| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 52-62 | - Spotted bass are transitioning from winter deep water patterns to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning
- Fish are becoming more aggressive as water temperatures rise, moving between deep wintering areas and shallow staging points
| - Main lake points and secondary points adjacent to spawning pockets
- Steep rocky banks with transition areas to spawning flats
- Brush piles and laydowns in 10-15 foot depth range near spawning areas
| - Bladed Jigs worked along transition areas from deep to shallow
- Hard Jerkbaits worked with longer pauses around points
- Football Jigs dragged along rocky bottom structure
| - Shad schools transitioning from deep winter areas
- Crawfish becoming more active on rocky structure
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Purple Colors
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 52-62 | - Fish are actively transitioning from winter areas to pre-spawn staging areas, following creek channels and utilizing current breaks
- Becoming more aggressive in feeding patterns, particularly around cover and structure, as they prepare for spawn
| - Current breaks and humps in river sections, particularly near the dam
- Submerged timber and standing wood in transition areas
- Secondary points and pockets with gradual depth transitions
| - Bladed Jigs worked around timber and cover
- Texas Rigs (Worming) with slow bottom contact retrieves
- Lipless Crankbaits in transition areas
| - Crawfish emerging and active on bottom structure
- Minnows in current breaks and around structure
| - Vibrant Craw Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Pre-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 52-65 | - Actively moving from winter deep-water haunts to pre-spawn staging areas, following schools of shad
- Becoming more aggressive in feeding as water temperatures rise, with fish starting to school up and chase bait in the water column
- Transitioning between deeper winter areas and shallower spawning grounds, often holding at intermediary points near channel swings and points
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning areas and river channels
- Channel swings with access to both deep and shallow water
- Secondary points in major creek arms with gradual depth transitions
| - Umbrella Rigs worked through suspended fish schools
- Hard Jerkbaits with long pauses near points and ledges
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) slow-rolled along depth transitions
| - Shad schools moving into pre-spawn staging areas
- Small baitfish gathering in creek arms
- Blueback herring when present in the system
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 58-68 | - Spotted bass transitioning to spawning behavior, utilizing shallow to mid-depth areas near docks and other hard cover
- Actively feeding before and after spawning, with increased aggression toward larger profile baits
| - Docks with access to deep water, particularly those on secondary points
- Hard bottom areas in protected coves near spawning flats
- Secondary points with mixed rock and brush cover
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked slowly near dock edges
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around dock posts and shallow cover
- Spinnerbaits parallel to dock edges and through spawning pockets
| - Shad schools moving into spawning areas
- Bluegill beginning to stage in shallow areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 58-68 | - Bass are actively moving to spawning areas, hugging shorelines and staging near bank-related cover like boulders and laydowns
- Fish are becoming more aggressive in shallower water as they prepare for and engage in spawning activities
| - Shoreline areas where grass meets the water, especially near boulders or laydowns
- Protected shallow coves with gradual depth transitions
- Secondary points leading into spawning pockets
| - Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') with slow, steady retrieve
- Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around visible cover
- Swim Jigs worked parallel to shoreline
| - Shad
- Crawfish emerging from winter areas
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Spawn) | Striped Bass | 52-65 | - Staging in pre-spawn areas near tributary mouths and shallow flats, making feeding pushes into shallower water
- Schooling activity increases as fish follow baitfish movements and prepare for spawning
- More aggressive feeding patterns as fish build energy reserves for spawning
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning flats
- Tributary mouths and river channels
- Shallow flats with quick access to deeper water
| - Large Hair Jigs (Preacher)
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large)
- Umbrella Rigs
- Hard Jerkbaits
| - Schooling shad in pre-spawn patterns
- Small baitfish gathering in tributary areas
- Herring moving shallow for their own spawn
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Light Neutral Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Spotted Bass | 62-72 | - Actively feeding on shad in surface/shallow zones during low light periods, especially dawn and dusk
- Transitioning between deep and shallow water throughout the day, following shad movements
- Exhibiting aggressive schooling behavior when targeting baitfish
| - Surface feeding zones near baitfish schools
- Laydowns and brush piles in 5-15 foot depth range
- Points and shoreline structure adjacent to deeper water
| - Hard Topwater (Walking)
- Hard Topwater (Popping)
- Texas Rigs (Worming)
- Soft Jerkbaits
| - Shad - primary forage evidenced by surface feeding activity
- Small baitfish schools in 5-15 foot range
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Largemouth Bass | 67-72 | - Post-spawn largemouth bass are actively feeding to recover energy, targeting both shad schools and bluegill in shallow to mid-depth zones
- Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, particularly around cover like docks and laydowns, with reports indicating strong reaction strikes
| - Docks with good shade, particularly in deeper sections
- Laydowns and submerged vegetation in shallow to mid-depth areas
- Areas where shad schools are present, especially in proximity to cover
| - Swim Jigs worked around vegetation and laydowns
- Bladed Jigs for covering water when fish are chasing shad
- Shakey Heads worked slowly under docks
| - Shad - actively being chased in open water and around cover
- Bluegill - particularly around vegetation and laydowns
| - Natural Baitfish Colors
- Dark Neutrals
- Vibrant Craw Colors
|
| Spring (Post-Spawn) | Striped Bass | 58-72 | - Post-spawn stripers are actively recovering and feeding heavily, moving from spawning areas to main lake points and channels
- Fish are beginning to school up and chase shad in the upper water column, especially during dawn and dusk periods
- Stripers are transitioning between shallow and medium depths (8-25 feet) as they follow bait schools
| - Main lake points adjacent to spawning tributaries
- Ledges transitioning from shallow to deep water
- Wind-blown banks where shad congregate
| - Soft Body Swimbaits (Large) worked at varying depths to mimic shad
- Hard Jerkbaits with aggressive stop-and-go retrieve
- Umbrella Rigs for actively feeding schools
| - Schooling Shad in upper water column
- Smaller baitfish gathered around points and ledges
| - Natural Shad Colors
- Natural Baitfish Colors
- Metallic Colors
|
