| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Male bass moving shallow to prepare spawning areas in 2-4 feet of water, particularly around submerged vegetation edges
- Fish are responding well to finesse presentations, showing cautious feeding behavior typical of pre-spawn period
- Activity levels increasing with warming trends, but still preferring subtle presentations over aggressive ones
| - Heavy submerged vegetation in 2-4 feet of water
- Small walls and vegetation edges in shallow water
- Protected shallow coves with emerging vegetation
| - Finesse Jigs worked slowly through vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) for precise presentations around cover
- Wacky Rigs for suspended fish near vegetation edges
| - Bluegill in shallow vegetation
- Small minnows around vegetation edges
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Crappie | 52-62 | - Pre-spawn crappie are transitioning from winter depths to shallower staging areas, becoming increasingly active as water temperatures rise
- Schools are congregating near vegetation edges and shoreline structure in 4-8 foot depths, with feeding activity increasing during warming trends
| - Vegetation edges in 4-8 foot depth range, especially near deeper water access
- Protected shallow coves with emerging vegetation
- Deeper holes near spawning flats serving as staging areas
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around vegetation edges
- Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') for precise presentation to visible schools
- Tubes worked slowly through transitional areas
| - Insects emerging with warming water temperatures
- Small baitfish congregating in emerging vegetation
- Zooplankton concentrations in warming shallows
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 52-65 | - Bluegills are transitioning from winter patterns to pre-spawn staging, actively feeding in and around emerging vegetation in 4-8 foot depths
- Fish become more active during warming trends, moving shallower during peak daylight hours and relating strongly to vegetation edges
| - Emerging weed edges in 4-8 foot depth range where vegetation meets slightly deeper water
- Protected shallow bays with early vegetation growth
- Areas near winter holding locations where bluegills stage before moving shallow
| - Bobbers with light jigs worked slowly around vegetation edges
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked vertically through gaps in vegetation
- Live Bait Rigs with small pieces of worm or insect larvae
| - Emerging aquatic insects and larvae
- Small crustaceans in vegetation
- Bloodworms and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-65 | - Bass are in pre-spawn to spawning mode, moving into shallow areas near vegetation to establish nesting sites and actively feeding to build energy reserves
- Fish are showing aggressive reaction strikes to moving baits in shallow water, as evidenced by recent crankbait success
| - Shallow submerged vegetation in 2-4 feet of water, especially near shoreline transitions
- Protected pockets with wood cover (laydowns, stumps) adjacent to spawning flats
- Dock areas providing shade and cover in spawning depths
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked with stop-and-go retrieves
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around vegetation and wood cover
- Spinnerbaits parallel to weed edges
| - Minnows actively moving in shallow water
- Bluegill beginning to establish their own spawning areas
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Crappie | 58-68 | - Crappie moving into shallow spawning areas (2-6 feet) near vegetation edges and any available woody cover, particularly active during early morning and evening periods
- Males establishing and guarding nests while females stage slightly deeper, creating opportunities for targeting both shallow and transitional depths
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with fish becoming more aggressive in defending spawning territories
| - Shallow vegetation edges in 4-8 foot range, particularly where it creates pockets or transitions
- Protected coves and points with submerged vegetation
- Shallow flats adjacent to slightly deeper staging areas
| - Bobbers with small jigs worked slowly around vegetation edges
- Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs along spawning areas
- Tubes worked methodically through shallow cover
| - Small insects and larvae around vegetation
- Newly hatched fry becoming available
- Small crustaceans in vegetation
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Bluegills moving into shallow, protected areas with vegetation to establish spawning beds in 2-4 foot depths
- Males becoming aggressive and territorial around nesting areas, actively feeding to maintain energy
- Pre-spawn females staging slightly deeper (4-6 feet) near spawning areas
| - Shallow vegetation edges in 2-4 foot depths with firm bottom
- Protected pockets within weed beds
- Staging areas along deeper weed edges in 4-8 foot range
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 1-2 feet deep
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly through spawning areas
- Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms
| - Small insects and larvae
- Tiny crustaceans
- Small worms and leeches
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 63-68 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy while remaining relatively shallow
- Fish are relating heavily to cover (docks, laydowns, stumps) in shallow water, showing aggressive feeding behavior on smaller prey
| - Shallow docks with adjacent wood cover in 2-4 feet of water
- Laydowns and tree stumps, especially those near spawning flats
- Edges of emerging vegetation in 4-6 feet of water
| - Wacky Rigs worked slowly around shallow cover
- Finesse Jigs flipped to dock posts and wood cover
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting dense cover areas
| - Bluegill in shallow areas around docks and vegetation
- Small minnows relating to wood cover and vegetation edges
| - Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
- Chartreuse Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Crappie | 62-72 | - Post-spawn crappies are transitioning from shallow spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy
- Schools are beginning to form and suspend near vegetation edges in 4-8 foot range, particularly active during morning periods
| - Vegetation edges in 4-8 foot depths, especially where clean edges meet slightly deeper water
- Secondary points with submerged vegetation
- Shallow coves with emerging vegetation growth
| - Crappie Sniping (Casting/Single Poling) with light jigs around vegetation edges
- Hover/Mid-Strolling parallel to weed edges
- Bobbers with small jigs suspended at specific depths above vegetation
| - Small insects and larvae emerging in warming waters
- Young-of-year baitfish beginning to appear
- Zooplankton concentrating near vegetation edges
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Bold Striped Patterns
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Panfish / Bluegill | 65-75 | - Post-spawn bluegills are actively feeding but staying close to vegetation edges in 4-8 foot depths, with most active feeding during morning and evening hours
- Fish are establishing summer patterns, moving between shallow feeding areas and slightly deeper resting areas throughout the day
| - Weed edges in 4-8 foot depths, especially where vegetation meets slightly deeper water
- Scattered patches of submerged vegetation in 3-5 foot depths for morning/evening feeding
- Deeper pockets near vegetation in 6-8 foot range for midday holding areas
| - Bobbers with light jigs suspended 1-2 feet above vegetation
- Finesse Hair Jigs worked slowly through vegetation edges
- Live Bait Rigs with small leeches or worms near weed edges
| - Small insects and larvae around vegetation
- Tiny crustaceans in and around weed beds
- Small aquatic worms and bloodworms in bottom substrate
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Pink Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
