| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 48-60 | - Bass are transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, becoming more active as water temperatures rise
- Fish are relating heavily to cover like laydowns and beginning to feed more aggressively as they prepare for spawning
| - Laydowns and fallen trees in 4-6 feet of water, especially on darker bottom areas that warm quickly
- Protected coves with emerging vegetation, particularly where it meets deeper water
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
| - Tubes worked slowly around laydowns and wood cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting specific pieces of cover
- Shakey Heads worked along transitional areas between shallow and deeper water
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming shallows
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 48-58 | - Fish are transitioning through multiple depth zones (10-25ft) as they stage for spawn, actively feeding during warming trends
- Showing typical pre-spawn pattern of scattered schools, with some fish beginning to move towards shallower spawning areas
| - Weed edges in 10-12 foot depths where fish are staging
- Deeper basin areas in 20-25 foot range holding schools of smaller fish
- Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation where early spawning movement begins
| - Bobbers with small jigs around weed edges for active fish
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) for scattered deeper fish
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') for concentrated schools
| - Insects - primary forage during early spring warming
- Small baitfish relating to weed edges
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-65 | - Moving from deeper winter locations to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Congregating near emerging vegetation and warming shallows, with most active feeding during mid-morning to afternoon periods
| - Emerging weed edges in 8-15 foot depths adjacent to potential spawning flats
- Rock piles and boulder areas that warm quickly in spring sun
- Protected bays with early vegetation growth
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended at varying depths to match fish location
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around emerging vegetation
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) for sight fishing in clear shallows
| - Early season aquatic insects and larvae
- Small crustaceans in emerging vegetation
- Tiny baitfish fry beginning to emerge
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are moving into shallow spawning areas, particularly in protected coves and around vegetation where bottom temperatures warm fastest
- Males are actively guarding nests while females stage nearby, moving between shallow and slightly deeper water
- Fish are becoming more aggressive in defending territory and responding to sight-based feeding triggers
| - Protected shallow coves with matted grass and submerged vegetation
- Secondary points leading into spawning bays
- Shallow flats with mixed vegetation and hard bottom
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover and spawning areas
- Wacky Rigs worked slowly near potential bed locations
- Soft Jerkbaits for staging fish and sight fishing
| - Bluegill beginning to move shallow
- Small baitfish in spawning areas
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 49-58 | - Crappies are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, moving from staging areas in 10-12ft to shallower spawning areas around vegetation and protected coves
- Fish are becoming increasingly active with warming water temperatures, feeding more aggressively before and after spawning activities
| - Protected shallow coves with submerged vegetation in 2-6 feet of water for spawning
- Deeper weed edges in 10-12 feet serving as staging areas
- Transition areas between staging and spawning zones
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) for precise presentations to visible fish
- Bobbers with light jigs around spawning areas
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') for staging fish
| - Bluegills and small sunfish
- Aquatic insects
- Small minnows around vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-68 | - Actively moving into shallow bays and protected areas for spawning, with males preparing and guarding nests
- Increased feeding activity during pre-spawn, particularly on insects and small invertebrates
- Most active during dawn and dusk, with reduced activity during bright midday periods
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom and scattered vegetation
- Areas near submerged vegetation in 2-6 feet of water
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water
| - Bobbers with small jigs suspended 1-3 feet deep
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly near spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs with small worms or insects
| - Aquatic insects and larvae
- Small invertebrates
- Zooplankton
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 68-78 | - Bass are actively feeding in shallow areas, particularly around thick vegetation mats as water temperatures reach mid-70s
- Fish are showing aggressive topwater feeding behavior, especially during sunny periods when they utilize vegetation for ambush points
| - Thick matted grass in shallow water areas
- Secondary points with emerging vegetation
- Protected coves with vegetation and laydowns
| - Frogs/Toads worked over matted vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around vegetation edges
- Swim Jigs through scattered vegetation
| - Bluegill actively spawning in shallow areas
- Small baitfish relating to vegetation edges
| - Dark Neutrals
- Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Post-spawn crappies are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to deeper summer locations, actively feeding to recover energy
- Fish are suspending near structure edges and following baitfish schools, primarily feeding during dawn and dusk periods
| - Weed edges in 10-15 feet of water adjacent to spawning flats
- Suspended over deeper basin areas near structural transitions
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation
| - Crappie Long Lining (Pulling/Trolling)
- Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
- Crappie Spider Rigging
| - Small bluegills and juvenile fish
- Aquatic insects emerging in warming waters
- Small minnows schooling near weed edges
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-74 | - Post-spawn bluegills are actively feeding to recover energy, focusing on insect hatches and small invertebrates in and around vegetation
- Fish are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to slightly deeper water, but still maintaining proximity to weed edges and structure
| - Weed edges and gaps in 8-15 foot depth range
- Rocky areas and boulder piles adjacent to spawning flats
- Submerged vegetation patches near drop-offs
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended at varying depths
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly through vegetation
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) around weed edges
| - Aquatic insects and larvae
- Small invertebrates
- Zooplankton
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
