| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 48-58 | - Transitioning from winter deep water areas to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawn
- Following daily warming trends, moving shallower in afternoons and holding deeper in early mornings
- Aggressively defending territory and responding to intrusion triggers as spawn approaches
| - Rock piles and boulder fields in 8-15 foot depth range adjacent to spawning flats
- Main lake points with good sun exposure and transition to deeper water
- Protected coves with hard bottom structure near deeper wintering areas
| - Blade Baits worked slowly along bottom transitions
- Ned Rigs with subtle bottom contact in staging areas
- Drop Shot with small profile baits for finicky fish
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Small baitfish schools in transition areas
- Bottom-dwelling aquatic insects
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Trout | 35-45 | - Trout are actively suspending in the water column at 50-80 feet below surface, following and feeding on pelagic baitfish schools
- Fish are schooling and aggressive, willing to chase and strike reaction baits like rattletraps and blade baits
- Movement patterns are primarily dictated by baitfish location rather than structure orientation
| - Open water areas in 80-120 foot depths where baitfish schools are present
- Points and breaks adjacent to deep basin areas
- Areas where current or wind concentrates baitfish schools
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked through suspended fish at 50-80 foot depths
- Blade Baits with vertical jigging presentation in the same depth range
- Trolling Mid Depth (10-19') during low light periods when fish may move shallower
| - Alewife schools suspended in the water column
- Other pelagic baitfish species in similar size range
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Transitioning from winter depths to shallow staging areas, actively seeking warmer water in pre-spawn phase
- Feeding activity increases as water warms, with fish becoming more aggressive in preparation for spawning
- Moving between deep wintering areas and shallow flats, using points and channel edges as migration routes
| - Secondary points and channel swings near spawning flats
- Brush piles in 8-12 feet adjacent to spawning areas
- Submerged grass edges where they meet deeper water
| - Lipless Crankbaits worked along grass edges and through emerging vegetation
- Bladed Jigs with slow, steady retrieves near structure
- Soft Jerkbaits worked with long pauses around points and transitions
| - Bluegill gathering in pre-spawn areas
- Shad schools in transition areas
- Crawfish becoming more active in warming waters
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 50-65 | - Smallmouth bass are actively spawning in shallow water, defending beds in 1-10 foot depths. Males are highly territorial and aggressive in protecting nests.
- Fish are highly visible in clear water conditions, with multiple reports of sight fishing success on beds
- Pre-spawn fish moving from deeper water to shallow spawning areas, staging on nearby points and rock piles
| - Boulder fields and rock piles in 1-10 foot depths, particularly those with nearby deeper water access
- Points adjacent to spawning flats, especially those with rocky structure
- Protected shallow bays with hard bottom composition
| - Ned Rigs worked slowly on beds, finding the 'hot spot' that triggers defensive strikes
- Drop Shot rigs cast from a distance to avoid spooking visible fish
- Hard Jerkbaits for targeting pre-spawn fish staging on points
| - Crawfish emerging in shallow rocky areas
- Small minnows in spawning areas
- Rainbow trout pattern baitfish near points
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Trout | 35-45 | - Trout are actively feeding on suspended baitfish schools (alewife and minnows) in the mid-water column, typically 50-80 feet below surface
- Fish are schooling in open water, following baitfish movements rather than relating heavily to structure
- Most active during daylight hours when spring temperatures are optimal
| - Open water areas with suspended baitfish schools, typically in 80-120 foot total depth zones
- Points and dropoffs near deep water that concentrate baitfish
- Moderately complex shoreline areas where springs or tributaries enter the reservoir
| - Blade Baits worked vertically through suspended fish
- Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) with heavy metal jigs
- Trolling Deep (20'+) with natural baitfish imitations
| - Alewife schools suspended in the water column
- Various minnow species following similar patterns to alewife
- Small rainbow smelt if present in the system
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Pre-spawn staging and spawning activity, with males preparing nests in protected areas while females move between staging and spawning zones
- Increased shallow water activity during warming trends, with fish becoming more aggressive as they prepare for spawning
| - Protected shallow coves with firm bottom and cover (ideal for spawning)
- Secondary points adjacent to spawning bays (staging areas)
- Submerged grass beds in 5-10 foot depth range (pre-spawn staging)
| - Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible cover and potential spawning areas
- Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked along transition areas
- Swim Jigs around grass beds and staging areas
| - Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy
- Bluegill beginning to move shallow
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Smallmouth Bass | 60-68 | - Post-spawn smallmouth are actively feeding while recovering from the spawn, with fish transitioning between shallow spawning areas and deeper summer haunts
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior on both crawfish and baitfish in rocky areas, particularly during morning and evening periods
| - Rock piles and boulder fields in 15-25 foot depth range
- Shallow rocky areas and rip rap in 1-10 foot range
- Offshore structure with clear transition routes to spawning flats
| - Drop Shot with finesse presentations, worked slowly around rock structure
- Structure Jigs dragged through rocky areas
- Ned Rigs worked on offshore structure
| - Crawfish active in rocky areas
- Bluegill in shallow areas
- Minnows around rock structures
| - Natural Craw Colors
- Green Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Trout | 35-45 | - Trout are actively suspending in the water column at 50-80 feet, following schools of alewife and minnows in a pelagic pattern
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, responding well to reaction baits like blade baits and rattletraps
- Movement patterns are primarily dictated by baitfish schools rather than structure orientation
| - Open water areas with concentrated baitfish schools at 50-80 foot depths
- Points and drop-offs where suspended baitfish congregate
- Transition areas between shallow and deep water where baitfish schools stage
| - Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) with blade baits for suspended fish
- Trolling Deep (20'+) targeting suspended fish following baitfish schools
- Lipless Crankbaits worked through suspended baitfish schools
| - Alewife schools suspended in the water column
- Various minnow species following similar suspended patterns
- Young-of-year baitfish from multiple species
| - Chartreuse Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 65-75 | - Actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, targeting abundant bluegill and shad in transitional areas between spawning flats and summer haunts
- Moving between shallow cover and nearby deeper structure, especially during morning hours when feeding activity peaks
| - Grass edges in 5-10 feet adjacent to spawning flats
- Brush piles near points in 10-15 foot depth range
- Secondary points with mixed vegetation and hard bottom
| - Swim Jigs worked through grass edges and over vegetation
- Texas Rigs (Worming) along brush piles and transition areas
- Spinnerbaits parallel to points and through patchy grass
| - Bluegill gathering in spawning areas and nearby vegetation
- Shad schools moving along points and creek channels
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Green Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
