| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Fish are moving from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to prepare for spawning
- Most active during warmer parts of day, focusing on shallow flats with emerging vegetation
| - Shallow flats with emerging vegetation in 4-6 feet of water
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning flats
- Slightly deeper transitions in 8-12 feet where bigger fish stage
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')
- Swim Jigs
- Bladed Jigs
| - Bluegill
- Young of year baitfish
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
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| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Actively seeking spawning areas in shallow water, particularly around reed beds and pad areas in 2-4 feet of water
- Males preparing and guarding nests while females stage on nearby deeper structure in 6-12 feet
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, with increased response to intrusive baits
| - Protected reed beds and pad areas in 2-4 feet of water, especially in warmer bays
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Deeper weed edges in 12-16 feet where pre-spawn females stage
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and beds
- Swim Jigs through sparse vegetation and between reed stalks
- Soft Jerkbaits for staging fish near deeper weed edges
- Wacky Rigs for sight fishing obvious beds
| - Bluegill concentrating in the same spawning areas
- Small baitfish relating to emerging vegetation
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Fish transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Moving between shallow cover and nearby deeper edges, using vegetation as primary cover
| - Outer edges of reed beds in 4-6 feet of water
- Secondary points with access to deeper water (12-16 feet)
- Sparse vegetation patches near spawning flats
| - Swim Jigs worked through sparse vegetation
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') parallel to reed edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) in vegetation transitions
| - Bluegill beginning to spawn in shallow areas
- Young of year baitfish emerging in vegetation
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|