| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 47-55 | - Female bass moving shallow early, mixing with crappie populations in warming shallows as water temperatures climb into high 40s
- Bass staging on first available structure near spawning areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawn
| - Matted grass edges in 3-8 foot depth range where vegetation is starting to emerge
- Protected shallow bays and pockets that warm first
- Hard bottom transitions near spawning areas
| - Bladed Jigs worked slowly through emerging vegetation
- Soft Jerkbaits with subtle action for pressured fish
- Lipless Crankbaits around grass edges
| - Crappies in shallow areas
- Emerging bluegill populations
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 47-62 | - Bluegills transitioning from deeper winter haunts to warmer shallows, staging near spawning areas
- Actively feeding during warming trends, particularly during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak
- Moving between depth ranges as water temperatures fluctuate, following preferred temperature zones
| - Protected shallow bays with emerging vegetation in 3-8 feet
- Transition areas between shallow flats and deeper water in 8-12 feet
- Areas near matted grass from previous season in 5-10 feet
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended at variable depths
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9')
- Live Bait Rigs
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae emerging with warming water
- Zooplankton concentrations in warming shallows
- Small invertebrates in emerging vegetation
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 55-68 | - Female bass moving shallow (2-6 feet) to stage and spawn, with males following to prepare and guard nests
- More aggressive feeding patterns during pre-spawn, becoming territorial during actual spawn
- Activity levels increasing with the quick-warming water, especially in protected shallow areas
| - Protected shallow bays with matted grass in 2-6 feet of water
- Transition areas near deeper water access (8-12 feet)
- Shallow areas with firm bottom near emerging vegetation
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs worked through sparse vegetation and transition areas
- Spinnerbaits along edges of vegetation and in wind-blown areas
| - Crappies sharing shallow water during spring
- Emerging bluegill populations in vegetation
- Small baitfish moving shallow with warming water
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Natural Baitfish Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 58-72 | - Male bluegills moving shallow to establish spawning beds in protected areas
- Females staging in slightly deeper water, moving in and out of spawning areas
- Aggressive territorial behavior around nesting sites, especially from males
| - Protected shallow bays with firm bottom, 2-4 feet deep
- Edges of matted grass in 4-6 feet of water
- Staging areas adjacent to spawning flats in 8-10 feet
| - Bobbers with light jigs worked slowly over spawning beds
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') for staging fish
- Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms
| - Small aquatic insects and larvae
- Zooplankton in and around vegetation
- Small crustaceans near bottom structure
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 62-72 | - Post-spawn bass actively feeding to recover energy, establishing summer patterns near newly emerging vegetation and transition areas
- Fish moving between shallow cover and nearby deeper breaks (10-20 foot range) as they follow baitfish and respond to daily temperature changes
| - Edges of matted grass in 5-8 foot depth range, especially where it meets deeper water
- Secondary points and breaks in 10-15 foot range with access to deeper water
- Shallow vegetation flats adjacent to deeper water where baitfish are present
| - Swim Jigs worked through and around grass edges
- Texas Rigs (Worming) worked through vegetation transitions
- Bladed Jigs with steady retrieves parallel to grass edges
| - Crappies moving through similar areas
- Young of year baitfish beginning to emerge
- Bluegill starting their spawning activities
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills are actively feeding in and around shallow vegetation, recovering energy and establishing summer patterns
- Fish are making frequent transitions between spawning areas and deeper feeding zones, becoming more structure-oriented
| - Matted grass edges in 8-10 foot depth range
- Transitional areas between spawning flats and deeper water
- Scattered vegetation in 6-8 foot depths
| - Bobbers with light jigs worked slowly through vegetation
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') along weed edges
- Micro Crankbaits worked parallel to vegetation
| - Small aquatic insects emerging in warming waters
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to appear
- Zooplankton concentrations in and around vegetation
| - Light Neutral Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
|
