly emerging weed growth
- Young of the year baitfish beginning to school
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Natural Craw Colors
- Purple Colors
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